"That Girl" just seems like a prettier, more feminine repackaging of hustle/grind culture.

@carson2913

2 жыл бұрын

omg, you're right 😳

@desireeskumachan

2 жыл бұрын

Exactly it.

@diamondcentury21

2 жыл бұрын

I agree, nicely put

@bajabl

2 жыл бұрын

@Peanut Butter more like white & airy lol

@bea3guima

2 жыл бұрын

Also richer

For me “that girl” content is somehow both so relaxing and soothing and inspiring, but can also lead me into a spiral of picking myself apart wondering “why can’t I live somewhere prettier” “why does my apartment look so dark and dirty” “why can’t I be less lazy and have cool hobbies like her and more friends” and just makes me feel really inadequate.

@maryfields877

2 жыл бұрын

I'm 45 and I didn't know what this was, but I follow family lifestyle channels with similar content. I also look at my own life and wonder why I'm such a mess, why didn't we buy a bigger house in a nicer area, why didn't we buy a farm, lol. When it comes down to it, work with what you have. Adopt the habits that you know you can stick too. I also realize that I work a full time job, albeit from home, but I cannot possible bake everyday or tend to the garden for hours.

@PasCorrect

2 жыл бұрын

Haha, so true about "why does my apartment look so dark" -- every That Girl has a really light-filled apartment for some reason! And of course, never has roommates despite being like 21 and living in Brooklyn. 🤷‍♀️

@TakeOffYourBoots

2 жыл бұрын

The ultimate question is, what is it that you want? One of my co-workers is a 19 year old girl who is struggling with depression and anxiety. I've come out of a period of depression that lasted roughly 15 years. I asked her what she wanted out of life and her response was to be happy and successful. I've come to believe you need to examine your life only so far as to realize why this framework is a faulty framework, and then STOP. What makes us fulfilled is almost binary: does what we do make us feel connected to the world or not? A lack of connection is why self-improvement is so consistently a frustrating and superficial affair, because it's centered around goals one sets for the self. Drill deeper with why you want what you want, and make the choices that place you meaningfully in the lives of other people, and places their lives in yours. If you want to do yoga, why do you want to do yoga? To be healthy? Well, why do you want to be healthy? What good does your being healthy do for other people? Find the answers to questions like these and you'll find the motivation to do and stick to the things that have true importance.

@ashwii301

2 жыл бұрын

true! i experienced this:( and just then I realized these people I see online living my ideal life are incredibly privileged

@laue1207

2 жыл бұрын

@@PasCorrect my theory is since they are influencers/ youtubers, they chose an apartment with great luminosity on purpose for their job?

The reason this aesthetic has arisen during covid is no coincidence, people crave control right now.

@pwetty4r4

2 жыл бұрын

thats a really interesting point

@xxcxme

2 жыл бұрын

I agree with this. The “That girl” aesthetic rose significantly during the pandemic because people want control over their lives during a dangerous, unsure, and sad era. For example: in America in 2020 we experiences a pandemic, the rise of BLM movement, climate crises, supply chain disruption, The Great Resignation, and spilling over to 2021 the attempt at a coup d’état and more. That collective national experience helped in birthing the That Girl Aesthetic immensely. MY PERSONAL OPINION: The That Girl Aesthetic started in Tik Tok for people who wanted control over their lives, to self-soothe, and with the lack of social interactions this intensified the notion of looking inwards as opposed to outwards. That Girls are for those lucky few, the privileged few. This is why I am not really seeing the That Girl Aesthetic as anything more than another self-soothing method and just people who want to connect with others and inspire others but in the safety of their perfect worlds. Basically: That Girl-ers are just a self soothing activity. Plain and simple. No politcal agenda and mostly just for aesthetics. A bland self-motivation video for the SELECT, PRIVELEGED FEW.

@theblondeconspiracy

2 жыл бұрын

This has always been a thing, just not that much people indulged in watching it this type of content

@ana.5687

2 жыл бұрын

Well said, also is a way to convince ourselves that we don't need anyone but ourselves. It's a necessary idea when you're alone

@gluestickgirlie

2 жыл бұрын

Yet by living this life you’re letting yourself be controlled

When you live in a third-world country, living like “that girl” is a luxury, honestly. You might even feel disconnected from the reality of your social circle

@kaypat23

2 жыл бұрын

This comment! I agree one hundred percent.

@user-nq3xw9ch5h

2 жыл бұрын

What’s a third world country mean?

@danaeosorioflores6915

2 жыл бұрын

@@user-nq3xw9ch5h It’s a pretty old terminology that was created in the Cold War. I used because is the most common one but well, a third world country it’s a developing country, with high poverty rates and inequality

@charlenea6180

2 жыл бұрын

Honestly

@JP-br4mx

2 жыл бұрын

its mostly ever white girl. KZread and other social media has a way of pushing them down everybodys throat

I'm not done with the whole video yet, but what you said about routines kind of struck me as funny - as an autistic person, I heavily rely on routines...and yet I'm sure many autistic girls/women would probably never be perceived as "that girl," so it's interesting how fixations on routines and order are only seen as "normal" or appealing if presented in a certain light, through a certain lens, along a certain aesthetic, and in a specific context.

@AliceCappelle

2 жыл бұрын

That is actually super interesting! Thank you for sharing!!

@originalblob

2 жыл бұрын

For most people routines are the result of hard work. Personal behaviour tends to bent out of shape if you reduce pressure. You start to eat less and less healthy, you do less and less sport, procrastinate more in your work etc. So, we admire the willpower necessary to maintain the routines and to keep your figurative hands on the steering wheel of our lifes.

@Ruby_V_

2 жыл бұрын

​@@originalblob I can't read the tone of your reply, but how you phrase is remarkably accurate imo. I will reframe what you said in my own perspective: Most people are conditioned to understand routines as the result of 'hard work'. 'Hard work' here defined simultaneously as glorification of stress and a (harder to communicate) notion of free will imagined as a mind-body dualism with the strength of the link referred to as 'willpower'. Lack of 'hard work' is explicitly connected to and offered as sole explanation for negatively coded things like eating less healthy, doing less sport, procrastinating more in your work. Autistic people are presumed to be mentally ill, the mentally ill are presumed to have a deficit of 'willpower'. Audiences looking to cultivate their 'willpower' are therefore uninterested in the experiences of autistic people. This is super interesting because of how it shows it's not the routine itself that is of primary interest, but the mythos of 'willpower' that the audience wants to consume. Almost like going to a church service I guess. Also reminiscent of the concept of 'hygiene' in early 20th century eugenics--strict conformity to an authoritarian norm as a moral struggle and imperative. "So, we admire the willpower necessary to maintain the routines and to keep your figurative hands on the steering wheel of our lives." Going off on tangent-- Notable is that someone lagging to conform is expected to compensate by increasing their stress, up to a point where if it can't be done anymore then the person's lack of 'baseline willpower' is understood as a 'mental illness'. 'Mental health'('hygiene') is understood as the process by which people ensure that they are keeping their 'baseline willpower' high. If someone is over stressed, it can only mean that they need a professional to help them fix their personal 'mental health'. This is reified beautifully in the 2012-2013 run of Psycho-Pass. (That run of Psycho-Pass was heavily influenced by 20th century American sci-fi authors, allowing the seamless bleed between American and Japanese culture/'habitus' in the show.)

@RounakAgarwal

2 жыл бұрын

@@Ruby_V_ Cultured Weeb here. I love the quote about intellect from Psycho Pass. It says something like "Intellect gives true happiness" or something 😅

@hanzabarrxx

2 жыл бұрын

As a Dyspraxic woman, I completely agree with the original commentator - routines allow me to keep my job and keep my flat; it is not an aestethic to me, it is a lifeline for me to maintain a successful livelihood.

That girl is purely based on aesthetics. Most of us work out sometimes, and most of us study, most of us need to create a routine for university/studying and work. Most of us try to hang out with friends and read some book alone too. That girl is aesthetics. It's not motivation. You already do all those things. You are just not aesthetics. And you know what? It's fine!. You don't need to own luxury water bottles to make youe life better.

@juli9037

2 жыл бұрын

Falou e disse.

