Is the Term "Basic Bitch" Another Form of Internalised Patriarchy?

It's been a while.

Hi there, hey there, ho there. It's been a hot minute and almost a month since I last posted on here. A month since being back home and a month since I said good bye to my island hopping lifestyle and re-entered the real adult world once again. It's safe to say that my two month "finding myself" excursion did wonders for this site and I posted a heck load- and it's safe to say that my job and the realities of living in the real world really impact the level of creativity I have and want to share- but that's for another time.

This post is one I've been thinking about for the past month, and one I've been itching to write but just haven't known how to tackle it. Because really, are we ready to open another door of the Haunted House of Societies Internalised Patriarchal Mindset? I think yes.

As a generation and, more widely, as a society we have been making waves recently in the spheres of feminism, calling out fragile masculinity, opening doors for queer identities and sexual positivity. Fat and skinny shaming has been battled and the war is still waging. Homophobia and race are still rife but there are voices growing louder and louder every day, with chants of equality of life. As a society driven by public demonstration, social media, word of mouth, and making a stand- boy are we. Events like Pride and Slut Walks are becoming worldwide parades, celebrating sexual orientations and sexual positivity! The drive to crush slut shaming is actually going somewhere, slowly but surely.

But there are still aspects of conversation, of social gatherings, of general observations of those around us- that inevitably falls to judgement. And one that I've been thinking about and have grown an increasing dislike for- is the term "Basic Bitch".

Listen, I'm a self proclaimed Basic Bitch- and this is what got me thinking. I laugh that I fall into the category that so many other girls have too, purely for enjoying certain things or dressing certain ways. And my god Urban Dictionary basically digs the grave for all these girls, because the savageness of the description is fatal;

I mean come on.

The things in Cape Town that qualify girls as Basic Bitches are ridiculous. Just from my own, and friends, observations of what defines said BB's, I'll share a brief list.

Drinks Gin and Tonic or Vodka, Lime and Water.

Wears a K-Way.

Wears Nike Free Runs or "Vintage" Vans.

Orders dairy alternatives in her coffee.

"Is this vegan?"

Goes for brunch.

Posts insta-stories of her "Girls Night Out", or "Gals Brunch".

Goes to the health juice bars or smoothie bowl cafes.

Posts about her trip to XYZ three months later with "Wanderlust" as the caption.

#selfcaresunday

Quotes Rupi Kaur poetry.

"Earth Dance is more than a Trance Festival- it's a community of loving people who just happen to be cooked off all the things"

"Is this gluten free?"

Spinning/Zumba/Pilates/Yoga at Virgin Active- a ritual more sacred with the girls than your 8am Psych lecture.

Taking pictures of your food

Boomerangs- specifically cheers-ing your Rosé filled wine glass with the gals

Mirror selfies- group or solo

Wearing glitter or flower crowns to festivals

Wearing crop tops

Wearing hoop earrings

Sushi dates

Rose Gold Iphones

Lush Bath Bombs

Inspiring Quotes as insta captions

Rooibos chai lattes

Seapoint Prom walks on a Sunday

Adida Stan Smith shoes

And to this list I have one thing to say;

WHY DOES ENJOYING THINGS HAVE TO CATEGORISE YOU INTO SUCH A NEGATIVE AND DEMEANING PART OF THE APPARENT SOCIAL STRUCTURES. YOU LIKE THINGS AND THAT IS A WONDERFUL PART OF BEING HUMAN- GETTING TO ENJOY THE THINGS AROUND YOU. Whether they be the most on-trend or over-hyped things ever- WHO CARES. They are as hyped as they are for a reason- because people enjoy them and like to share in the communal enjoyment of these things.

Yes, I wear my K-Way with pride (is being warm a sin?), I am somewhat vegan, I eat smoothie bowls and I am a huge fan of Rupis' poetry- and who the hell should care except for myself and the people I choose to share these interests with? I will post a picture of my colourful smoothie bowl or my green face mask for #selfcaresunday because I enjoy doing so and both a parts of a healthy life in which I prioritise not only my dietary health but also good skin! WOW, how unoriginal and "painfully normal".

And this has me thinking- is this judgement of "engaging in unoriginal behaviours" a tragic side effect of an ingrained need to judge those around us because of- what? The ever increasing celebration of the "not-normal", the different, the wonderfully odd-but-really-not-odd? In the time when dying your hair pink, piercing your nipples and asking people to refer to you exclusively as Daddy regardless of your gender- is being someone who prescribes to the trends, the generic, and the 'safe' such a dire tragedy that we have to chastise it?

OR- and bear with because my feminism is going to show- is this another well-hidden example of how a male orientated and masculine world has degraded a womans' enjoyment of things? Just like how women have revolutionised the conversation of sex, and how a girl can have as many casual sexual partners as a man and either reclaim the title of "slut" as a proud crown, or deny the need to classify the same actions a male can do in pride with shame? Sexual positivity is a much needed wave of acceptance that I am glad is finally taking the world by storm- but why stop there? Why do we celebrate that but judge the enjoyment of the simple things- like having a pink cocktail with the girls on a Friday night? Or for gods sake, taking a selfie? Think about it- how often do you call another female a basic bitch? I personally have hardly heard a girl direct to anyone but herself in jest- and besides that the comment has come exclusively from guys. This could just be my own experience- and I'd love to hear of others (genuinely- tell me about your experience of this! Send it to gingerdoescontact@gmail.com)

Let's face it folks- if you aren't a basic bitch- you're way too hipster or "alt" for your own good and everyone believes you should just stop listening to your vinyls and start shopping in places that aren't thrift stores. Basically- YOU CANNOT WIN. Celebrate the new, the odd, the colourful and loud and fantastic! But lets equally celebrate those who shop at Cotton On and drink their G&T's at La Parada with the rest of Cape Town on a Sunday!