Humans have existed for millions of years. We are always changing and evolving, but one thing has remained timeless throughout our culture: trends. Even though many link the word “trend” to a modern, digitally savvy era, these patterns of what’s hot and what’s not have existed since as early as our most primitive ancestors.
Trends consume our daily thoughts and actions. What to wear, what to eat, how to dress or how to act. Nearly every facet of our lives can be mirrored by popular culture and what the general public deems acceptable at any given period of time. In this modern culture, anyone can become a trendsetter at any moment with ease. It takes just a simple TikTok or Instagram post to ignite a new lifestyle across millions of people.
Trends can quickly become controversial and problematic. It is impossible to regulate or predict what the next biggest craze will be. Not all trends are objectively bad; in fact, some are undeniably beneficial to the general public. For instance, the emergence of TikTok has led to a focus on reading (#booktok), academia and productivity. Social media in general spreads knowledge that would otherwise not be accessible. This being said, trends and challenges can be detrimental to mental and physical health. The physical trends popularized on the internet including the Tide Pod, Birdbox, and salt and ice challenges are all harmful to individuals. High-risk performative stunts have become so normalized that many young adolescents see no danger in performing these dangerous acts for mere views and likes.
In addition to physically damaging trends, mental health has plummeted as a result of society’s fixation on what is current. My biggest pet peeve ever is that certain body types go “in and out” of trend. Human bodies, specifically women’s bodies, cannot be reduced to viral patterns of popularity like clothing, makeup, or jewelry. This objectifies women. It seems that as soon as I feel fully confident in my body, another body shape is deemed more desirable. This is a common experience faced by most women in modern society and it proves that our perception of women is warped through the male gaze. Embrace your body as it is and be grateful for all that it does for you every day. If you try to chase after a certain figure, you will always be unfilled. Life is too short to be in constant battle with your body.
While some trends are for harmless fun, others can be problematic in nature. Women’s bodies are beautiful vessels of life, not objects that can come in and out of fashion. It seems to me that these “trends” pit women against each other and create a culture of competition. When we consciously ignore and disregard these toxic trends, we give women their power back.