@samhita-

2 жыл бұрын

this was insightful, tysm for this :)

@newworldlord643

Жыл бұрын

hahaha luxury water bottles 🤣🤣😭😭😭🙏🙏🙏🙏🙋‍♀️

@bunnywavyxx9524

Жыл бұрын

slay, I love this message

8:44 "An Indian girl whose family has been struggling to get access to healthcare during lockdown can find it a bit disheartening that a middle class English girl would say that it was a period of self reflection and personal development... habitus distances you from others" *chef's kiss*

@nothingbetrtodo

2 жыл бұрын

I understand what you're saying but I"m an Indian girl who has some access to healthcare but also witnessed a fair amount of death this year. Self reflection and personal development helped me cope with all the things I couldn't control. These vloggers have privilege but less privileged people are also capable of self care and positivity in a different way.

@heist4420

2 жыл бұрын

@@nothingbetrtodo Right, don’t like how they just kinda automatically fell into the “POC girl wishes she was like white girl” trope

@nothingbetrtodo

2 жыл бұрын

@@heist4420 Yeah we are complex human beings just like anyone else. As a middle class Indian girl, I can't afford to be lazy or watch Netflix all day lol. But I know what they were saying. It's just not a black and white issue.

@heist4420

2 жыл бұрын

@@nothingbetrtodo precisely! It really isn’t black n white at all, but it seems like everyone sees it that way as default

@SlightlySaturated

2 жыл бұрын

@@heist4420 you’re reaction is exactly an example of the point she was saying. If applied in different context, you not fitting to the trope of an Indian girl without access to healthcare does not mean the experience of others who does is absent. Our privilege not to be fit in the trope does not mean the trope’s context does not exist.

The ability to have & maintain a routine is in itself a privilege- when I worked retail I did not have a regular shift & thus for 2 years of my life, it was impossible for me to develop a routine. Many people who work in the service industry only know their work schedules 2 weeks (& often less) in advance & do not have regular/repetitive hours (so they might have to come into work at 8am one day & 11am the next).

@k_drive

2 жыл бұрын

such a great point! even having control of your routine around a job has to come from a place of power, a lot of yters are self-employed so they can/have the responsibility to arrange their own days and schedule in a morning run.

@StellasEncounter

2 жыл бұрын

The choice of time is indeed a privilege.

@sif_2799

2 жыл бұрын

I work in Service and still follow my Routine even though I don't know next week's shift. I mean a routine isnt necessarily your whole day planned out but might just be a before bed time and after wake up routine. Even if it's just 10 Minutes of workout or a walk outside, that's still a routine and honestly feels very good. Not working regularly to me feels very chaotic so having this bit of regularity in my day feels like i have my life in order.

@annaignatochkina3438

2 жыл бұрын

Yes, but the biggest sad point is if you can not develop a steady routine it may be very difficult to start family. I mean with irregular hours of the job it may be quite difficult to fit in children's schedule, prepare dinners for family and so on...

@smuganimegirl

2 жыл бұрын

sorry to ramble, but your comment gave me a lightbulb moment. i actually have been exploring that i could possibly be autistic, and i never really related to autistic people that had such strict routines in their life, because i never did. your comment made me realise it wasn't that i did want to have routine / sameness, i desperately did, but the conditions of my life never allowed me. hahhaa thank you

a thing i’ve noticed with “that girl” is they preach eco-consciousness and a “zero waste” lifestyle, yet accept and promote tons of PR packages that contain lots of plastic and are very wasteful (makeup, jewelry, skin care, etc). it feels so hypocritical to me!

@TraduintdesdeCalella

2 жыл бұрын

You're so right. A lot of influencers talk about how we should fight against climate change but at the same time buy a lot of things online or have a lot of clothes and stuff like that.

@Corn22

2 жыл бұрын

and they probably still eat fish and meat 😖 how can you preach for the environment while killing it lol

@mew02020

2 жыл бұрын

everyone is hypocritical what u talking bout

@awts..7954

2 жыл бұрын

@@mew02020 this.

@manuelalvarez4359

2 жыл бұрын

Hey! You should consider that, in a way, "that girl" is consuming less plastic than the average person. Usually vegan products use really eco-friendly packages and try to minimize the use of plastic. If they are into minimalism, their plastic consumption is lowered a lot more by buying less products that necessarily use plastic and produce waste. Even if it is for the pose or trend, they are actually doing something good.

I think 'That Girl' represents the ideal of how women should be functioning within capitalism. Her structured routines of what she "should" be doing (workouts, work, cooking healthy meals, educating herself, etc) do not leave space or time to sit within the void of the human experience and recognize that perfection does not lead to happiness as these 'That Girl' videos often try to suggest. Her constant high of productivity and structure will inevitably lead to a low, but we are never shown that side of the coin because that side is messy and undesirable. Unfortunately, though, that side is human and it is necessary to accept in oneself.

@chai_lattes

2 жыл бұрын

I love this❤ Reading through the comments is so cathartic. Thank you for putting it so eloquently into words!

@Lucas-ni3xp

2 жыл бұрын

@livingthedream Well you know why? She explained it in the video. Habitus and ideology. Left-wing people with a huge background on social sciences more or less all think in the same way (I thought like that for a long Time) which is that everything is socially constructed and therefore can be deconstructed. Living in Capitalism, they still need to explain that every little thing we do is influenced by capitalism and society! Like yeah well that makes sense, and it's literally the point of a society to have rules, ways of thinking and impose themselves upon its citizens! In my opinion the biggest pitfall they fall in seem to be to inconsciously dream that you can get out of your habitus, to reach a point where you would have unharming habitus and ideology to 100% of the population, no equality, no hierarchy and so on. And that's a beautiful project if that's what you believe is good! But in the mean time you have to constantly judge yourself and the others for everything little you do that makes you fit to live in a capitalistic society because well all your habitus, many of your social circle if you're an activist is based on the fact that you hate and must fight capitalism! Tough to live like that, but necessary for social change. So there is that, just my take

@alexeigimenez

2 жыл бұрын

@livingthedream I understand your point and I like it, I think it's very valid and I'm happy because you're growing and cultivating yourself. Talking about this trend, there are 2 aspects that (personally) cause me trouble: 1. It's unrealistic. Just like tik tok filters or photos on Facebook, which show the beautiful side of things. It romanticizes life too much, to the point that "that girl" videos are pretty much just background music and have very little speech. 2. It's very unrealistic. They show you perfect routines and make you believe being "efficient and productive" in all areas of your life is the only way to be happy and that by doing so, you'll become "that girl", which sounds like a bizarre social fantasy to me. You should take care of yourself out of love, do what you enjoy and not feel the need to show it off to others (for example, to people who don't have the same resources as you and can't buy exotic fruit juices or extra-moisturizing creams). But instead support others, help us grow together and give your advice, share your experience, not just put some aesthetic music in the background and show the world how "productive and disciplined" you supposedly are. Happiness is about caring for and loving each other and ourselves. (Sorry for the mistakes, English is not my mother tongue)

@sahraaalaei7621

2 жыл бұрын

Ooo I love this! Good thought

@rd9065

2 жыл бұрын

@@Lucas-ni3xp as someone who is left wing and does not follow any of what society seems ideal for men and women, it is in fact easier to live how I live then live up to societies standards. They are almost always based off of some centuries old ideals from the people that created things like white supremacy, eugenics, sexism, homophobia. These ideas don't naturally exist in people but instead are so engrained into society that people will act as though it is something in our nature. It is actually more freeing to escape the rat race, life isn't all about self improvement, at least the kind of self improvement that society sells. The self improvement that society sells isn't helping our mental health crises, our obesity crisis, homelessness, poverty, because it's a lense crafted by the minority of people in society who can actually fit that lifestyle. Why would I commit my life to trying to obtain a lifestyle that in itself upon examination isn't actually good? Many of these people are still miserable, because their pretty filtered lives they post online are ultimately fake.

i feel like that girl never lives in places where it's winter and she can't see the sun more than 5 hours a day. those waking up and exercise videos would look so different if they didn't have all that beautiful sunlight coming through. it's weird to think even location is important.

