Dear "Basic White Girls" (And Anyone Who Uses This Phrase) | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Student Life

Dear "Basic White Girls" (And Anyone Who Uses This Phrase)

I can't even with this expression.

1380
Dear "Basic White Girls" (And Anyone Who Uses This Phrase)

Dear "Basic White Girls" Everywhere (And Anyone Who Uses This Phrase),

I'll be up front: I've been called basic, called other people basic, and have recently come to terms with how problematic this expression. is.

If you’re not sure I’m speaking to you, this –stereotypically— may apply if you: own Uggs, riding boots, or a puffy vest, enjoy fall leaves, have ordered a seasonal drink at Starbucks, do yoga, have a computer covered in stickers, own an iPhone… there are a million different, but insignificant, things that classify you as a basic girl. In fact, if you Google "basic," this is one of the first results:


Even if you do one (or all) of these things: what makes you so basic? Why is basic one of the key descriptive words that people would use to describe you where there are a million other options? Does anyone think that the drink you order at Starbucks is a defining facet of your personality?

When people say "basic girl," they're not really considering the ramifications of this phrase. When you call someone basic, you're calling one specific action or choice of hers a fundamental or essential part of them, and if you call someone a "basic GIRL" you're calling one specific action or choice a fundamental or essential part of women everywhere.

When people say "basic WHITE girl," race gets brought into this, too. There is no race associated with using the heart eyes emoji, leaves in the fall, or Instagramming a picture of their Chipotle or Panera. Being white shouldn't make you basic and being a minority shouldn't exclude you from activities that other women enjoy.

And when you call someone a "basic BITCH," you're describing one action or choice as something that makes her rude, unpleasant, or mean. If you’re using “bitch” as a synonym for “girl,” then you’ve fully misunderstood feminism.

I’m calling for a change in vocabulary. When you don’t think about it, basic is a funny, silly, and overused way to comment on someone’s behavior. However, at the root of it, being called basic is undeniably an insult. It's being called conformist and overdone, conventional and unoriginal. It calls someone out for the little things, whether it's the drink they order or the type of phone they use, and claiming it makes them part of an otherwise undistinguishable crowd of light-skinned women.

So go to your hot yoga class, drink your skinny mocha frap, wear your puffy vest with riding boots or your favorite Uggs and rejoice because while these are all valuable interests, likes, and hobbies, they do not encapsulate your personality.

Sincerely,

A Girl Who Does These Things But Isn't Basic

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Gilmore Girls
Hypable

In honor of Mother’s Day, I have been thinking of all the things my mom does for my family and me. Although I couldn’t write nearly all of them, here are a few things that moms do for us.

They find that shirt that’s right in front of you, but just you can’t seem to find.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

10 Reasons To Thank Your Best Friend

Take the time to thank that one friend in your life you will never let go of.

3699
Thank You on wooden blocks

1. Thank you for being the one I can always count on to be honest.

A true friend will tell you if the shirt is ugly, or at least ask to borrow it and "accidentally" burn it.

2. Thank you for accepting me for who I am.

A best friend will love you regardless of the stale french fries you left on the floor of your car, or when you had lice in 8th grade and no one wanted to talk to you.

Keep Reading...Show less
sick student
StableDiffusion

Everybody gets sick once in a while, but getting sick while in college is the absolute worst. You're away from home and your mom who can take care of you and all you really want to do is just be in your own bed. You feel like you will have never-ending classwork to catch up on if you miss class, so you end up going sick and then it just takes longer to get better. Being sick in college is really tough and definitely not a fun experience. Here are the 15 stages that everyone ends up going through when they are sick at college.

Keep Reading...Show less
kid
Janko Ferlic
Do as I say, not as I do.

Your eyes widen in horror as you stare at your phone. Beads of sweat begin to saturate your palm as your fingers tremble in fear. The illuminated screen reads, "Missed Call: Mom."

Growing up with strict parents, you learn that a few things go unsaid. Manners are everything. Never talk back. Do as you're told without question. Most importantly, you develop a system and catch on to these quirks that strict parents have so that you can play their game and do what you want.

Keep Reading...Show less
friends
tv.com

"Friends" maybe didn’t have everything right or realistic all the time, but they did have enough episodes to create countless reaction GIFs and enough awesomeness to create, well, the legacy they did. Something else that is timeless, a little rough, but memorable? Living away from the comforts of home. Whether you have an apartment, a dorm, your first house, or some sort of residence that is not the house you grew up in, I’m sure you can relate to most of these!

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments