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Stop Basic Bashing

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Marquette chapter.

Stop Basic Bashing

Everyone knows someone who is “basic.” Girls who love for leggings from PINK, white canvas shoes, or Uggs boots, North Face Jackets, flannels, autumn foliage, and a boarder-line unhealthy obsession with Pumpkin Spice Lattes, or Starbucks in general. A love for monogramed everything, rosé everything, wine, and reality television. The description what it is considered to be “basic” is extremely flawed, because it is so broad.

North Face and Starbucks are both popular brands. Most people have an unhealthy obsession with Starbucks, or coffee in general. Does that mean they are “basic”? Based on what people consider “basic,” it seems that it would. Flannels are warm, and if you live in a place where the weather is constantly changing, they are very useful. North Face is one of the few brands that make a variety of different jackets, coats, and other types of cold gear for chilly seasons and climates. Different brands fit different people differently, so again, based on what is considered to be “basic,” owning an article North Face clothing would make someone “basic.”

A love for items and trends that are in style isn’t considered basic, it is following the trends, and nothing is wrong with that. If someone doesn’t like those things, that’s fine, but people making fun of others who do like those things is just petty.

A love for reality television or certain reality programs is probably just an escape. Everyone has different ways to escape from their lives. Reality television is something relatively harmless, and to be fair, there aren’t a lot of shows on TV that don’t require watching the pilot and previous 4 seasons to understand the plot of the show.

Everyone does things or likes things that someone else is bound to dislike, but why does it matter? Everyone is different. That’s what makes us who we are. Just because someone doesn’t like something that someone else actually likes, or enjoys, doesn’t mean that the person has to stop enjoying something, because someone else doesn’t like it. That is like saying, someone who wears prescription glasses, should stop wearing their frames because they are ugly.

As someone with piercings, stretched ears, and hair is usually dyed a bright and unnatural color (now being the exception due to graduation and job hunting), I am the polar opposite of someone who would be considered “basic.” That doesn’t mean that I won’t stick up for girls who are being bashed due to the fact that they are perceived as “basic.” Girls, women, females, or people who identify, as female will be made fun of no matter what do to what they like and dislike. I will not be part of the culture that puts other people down for simply being themselves. 

 

The attitude towards girls who act or look basic is ridiculous and unnecessary. Why does it matter if someone is basic? Girls can like whatever they want, as long as it isn’t hurting anyone.

Professional nap taker and animal lover. Future goal: pet all of the dogs.
Aisling Hegarty

Marquette '18

Don't waste a minute not being happy