@komaromatoma

2 жыл бұрын

Can confirm one of the girls lives in Ireland which is not quite the sunny location you might think it is

@mrgngrn

2 жыл бұрын

agreed! I need more "dark hellhole aesthetic" representation in media. It's easy to seem happy and productive when it's not dark for 6 month a year. And ugly winter clothes don't help with positive self image at all

@knoweverythingsokay

2 жыл бұрын

@@mrgngrn This is true! It hasn't stopped pouring for more than a week where I live, and it is definitely not beautiful or inspiring lol

@kokopai

2 жыл бұрын

I live in a country with very long and dark winters, and i feel like they are a lesson in acceptance. I also make it cozy by making warm meals, drinking warm drinks, lighting candles and i find i enjoy the light in the day more when i know it is limited

@alaskabane5340

2 жыл бұрын

It's also interesting how that girl never lives somewhere it's so hot and humid that it's hard to even breathe during afternoons.

I have a lot of "that girl" habits in my daily routine and for me, it's one of the strategies that I use to cope with my depression and ADHD. I find routines to be an effective way to get me to take care of myself physically and mentally and reach at least some level of productivity for the day.

@kokopai

2 жыл бұрын

Same!

@nonamenoname9701

2 жыл бұрын

You can be the most perfect version of yourself but can’t control the world or your situations, it is so frustrating!

@Andy-ne5qi

2 жыл бұрын

Me too!

@tori7329

2 жыл бұрын

Same here! My morning routine etc isn’t always 100% completed, and I tend to fizzle during the day but that’s what will happen and it’s fine! Having the routine in place though and the aesthetic can be very motivating. it’s definitely been helping me with my adhd/depression. At the same time I can still empathize with the toxic aspects of this lifestyle aesthetic.

@lordfreerealestate8302

2 жыл бұрын

Same. There are both good and bad sides to the productivity movement.

Studied the panopticon in uni but never thought about it through the KZread lens 😳 Thank you for the insightful view, really enjoyed the video!

@ahappyplace9536

2 жыл бұрын

Leah! ily

@Maxwellhyde14

2 жыл бұрын

Just finished your vid and then watched this, felt like a ~serendipitous moment~~~

@kennalime5644

2 жыл бұрын

I have never heard of it until now and WOW, it´s a good way to adapt it to a day to day life, specially on youtube or social media

@AliceCappelle

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you Leah ☺️

@apriljoy5754

2 жыл бұрын

I know riiiiight ‼️

Let me put in a less colorful and aesthetic len: I was that girl for 4 years. Just completed my PhD and although I am a productive researcher, wake up at 5am, workout, meditate, read and eat clean, I'm currently unemployed and feeling miserable. Sometimes it doesn't matter if you are productive, if you are perfect and all, things and the universe don't usually happens the way we desired/planned. Sad but true

@souhailaseck5543

2 жыл бұрын

I live the same situation, your comment is very helpful!!

@missundercover5061

2 жыл бұрын

Only Jesus can fulfill that void. I recommend the book “you’re not enough and that’s ok” by Allie Beth Stuckey and if course the Bible.

@Maialeen

2 жыл бұрын

Miss Undercover Absolutely not. No sane woman should go from toxic shxt to more toxic shxt. Freaking Stuckey sure as f isn't the answer to anything.

@roya8683

2 жыл бұрын

What did you get your PhD in?

@roya8683

2 жыл бұрын

@@alessia9328 We don't know what her PhD was in... in some fields there is no job market. Its fine to study those fields but you can't expect employment in them. I doubt she studied information technology or database management etc.

I would have loved to hear more about "that girl" and feminism. Because "that girl" appeal to women and girls, i feel that the ideology that they inadvertly convey is deeply routed in "capitalism-feminism" : we, as women and girls, we learn with these videos that being a woman is to be fit and beautiful but also very productive, and that there's no excuses because other women can do it (and as we know, women learn from a very young age to be competitive against each other). Of course it's not the fault of these lifestyle vlogger, they just do what they like to do. But as you said, the fact that these vidéos are liked a lot and recommanded a lot speaks volume. I would have love to hear you more on that. Thank you for this video big sis

@AliceCappelle

2 жыл бұрын

You should have told me that earlier goddamnit ! Joking, merci le sang

@agathe0onepiece

2 жыл бұрын

@@AliceCappelle I did 🙃 tkt le sang sisi

@chai_lattes

2 жыл бұрын

I second this. I would love to watch an in-depth analysis from this perspective of impossible femininity, capitalism, and productivity culture all rolled into one. It's exhausting! I stay away from lifestyle vloggers because it's almost like the concentrated version of instagram's highlight reel, yet it's presented through this highly aesthetic, inoffensive lens of authenticity and minimalism. Someone else in the comments used the phrase: performative routine, and I think that sums it up perfectly. It's also why I find it so discouraging and damaging to my mental health. So much of being born into a female body is about this constant, chronic need to feel like you have to perform for people at all times. I think sometimes "day in the life" vlogs can have the affect of completely encroaching upon a woman's liberty to relax in her own home/in her own body. I completely understand the allure of these videos, but I also wish people would take a moment and consider the social implications and consequences of accepting and consuming new social trends online. I feel like we continue to raise the standards of what it means to be pretty, productive, successful, often at the expense of our own collective wellness because we're too busy trying to be closer to "that girl" in the pursuit of another impossible standard. Thank you for covering this topic and digging into the implicit ideology of aesthetic vloggers and wanting to be that girl❤

@adityamakwana612

2 жыл бұрын

woman are competive against one another because it puts them in a better safer position just as guys compete with one another to be in better position

@agathe0onepiece

2 жыл бұрын

@@adityamakwana612 maybe ! I'm not at all a fan of competition and being the best at everything so I personnaly don't see competition with a positif eye. But I think the major difference between men competition and women competition is that : men compete with their intelligence, their capacities, what they are good at. Women don't compete for a better position in the capitalist hierarchy, they compete against each other for the men. Not for their financial gain, not for their social connection, but to be appreciated by men. So it's not about being good at something, it's about yourself. Wich is harder on the person if you ask me ! But let's say that men and women are both in their own fair competition. Now that women have the rights and the opportunities to enter the job market, they fight in both competiton : appealing to capitalism while still appealing to the men. And that's where we found "that girl". Women are now able to show their abilities BUT only on the condition that they are still beautiful, still taking care of the chores, of the babies etc. BUT they should be as good and energetic as their collegue BUT their are paid less because they take maternity leaves or just because... Women. So yeah, if we want to be fair, guy's should take more paternity leaves, should not "help" for the chores but DO the chores, and of course, they should fight against each other to be the prettiest for women lol, then it will be fair !

As a proana tumblr veteran, I just wanna say “That Girl” feels all too familiar Striving for self discipline and self growth, strictly so. No wonder I found myself desperately trying to be her post recovery.

@valentinavalgaeva3721

2 жыл бұрын

Oh my god. MPA veteran here, and the fact that this comment doesn’t have any replies is kind of encouraging, but I totally agree. I was just thinking that Thatgirl aesthetics and EDs are practically the same thing. I often wonder how many lifestyle influencers in this genre struggle/d with an ED. And all of the themes discussed here - control, consumerism, feminism, femininity, self-soothing, routine, down-to-earth privilege (“I eat a Quest bar for breakfast and take my voss bottle with me to work” style) and all that are also key elements in the prevalence and character of EDs

@pixi111

2 жыл бұрын

found my ppl. I hope you two are well. I relate so much. I’m afraid that you’re so very right. This the new version

@lunali7209

2 жыл бұрын

generally i see a lot of parallels between ed's and "decluttering" / "organizing" / "routine" lifestyles. its all just wanting to be in control and as you wrote - self discipline. very toxic

@user-vq9lr6ss4z

2 жыл бұрын

Hey! Also a tumblr and MPA survivor. I feel so happy to see others just like me. I am really ashamed of my MPA past even though I know it's not my fault. Just feels like Ed's have more stigma and shame then other mental illnesses, so to have someone openly talk about it is comforting

@karaleigh_eva

2 жыл бұрын

@@user-vq9lr6ss4z the stigma is so hard to deal with through recovery. It’s easy for other people to pin those suffering from restrictive EDs as vain or fatphobic, but I think they’re the examples of the extreme consequences of beauty standards and fatphobia in society. They’re the people that addressing those issues should help. Yknow?

