The "That Girl" trend romanticizes girls having their lives together. It suggests that the aesthetics of a perfect life utopia can be achieved through self-discipline.
Fitting (1998) highlights that a utopian society is presented as a "no-place of static perfection."
One of the problems with this solution is that there is no such thing as a perfectly utopian world. In this fantasy, it remains an ideology that life can be or is perfect. Thus, an unattainable utopia of a perfect life is created through the "That Girl" trend. Furthermore, through the trend, individuals are provided with the utopia that an aesthetic and perfect life can be achieved if one remains committed to healthy eating, a morning routine, and skincare routine. Therefore, the belief that one’s genetics or personal/social status determines one’s health is dispelled with the increased importance placed on self-discipline. This trend suggests that anyone can take part in the theme of personal growth. Hence, the concept of utopia presents a sense of hope and potential for change.
However, this utopian aspiration is unattainable for most and has the potential for commercialization. For example, within the trend, certain products may be introduced to speed up the process of a perfect life. This may include a type of protein powder to add to green smoothies. Therefore, within a seemingly utopian concept, the commercialization of women’s wants and desires can be exploited. This is because women have been historically told through media and institutions that their 'real' selves are not to be trusted or certainly not good enough (Banet-Weiser, 2021). Hence, at the core of the trend, the focus is on the idea that one must better oneself because the current version of you is not good enough. Thus, an inability to adhere to norms of self-maintenance is deemed a personal failure rather than an institutional one. Therefore, the "That Girl" trend transforms a woman's body into a commodity through the illusion of utopia.
In sum, I hope this blog highlights that although the “That Girl” trend grants a sense of hope, commercialization and exploitation are still possible in utopias. Therefore, rather than clinging to nostalgia or perfection through trends like the “That Girl” trend, society should be aware of how mass culture exploits our emotions and desires. Only then can we start to be agents of free will and break free from stereotypes.
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This is 𝒚⚬𝒖𝒓 sign, to go design a planet. !
Take extra good care of yourself this season <3
ʕʘ‿ʘʔ designaplanet .
References
Banet-Weiser, Sarah. "Gender, Social Media, and the Labor of Authenticity." American Quarterly 73, no. 1 (2021): para. 5. https://doi.org/10.1353/aq.2021.0008
Fitting, Peter. “The Concept of Utopia in the work of Fredric Jameson”. Utopian Studies 9, no: 2 (1998): 8-17.