Lord, YOU, TEE NOIR AND SHANSPEARE UPLOAD WITHIN HOURS OF EACH OTHER. Whatever cabal yall have, I want a bloodclat invitation plz 😩

@AliceCappelle

2 жыл бұрын

Yes ! Just finished tee noir's video 🥰

@fifi5456

2 жыл бұрын

dude we literally have the same rotation 🤣💀

@milicaristicevic2637

2 жыл бұрын

same😂😂😂

@kelly55

2 жыл бұрын

How did we all get in this same bubble 😅

@sundiva7642

2 жыл бұрын

It's like I'm in commentary heaven today. Khadija, tee, shanspeare and Mina also uploaded their videos today.

This is an opinion of the quote in 8:44. As a latinamerican girl who have to maintain herself and study at the same time, been in quarantine without a desk, an office chair, just a mattress instead of bed, not even a dinner table to make my homework and make it with low quality light, all of this with almost no job in the process made me appreciate your words about privilege. The only self wisdom I acquire was how depressed i can be, how i relaid on my uni studying spaces, a new way of increasing the feeling of abandonment from the system and the lack of empathy of my professors. Despite all of the above, it was an introspective journey and besides your social status quarantine made us learn new sides about ourself and self development even if it was in an hostile environment, its not like the working class can’t do that too.

@SolftLuna123456789

2 жыл бұрын

Holaa, debe ser muy difícil estudiar en esas condiciones, te aplaudo por eso!! Espero que puedas tener un espacio mejor en el futuro

@Almeendriita

2 жыл бұрын

@@SolftLuna123456789 graciassss y ahora todo esta mejor :-) me demore varios meses en conseguir lo de arriba (fue muy lindo cuando compre la cama jjajaja :’) ), cambie de trabajo a uno mucho mejor y empecé a ir a terapia. Fue un proceso de como un año todo y puedo decir que ya como desde junio todo esta super

@SolftLuna123456789

2 жыл бұрын

@@Almeendriita que bien!! Me alegro mucho☺️☺️

@kattinadahmen6155

2 жыл бұрын

@@Almeendriita dioosss, de verdad admiro tu fuerza para hacer todo eso a la vez. Me alegro que estés mejorando tu condición de a poco, espero consigas lo que quieres y tengas salud, se ve que lo mereces

@Almeendriita

2 жыл бұрын

@@kattinadahmen6155 muchas gracias uwu

thank you youtube algorithm for bringing me here~ I watched this as a big fan of these kinds of channels and this was fascinating. you were able to pinpoint the reasons I love them, and why i occasionally have to take breaks from them. also the panopticon/youtube comparison absolutely blew my mind. thank you so much for this!

@AliceCappelle

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you Cari 🥰

ohh thanks a lot for speaking on the topic!! I found myself in this loop recently, watching "day in life" vlogs and they kinda soothe me kinda make me jealous cause I don't live like that/don't have the same opportunities so literally make me feel two completely polar emotions, I find it so strange haha, don't actually know what the conclusion is here but videos like yours help to unpack things :)

@AliceCappelle

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much!!

@warmgreytenpercent

2 жыл бұрын

Gulya you explain this phenomenon well! Thank you.

@maren8597

2 жыл бұрын

Yes I completely agree you explained how I’ve been feeling so well

@mimisdailydose

2 жыл бұрын

100% feeling like this as well

@iheartjbgccb

2 жыл бұрын

I always avoided those vlogs because I knew I would be envious of the person even when I knew it was fake and they weren't showing the full picture. Make your life your own cute vlog :)

I enjoy "that girl" videos for a few reasons. I enjoy the artistry primarily. The video and photo footage, the fonts, the music, the colors, the editing, and the person's unique spin or style make it a fun piece of art to be consumed. I like the lifestyle vlogging that allows you to sort of follow the person's life through talk time and events, at least the parts they want you to see and hear. I find the videos inspiring because though I know they are highly curated and contrived, maybe even misleading at times, I take from the video, what I think are some of its intended effects and feel entertained. I take from the videos what relates to me and what interests me (travel, fashion, interior design, journaling, books, etc.) and get ideas and motivation. I have for sure felt envious of some of the fantastically expensive locations that these people live in or travel too but I'd feel that same envy towards anyone fortunate enough to experience it whether they used social media to document it or not. Overall, I enjoy the videos because I don't get carried away in comparing myself to them. I know that no one is even kind of perfect even if I can see them fake waking up on camera, working out, and eating clean with no real proof they maintain any routines. None of it has to be the standards we all should strive for but videos that display healthy habits are a great reminder to take some time for those things if they interest you and are accessible. Also, is it just me that finds something oddly soothing about watching vloggers make tea or coffee and then pausing the video to make yourself a cup in your favorite mug and then enjoying life's simple pleasures while watching someone else do the same?

@hannahrempel

2 жыл бұрын

This is so well said, I wholeheartedly agree

@maslinsabeel

2 жыл бұрын

Exactly! Just take inspo from everything you see and live accordingly. Nobody is telling u to be a clone . I don know y people don get this simple message 👍🏻

@runway5338

2 жыл бұрын

This! I watch those videos to lift up my mood (and if I get envious, that’s usually a me problem that I need to sort through), or to feel motivated when I get lazy/burnt out. We shouldn’t watch these videos if we’re going to shame ourselves for living our lives within the confines of what we’re capable of instead of being able to immediately follow what others do. Why follow someone else’s path anyways? It’s not actually meant for us (as in *tailor made* for our individual being and personal lives). What they do is curated for themselves and their interests, lifestyle, etc. You’re right in that we should find the videos related to what we ourselves are interested in if we ever need a spark of inspiration. But that’s it. It’s just for inspiration or motivation-not to actually compare and contrast ourselves to.

@dr.baidyanathsoren158

2 жыл бұрын

You exactly put my thoughts into words! I watch "that girl" videos to seek inspiration and motivation for having a healthy life. I know that what I see isn't the whole picture and not everyone's life is perfect but they still work hard in bettering their lives and that's what motivates me to do the same. Those vloggers are just sharing glimpses of their lives, if we're getting too carried away comparing ourselves to them, we should fix that (which is easier said than done) instead of criticizing those vloggers for living their life

I really agree with the woke but not too radical comment. It sometimes feels like those people are so disconnected from reality, unless it comes to something they can't ignore (so they post a couple of stories about it). Also it feels like their privilege makes them forget that most people don't have the opportunity to work out every morning or cook expensive ass vegan meals every day, even though they often promote such routines as the recipe for happiness and as something you can simply choose to do to have a good life.

@mississipi1103

2 жыл бұрын

And sometimes they look down so much on people that doesn't live like them ...

@springflower7482

2 жыл бұрын

Yeah I could also relate pretty much to that one. I feel like most of these KZreadrs retreat themselve in their own little world or microcosmos, a place where they are surrounded by people who are like them and aren't confronted with the realities of many other people. That creates the image that everyone could achieve their level of education, appearance and health just by following their routines. I find it sometimes frustrating that it is obvioius that such routines are not accomplishable but those people are sticking to their content nonetheless just to remain in their own happy place. Which is something I can understand to a certain extent, on the other hand I feel like it's dangerously ignorant to deny others who are in a miserable position support, take the refugee crisis in europe as an example, even though they have the privilege, education and influence to do so. People that are helping to build a better system, even though that could mean cutbacks for their own happiness should be seen as the role models instead of the beformentioned influencers.

@user-lv5nm6qv2c

2 жыл бұрын

@@springflower7482 yeah I think we need a two-way view like you've mentioned. Maybe their vlogs, their contents make us feel hurt or bad at some extents. However, they want to have a positive influence on their viewers. And that works. Many people have better life thanks to this motivation, which we can't deny. The best thing we can do is to choose , absorb what is really related and proper to ourself. Hope you guys have a fair and multi-dimensional view in everything. Sorry for my English.

@ameliagade7193

2 жыл бұрын

@@springflower7482 but I think I would argue that you tubers are people too. Of course their going to want to remain in their own happy place and I don’t believe that it’s their priority to make content that reflects their viewers, after all that isn’t their responsibility. I think we often forget that they do not owe their viewers anything. Sure it’s nice bit if their content doesn’t align with your own views then should you not just watch someone else’s? Sorry if this seems aggressive I don’t mean it that way at all, your opinion is just interesting to me.

@ashhcatchemall

2 жыл бұрын

I agree with everything except expensive ass vegan meals. this is coming from someone who made vegan meals a year with no job and also, has worked full time plus overtime and still made vegan food. it was literally my life line at the time, just having healthy meals saved me from all the laborious work I had to do

This makes so much sense. A year ago, I started following some "that girl" influencers and with the time I noticed that there was something that bothered me. As someone that naturally rejects routines but has to stick to a somewhat routineish life to stay healthy (and with a lot of help from medication, tbh) I kind of understand that this loss of infatuation with those influencers might had to do with me going back to life out of lockdown. As usual, your video helped me looked inside and discover something new about myself. Priceless!!

@33Jenesis

2 жыл бұрын

I feel you. I know routine is good for me but I find it hard to do the same steps day in day out. The most I can manage is a mid range focus (i was a runner for 5 years, a hiker for 5 years, a yogi for 3 years, and now training myself to swim).

I hate 'that girl' way of living tbh, I find it empty and sad somehow even if they're doing some journaling everyday lol. It feels like that kind of routine steals what's truly beautiful in life, variety and freedom! I don't want to spend it having to count minutes in my DAILY workout, my free time, or sleep. We are not robots, its ok to be chaotic and to do things not according to the plan, that kind of perfect lifestyle feels like a chore that lasts 24/7 in my opinion.

@chloe8387

2 жыл бұрын

yes!! it seems so forced and doing what u want to do in the moment is more meaningful + creates those moments that u WOULD want to journal about... every day being different is what brings joy to life, not schedule

@talltreeyeti

2 жыл бұрын

you’re projecting way too much here. because you don’t enjoy all of that you assume they don’t, but maybe consider the same way that you value and find life in chaos is the same way they feel about order. just because it’s different from your experience doesn’t make it wrong, inauthentic or less than somehow...

@VeroniqueBeauty1

2 жыл бұрын

@@talltreeyeti Well I am not projecting at all, I stated my opinion on why I don't agree with it, I never said that what they're doing is wrong. If its right for them cool, they don't need any validation from me. It is all very subjective. Like you said just because I don't like it doesn't mean its wrong, but the comment section is about sharing YOUR opinion about the video, and this is my opinion about "that girl" phenomenon.

@sabinemar4

2 жыл бұрын

i totally understand your point of view, the 'that girl' lifestyle is not meant for everybody. however, as a perfectionist and someone who craves a little bit/a lot of control in her life due to not being able to rely on other factors (such as family explosions or having a stable mental health), it is very comforting having a routine like a 'that girl' :) youtube and other social media portray it as this perfect little world full of journaling and working out, but it doesn't have to be all that. the same can be said about instagram; people only show the highlight reels, and with 'that girl'-videos, only the prettiest and most aesthetic clips are being shown. my point being: for some people it will feel like a chore, but for some people (like myself) it feels grounding and freeing

@VeroniqueBeauty1

2 жыл бұрын

​@@sabinemar4 Im so glad you find this lifestyle helpful then! And I certainly agree with what you're saying:) My point was more about the portrayal of this kind of daily routine on youtube, ''that girl'' a lot of the times seems forced, and done just because it is trendy now? But having a routine in real life is definitely beneficial, just like you said :)

You connecting that girls with Bourdieu and Foucault brought back hard memories of my last sociology coursework. Since this essay kinda sucked to write, I tend to forget how beneficial my learnings may be for everyday life analysis. Even though the professors emphasize it all the time, in the ends of just wanting to finish my Bachelors makes me forget about the abilities I have. Thanks for reminding me. I really liked your analysis and angle not condemning the trend as a whole but connecting it really nicely to societal construction. Keep up the good work and enjoy your time in Ireland :)

@_giraffed

2 жыл бұрын

i feel you!! my undergrad was in sociology and honestly as i was writing my dissertation and during that months that followed i absolutely hated it... but now 2 years later and finishing masters in marketing i realise how valuable my sociological background is both in my studies and life

@Switzerleando

2 жыл бұрын

Hi Ananda! we share the same name. Her analysis is amazing: Bourdieu, Foucault and Gramsci in a well rounded discussion/analysis about youtube and "that girl" and our western privilege society vs. the rest.

"Ireland is expensive." As someone renting in Dublin for 10 years I feel that in my soul 😭😭😭

@AliceCappelle

2 жыл бұрын

Why though 😭😭😭

@lilimandula

2 жыл бұрын

haha im about to move to Dublin for college (i mean the offers only come in tomorrow so im not even sure) and im scared🤠🤠🤠

@pandasarecute2265

2 жыл бұрын

@@lilimandula Good luck!!! 🍀

@bridokane874

2 жыл бұрын

Why indeed, a possible topic for the next video... 35years old just moved back in with my parents.. Irish life eh!

@livr7526

2 жыл бұрын

@@lilimandula hope you got in!

I started living "that girl"lifestyle since the pandemic started. Recently, I noticed that I have become very critical of myself. I felt like I was never smart enough, fit enough, interesting enough, nice enough, successful enough, charitable enough etc. I constantly compared myself to everyone else. I did things because I had to and not because I wanted to. And I felt miserable. So I decided to look into what makes me feel this way. I read Byung-Chul Han's "The Burnout Society". In it, he argues that we no longer have the discipline society of the past, where the discipline came from the outside. Instead, we have fully internalized the values of neoliberalism and self-exploit ourselves with the aim of success in the capitalist society. I think that "that girl" lifestyle really plays into this idea. You do things because they are good for you and you work for success but you are so focused on yourself that you forget to be critical of the forces that tell you what is "good" for you and what constitutes success.

I needed this video because watching this type of content has made me pressure myself a lot to live a certain way that doesn't actually suit me for the most part.

@Bananaboat13798

2 жыл бұрын

Yess

@VALENTINEBEAMS

2 жыл бұрын

Isn't discipline doing what doesn't suit you but that is nonetheless good for you?

@zippy3253

2 жыл бұрын

@@VALENTINEBEAMS exactly. A lot of people in this comment section and the person in the video are just looking for people to project their insecurities unto. No one forced them to watch the videos. They could just scroll and not have to unnecessarily analyse every single thing with their verbose comments.

I am in general not able to emulate any "that girl" vibes. Sticking to routines is hard, and I still get anxious/filled with shame watching lifestyle/that girl vlogs; I am not able to measure up to those. I do watch Namiのくらし ; a vlogger from Japan. She has the kind of intent, self love, self care, joy and quietness I'd like to have, but I am not filled with shame and self hatred watching her. Instead I often feel some comfort. I still have a long way to go before I truly like and accept myself. I'd like to be less scared of failing/perceiving to fail in the eyes of society.

@Shg228

2 жыл бұрын

Yes Nami is the best! She doesn't have a specific agenda like other "that girl" videos do. She just shows her life and it's awesome

@chai_lattes

2 жыл бұрын

I feel you. I'm happy that other people are talking about this because I feel like the social circles I'm in definitely admire and try to emulate the aesthetic ease of that girl. It's great if other people are inspired or motivated by watching these vlogs, but I'm totally with you in feeling a deep existential shame when I inevitably compare myself/my life to them.

@SubNorm4L

2 жыл бұрын

Laura, remember that you only see what they choose to show you. People seem way more perfect on social media than they are in their day to day. You can't see what's really going on in their minds or what happens when the camera is off.

@mariaespidifren4982

2 жыл бұрын

As the wise Taylor Swift said: society is sick, we're all sick, so I wrote this sick beat. Dont be afraid of being human, we're all dirty and flawed no matter how much we try to hide it, but thats not bad news I think thats the beauty of it.

Maybe their vlogs, their contents make us feel hurt or bad at some extents. However, they want to have a positive influence on their viewers. And that works. Many people have better life thanks to this motivation, which we can't deny. The best thing we can do is to choose , absorb what is really related and proper to ourselves. Hope you guys have a fair and multi-dimensional view in everything. Sorry for my English.

@dalladalla8449

2 жыл бұрын

You explained yourself wonderfully! I totally agree

@maslinsabeel

2 жыл бұрын

You just took my words. 👏🏻

@blankslate6078

Жыл бұрын

I do agree with that they want to make a positive impact but I think that is an assumption and isn't backed by anything other than your perception and the idea that correlation implies causation. Like are these videos actually contributing to positive impact ? It is debatable I think that is confirmation bias as well , just because things look positive and happy doesn't mean they are positive and happy. I think the one thing that people don't realize that capatalism can look like something positive but in reality it can hurt people . Just because a persons intention is good doesn't mean it is good . Like for example a parent being strict on child they may mean good but can actually be very toxic for the child . I think if people have a public persona they should be aware about what they are promoting and these people who are "that girl" aren't promoting change they are promoting neoliberlism and lassez fair capatalism at best which isn't change or positive it is just another style of capitalism.

@strawberrycola39

Жыл бұрын

​@@blankslate6078 based from their popularity and the comments on those (that girl) videos, it seems to me that there is anecdotal positive impact on someone's individual level, at least.

i come from a working poor family in the states, and i never watch or interact with lifestyle vloggers. And honestly this was strange to watch because i never was interested in lifestyle vloggers because i found the videos too privileged. so privileged to the point it annoyed me. I learned that my “habitus” might actually be radically different than many of the viewers here.

I have dabbled in "that girl" content, but never enough to watch anything with a title like, "my morning routine" or "my vegan diet" because it doesn't interest me. However, I watch commentary videos in which "that girl" speaks on something. But, given my privilege of being unemployed, yet financially stable all pandemic, I developed "that girl" routine out of things I like to do, and delved into a lot of LoA and spirituality content. It started out of guilt for my privilege (I needed to "be productive" to feel valuable), but then some of the habits turned into great methods for self-soothing. Truthfully, some of the habits started before the pandemic when I quit my full-time office job to work part-time as a teacher's assistant abroad (utilizing English-speaking, blue-passport-holding privilege). Having access to my time, while a result of a global class privilege, within my habitus felt like the opposite; I made the decision to make less money to have more freedom, and oftentimes feel behind my peers, despite being happy with my life. While I understand the overarching idea of "that girl" representing insulated class privilege, and optimizing productivity by creating a "disciplined body", I think it also points to positive cultural shifts. The idea of investing and promoting a trusting relationship with yourself. Finding ways to spend time that aren't directly wrapped up in capitalism (which, I suppose, it defeated if one vlogs about it, or is doing it to increase work productivity). To me it aligns with the "millenials buy plants because they can't afford children" thing. I'm nearing 30, and I don't have a spouse, house, children, or traditional "career." But, if I can get on my yoga mat every day, or romanticize drinking my morning coffee, while I chip away at student debt, it gives me a sense of dignity and control against the existential dread of "what the fuck am I doing? How much longer until society reaches its breaking point because of political unrest, climate change, the singularity, aliens, or whatever else is coming our way?"

@dorottyacseresnyes2738

2 жыл бұрын

That's such an intriguing point!

@falseprophet4927

2 жыл бұрын

excellently said. its absurd that workers dont get enough time to have free time and take care of themselves and spend time with their families. however this is america. our hypercapitalist and propagandized population genuinely thinks rich people earned their place to be able to enjoy leisure time fairly. its actually at the expense of all workers in this country. the lucky few that get to exit the rat race, even if only temporarily, realize that this is not a healthy and sustainable system. its not your fault, youre just taking care of yourself. but it is in good faith to be able to agknowledge that time being a luxury most cant afford.

@VALENTINEBEAMS

2 жыл бұрын

Here's what I struggle with on the privilege point, and I can sense that it stresses my partner privately: what is achieved by recognizing it, if it doesn't change your behavior? You recognized your privilege, you told us all here, and you made use of it anyway. I don't think there's anything wrong with that at all, but I can't find an ending to the sentence, "we must all recognize our privilege because...", if we're not changing our behavior other than to publicly broadcast that acknowledgement. Again, just to be clear: I'm not suggesting you did anything wrong (or right, for that matter). I'm seeking that thing I've overlooked that makes it crucial to acknowledge our privilege. I feel like the answer is, "because then we'll change our behavior and dedicate ourselves to correcting it", but that is not a cut and dried argument.

@VALENTINEBEAMS

2 жыл бұрын

@@falseprophet4927 totally agree - maybe it's okay to order something online and not get it within two days, and maybe the customer doesn't have to be right when they're wrong, and maybe the store can close some days, pay fewer employees a reasonable wage, and remain profitable. Maybe we don't need cheap, tacky disposable plastic from China that is bought and immediately forgotten, and new shirts every quarter.

@hellolover99

2 жыл бұрын

@@VALENTINEBEAMS I don’t exactly understand what you mean when you said, “You recognized your privilege, you told us all here, and you made use of it anyway.” Is the idea that I’m supposed to give up my citizenship, or live in poverty, or do other things to lead a “less privileged” life to atone for the fact that I was born with certain privileges? Ultimately, recognizing my privilege *has* changed my behaviour, leading me to the life I live. I think deeply about my decisions and try to act in a way that is both ethical and fulfilling. But I’m not interested in devoting my whole life to garnering power to make sweeping change. I focus on enacting change in my social circle, because that’s where I’m most effective. Plus, I think it’s patronizing to “try to save [insert country]” when it’s usually something I only know a limited amount about as an outsider and my individual choices don’t affect climate change. I see acknowledging privilege as a form of respect, a way to humble the ego, and an attack on the narrative of meritocracy. For a long time, it was pushed that marginalized people weren’t as powerful as rich white men because they weren’t “smart” or “civilized” etc. and if only they could just ~pull themselves up by their bootstraps!~ when the reality is that their privilege was a result of oppression. Acknowledging privilege makes it easier to talk to people, because it addresses a common humanity, and recognizes that we are all simply results of our experiences, rather than creating a hierarchy (e.g. “I’m richer than you because I’m better than you!”). I don’t verbally acknowledge my privilege in every single situation, but I thought it was relevant in response to the video since Alice mentioned it. What someone decides to do afterwards, should they acknowledge their privilege, is up to them. If they do something ethical, awesome! If they do a ton of ethical action but never acknowledge their privilege, that’s also awesome! If they don’t do either, power to them! I don’t agree with the idea that “we must all recognize our privilege…”, because of the “all” qualifier. Everything is so subjective and everyone is on their own individual journeys. Just like we can look at “that girl” and call her “privileged” but we can also say, “wow, women are so oppressed, it’s awesome to see some thriving and investing in themselves.” It’s always down to perspective.

We all make a portrait of our ideal selfs naturally, we want to make a good impression of ourselves to others and to ourselves too. Also, we want to understand things, we want things to be as we perceive them to be, and we in some ways design ourselves to conform to this perceived order of things. In truth I think we are all a mess and we just cant bring ourselves to admit it. We strive to know ourselves but thats not possible, I for one find myself surprised with my thoughts and actions constantly and feel like I know myself less every time I think about It.

@fatimazahrael3430

2 жыл бұрын

Fact

@uwenyap1576

2 жыл бұрын

I'm not sure how helpful this comment is going to be but something that's helped me with the idea of getting to know myself is the approach endorsed in Buddhism/meditation that: you are not your thoughts, but the manager of your thoughts. Have a great week!

@restlesspodcast8763

2 жыл бұрын

I absolutely love this comment because when I’ve tried to be “that girl” it only shows me how hard it is to be “that girl”. by trying to be perfect on a Rigid schedule we reject our humanity and our emotional selves, distancing ourselves from our true self and radical acceptance of the flawed self.

@TheLily97232

2 жыл бұрын

It is even more like that nowadays ineed

As a student, I found myself vicariously living through the lives of other people's education via "a day in the life" or "being productive" type videos instead of focusing on my day in the life. This was often out of insecurity in my own educational pursuit / achievements. I do find that it can be beneficial in motivating someone - but to a degree. Too much of it can take you out of your own life and own self worth in regards to your education, yes, but also just generally speaking, your life. Post-graduation I haven't paid the faintest attention to those types of videos, and I feel much better for it. P.S. A huge congrats on your new life chapter! Loved my 2 weeks in Ireland all the way back in high school. In fact, the scenery and memories of it are the inspiration for my next album.

Great video! It sounds like ThatGirl surfs of the trend of questioning the system (not watching too much social media, trying to get a sense of control, etc.), while embracing the pursuit of productivity which would be the latest norm of the system? Isn't also the "perfect routine" the new unattainable goal? Similarly to what unattainable beauty standards are.

@AliceCappelle

2 жыл бұрын

Exactly!

@aisling8308

2 жыл бұрын

Capitalist Realism at it again

@constantreader1422

2 жыл бұрын

yes! that last bit! the idea of perfect wellness (routines, eating habits, skin care) is new beauty industry.

@boinkadoinkk

2 жыл бұрын

How would anyone be able to reject productivity entirely when it's a necessary part of survival under capitalism? We literally aren't given a choice if we want to have any financial stability. You can question the system whilst remaining a part of it. Everyone is forced to conform to some degree, otherwise we wouldn't be able to exist.

I enjoy your channel. You're sensible and reflective, as well as stylish, beautiful, and French! All the bases are covered.

@AliceCappelle

2 жыл бұрын

Aww thank you 🥰

@joori339

2 жыл бұрын

She’s french?😔

As someone who wrote my thesis on Foucault and watches these ‘that girl’ videos all the time, this felt like such an unexpected and WONDERFUL marriage of the two. Thank you so much for making this, so insightful and thought provoking.

Alice, you really embody exactly what I always wanted KZread to be like. Thank you for sharing such inspiring content! 🎉

@AliceCappelle

2 жыл бұрын

That's so so nice of you 😭🥰

@Nuance88

2 жыл бұрын

Yes, her videos are patient, thoughtful, comprehensive, straightforward, curious-Can you imagine if the bulk of KZread was done in this way? I suspect Alice is an inspiration for many new, young, careful KZreadrs, or at least I hope/wish it were the case.

@hanasikova8634

2 жыл бұрын

I am slowly creating my niche out of these kinds of channels and gosh it makes my KZread feed and as extent life so inspiring ❤️

I do adore a day in my life tiktoks as long as it's not setting a standard for yourself. I would say it sounds nice to document days of your liking so you can use it as motivation for school/work or look back on what you did that specific day in the future. But in all this, it's important to remember that we all are allowed to have unproductive days and shouldn't fake what we're supposed to document. I'm considering making these kinds of videos but I don't want to sugarcoat them too much and I want to do it to motivate myself and be able to look back on them later.

I wonder if these girls have pressure on them to have their shit together all the time. I mean, if they are having a bad time and their life is not that great at the moment, would people still watch their content?

i remember that when i learned about that concept, i was constantly trying to define my habitus, since i always felt like the financial means of my family contradicted the social class of it, resulting in some kind of inconsistent identity and, therefore, an inconsistent habitus. but it's probably never that easy. i can identify with 'that girl' and i watch her constantly, but at the same time there is that part of me that irrationally despises her for her presumably stable family background, her ignorance regarding politics and the lack of opinions, which all seems so far away from my reality.. anyway, love the colour scheme in that video, you did great as always!

@AliceCappelle

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for sharing your experience, it's extremely valuable 🥰

@joshuageraldbutler8037

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you! I think you perfectly described my own irrational despising of "that girl" (or "that man"); the stability, political ignorance and separation from reality that many people of a lower class face drives me up the wall.

great sociological analysis

@AliceCappelle

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you 😊

I’m pretty shocked to see Hitomi on the cover of this thumbnail. If you’ve watched her videos for a long time, as I have, you will know that she has been through a huge healing journey from depression, anxiety, ptsd, self harm, sexual trauma, etc, and shows her routines and self care practices as ways to nourish and actually heal. I find them very inspiring and insightful, and not surface level content around being an idealized “that girl.” I just wanted to throw this out there because I think she has a heart of pure gold and I’ve watched her learn how to care for herself on all levels, and she simply documents it, alongside all the ups and downs of life. ❤️

@FilmsIMet

2 жыл бұрын

Agree, I was so suprised to see Hitomi here

@laflaca5382

2 жыл бұрын

Hitomi

you seem a very mellow person ~~ your analysis is quite the profound take on the youtubers I watch and I so needed to hear this sociocultural perspective. Really takes you out of the hole and become aware of your media consumption. Also, love that you have references to different philosophers and like sociologists - thats a rare one with youtuber/trend analysis videos. Truly appreciate this video.

Yes ! to “woke but not too radical.” I also see value in routines for some people - in Ayurveda a daily routine is called dinacharya and it’s a primary practice to cultivate balance, harmony and peace. But the “that girl” trend is concerning to me because it’s in the wellness universe and as you said, conformity plays a role here - there’s an absence of encouragement for people to define and find their own version of wellness and practices to support that. There’s 2 parts to this version that bother me 1-the modern housewife and 2-productivity culture. Modern housewife/ it’s another version of daily tasks that *everyone* needs to do to live, moving out of the realm of everyone and into a performance for womxn. The gendered aspect is a problem because it loads womxn with expectations - and domestic, unpaid expectations. That has historically and will continue to cause stress and mental health challenges to womxn until we tone down the pressure to make these tasks for other people and not for the person doing them. The homogeneity ignores that nourishing food, movement and sleep will all look different for different people because we all live in different bodies, places and communities. I say performance because it does seem to rely on a certain look and these things are fundamentally beneficial to the person doing them yet are put in a public arena to be scrutinized. (I also wonder if it reduces men’s sense of access or right or place to these skills? I don’t know). 2/ productivity culture. Like you said, there’s a lot of focus on scheduling/time and productivity. These are both patriarchal values and neither account for the cyclical nature of people (womxn especially because of hormonal cycles) or the value of rest, play, pleasure, community, exploration or simply being. Rigidity isn’t a cyclical being’s friend or a creative being’s friend. The concept that being productive is good is inherently capitalistic and the concept of laziness is, in my option, a myth - laziness is actually a nervous system asking for rest, support, connection or help. It focuses so much on doing more that it ignores that the full human experience isn’t in service of doing. These routines can be supportive to some people, but I think sitting under a tree in the morning or cuddling with a loved one are just as valid forms of supporting health, but they aren’t “productive”. They can’t be measured as easily, they’re not what wellness culture has taught us is “right” and they’re immensely enjoyable for the sake of being enjoyable. I’m really curious to see more radical perspectives come in - I think this is a step with intent for grounding, which is different from the culture of health we’ve seen in the last half century (housewife up to diet culture of the 2000s), but again, it’s incredibly individualistic and culturally reliant on ytness/access to certain resources.

@lyrasweet

2 жыл бұрын

You nailed it, Claire!

@izabelezyleify

2 жыл бұрын

Claire, Genuine question.... Why did you put an x on the word women,and not on men's? I'm not an English speaker, and this seems so obscure. It reads in the same vain, when people call women 'people with vaginas' (and that's the tamest one), yet the very same people don't call men 'people with penises'. Do people not notice this dehumanising language?

@hellow0rld798

2 жыл бұрын

@@izabelezyleify hi Iaumes, I'm glad you asked, it's not obscure but it's new for some English speakers, so it would understandably new to people learning. To the second part of your question, it is humanizing language to acknowledge that people are not simply men or women - we're all human and in certain contexts, using the term "people with uteruses/vaginas/penises" acknowledges the fact that people experience life differently for so many reasons, including both anatomy and gender expression. It's not about calling women "people with vaginas" but allowing anyone with a vagina, whether they identify as non-binary, anything else, woman, man, to be welcomed in the conversation. Talking about bodies is incredibly human and important for our health, which is often the context in which "people with..." is used. For womxn - it's a term that's born of intersectional feminist history and may feel acknowledging to some trans and non-binary people - historically it was also womyn and it's intention is to exclude the "men" part of "women" as a way to indicate that womxn owned and defined themselves. I use it because it was something womxn call themselves and I feel a sense of self-ownership with it, which is important considering thousands years of history of men defining womxn and attempting to own womxn. I don't use tame language, I am wild and radical - it's more fun that way. I hope this helps.

@spookyaliens6286

2 жыл бұрын

Wow thank you for taking the time to write this comment! Honestly I am very impressed, I get nervous commenting on things myself because it feels like I’m talking to a room full of people behind black curtains who i can’t see who may or may not be listening and that scares me but I guess that’s social media 😱

@adityamakwana612

2 жыл бұрын

its a myth womans work was never really unpaid,there is a reason why man buy woman jewllery(over buying themselves sportsbike) and provide for them.it is a give and take situation ,man simply would not be providing for woman if we got nothing out of it .humans are reciprocal in nature

hey I only stumbled on ur videos today, but just wanted to say I think they are super engaging and interesting. personally when I'm writing for videos about things I'm interested in or passionate about, I find it really difficult to turn all my thoughts into a coherent script but you have a really clear way of speaking and presenting ideas :) (also I fully get the struggle of trying to record whilst dogs are barking and people are shouting and building work is going on haha)

I am so happy to come across your channel. I’ve been into the productive trend I was so frustrated to not be able reach goals that society shape for me. The algorithms made me thinking about myself that what I am is not enough

i love the video, but Nayna is one of those girls who talks a lot about mental health and the other side of the aesthetic image she presents, both on her KZread and her podcast Growing with the flow 🥺 but i agree with everything 💙

I find that every take you have is presented through a compassionate-lens for self and others. I appreciate that so much! Thank you Alice :)

thank you so much for shedding light on this topic and connecting the dots for us - it really is a breath of fresh air amidst all the routine videos that i’ve been seeing in my recommendations (no shade, i consume them regularly as well), to really break down, critique and analyse why we consume the way we do. hope to see more of these videos!!

I really like your take on this, however I see a lot of comments that are missing the point. When someone creates vlog-like content, "that girl" videos etc it means that they put their heart into it, we get to see a big part of their life and what they are TRYING to become. Meaning that they try to be healthy and productive and we get to see that through their videos in order to get inspired and maybe pick up a tip or two. We don't only need relatable content like "slacking a whole day" or "eating junk food only for a week because im anxious af". I think it's necessary to consume a bit of "idealistic" content, exactly because it gets us working to achieve our goals. And I don't see anything wrong with our goals being having a healthy life style, stimulating our minds with books and studying, working hard and also maintaining good relationships. These are key areas of everyone's life and whoever denies that they don't contribute to our happiness, they are probably lying to themselves. I see comments claiming that these influencers don't show the bad side and the breakdowns, but in all honesty, they always mention how this helps them come out of a dark place and relax. I don't think they are supposed to film themselves having a panic attack, but thankfully for us, they always mention that side of life in their videos. And yes, they may not be working a retail job, but there is no need to hate on them for having a different life than any of us. We all start from a different place and for everyone there are different kinds of ups and downs. And for those of us who are more priviliged we ought to help the less fortunate, not complain about the girl next door who is being more productive than us. And Alice in her video perfectly explains that the point is to constantly question ourselves and our point of view, not to bash on "that girl" content for not being relatable.

LOVE the discussion of the panopticon. I first learned about it in an architectural theory class and I've been obsessed ever since

@AliceCappelle

2 жыл бұрын

Yes! It is applicable to sooo many things, I love that concept!

I really appreciate the content you're putting out. allowing space to acknowledge that so many of us (myself included!) are both captivated by and also separate from this kind of content (and many other topics you've recently explored). I find myself caught between a duality of loving the sort of... pop cultural relevance of influencers, trends, and late stage capitalism more broadly; while also enjoying the opportunity to reject all of it and observe like a sort of fly on the wall. I hadn't heard of habitus as a term, but I certainly appreciate your critical view of it while still acknowledging adjacency to what the world points you (us) toward. in this case me, to your content haha.

Your self reflection and archetype analysis is really insightful! Another great video 💯

Really thoughtful social analysis! Thank you for making this content. In addition to the issues you’ve outlined, ‘that girl’ content is also much easier to produce from a creative POV (boilerplate). Your content must take a lot more work and I appreciate it!

That is why it's so important to diversify the content you are watching and be aware of the content's purpose.

I cannot relate to this generation at all! I feel bad for everyone who feels the pressure to "succeed" and "win" in every aspect of your life instead of just enjoying life. Nothing seems to come from an authentic natural place anymore, but is put on, contrived, always with an audience in mind. I hate this prevalent expression used nowadays, "Living my best life!!" They must feel like utter failures if life deals them a blow, as it does.

I'm so glad youtube suggested this to me!! I have been feeling like all my scrolling has been mindless lately but reading has felt like a chore. This video is the perfect balance between easy and accessible and knowledge. You made a lot of really interesting points I will definitely be checking out more videos in the future!

the narration and editing of this video is so good!

Having been a regular viewer of this type of content for the past 3 years, I resonate with a lot of what you have pointed out! My two cents to this discussion would be about something I noticed during the past month. When I began switching the consumption of content I watched on YT theme-wise, there was a clear and reflecting correlation with what I wanted my life to become. Through my adolescence, I struggled with severe depression and anxiety (and a personality disorder that thankfully was not left unassisted), and around the time I began to heal and got my meds right, I started watching "that girl" (which wasn't really a term before tik tok, I suppose) content. It made me inspired to take even more care of myself. Everything in their lives went according to plan, and my own habitus made me resonate with a lot of theirs, even with an age and nationality gap. Today, I rely deeply on routines to mantain my mental health. It is something extremelly hard for me and I find myself having to start them over and over and I think I always will. Now, I take the romanticisation of life in these videos with a grain of salt, but truly, I miss the 'realness' they could bring into these routines. Sometimes living just sucks, but no one would vlog a part of their day where something not so glamorous happened, or when they felt really depressed. At given points, life is really shit just because- it is, and being an avid watcher of 'that girl' kinda makes you forget that. In this past month, I got a job after 8 months unemployed and have had other projects that demand so much of my time, but I am managing to keep myself at a routine and healthy pace- and I stopped watching those videos. I believe I was (and in a way we all are) living vicariously through other people's digital selfs and reality. Not really sure about a way to conclude this, but it just got me thinking ☺ Great video, Alice! Subscribing for more 🌿🌿

I really love this video!! Gave me a lot of nee perspective on the “that girl trend” I just wanted to say that Hitomi (one of the examples used) isn’t rlly a “that girl” as she does continuously remind her audience to take time and space for themselves and shows how she takes time for herself and takes care of her mental health. She also acknowledges her privilege a lot and recognises not everyone can live like she does and gives suggestions for people with different living situations.No Ill will just thought I’d mention it :)

@sssarbear

2 жыл бұрын

Agreed and I’d say the same about Jenny as well (wear i live)

@AlexandriaReads

2 жыл бұрын

Agree!

@Victoria-dt9vt

2 жыл бұрын

i agree

@luzjaimes7928

2 жыл бұрын

I was looking for this comment Hitomi, does not fit in this bag

@hellemiaw3808

2 жыл бұрын

I agree that Hitomi definitely is very aware of her privileges and generelly has content that pokes deeper than the examples given in this video, that being said, for me personally I do see her fit in this box in some ways, and I can sometimes get a feeling of inadequacy from watching her videos. I think she promotes self-help a lot (which isn't necessarily a bad thing), in the way of talking about manifestion and spirituality, which definitely isn't enough for everyone to solve their problems. I might be one of the few who feels this way though, as many find her content very soothing and positive!:)

I love how you worked it out as an essay by bringing up theories and analyzing it. It was really insightful 👏🏼

you’re amazing, i’m so glad i found this video and your channel!!! can’t wait to watch more of your content

I loved the content of the video and feel it sheds a little more light on how our minds perceive certain patterns that can be labeled as safe and expected. At the end of the day, we are beings with a large social component that functions as a frame of reference in our concepts and behavior. I was just waiting to put all those sources on my list! Hehehe

Hello! I'm a Brazilian Psychology student and I've been noticing how "study vlogs" all around YT are so similar... All that candles I mean!!! Your video has made me think about using this discomfort I've been feeling as the subject for my bachelor thesis. Thank you so much!!!!

Thank you so much for this analysis. I have been reaching for the reason why I keep going back to this content.

What a great video Alice! Thank youuu for doing this. Sometimes we dont go deep in some topics that are crucial to understand how things are working. When you started to explain what "that girl" was I thought: OMG I am "that girl". And afterwords I understood why I have been feeling terrible the last couples of weeks that I have been unmotivated and stuck. I am not allowing myself to be "lazy" or "slower" because all I see on KZread is productive people. But that is not the whole point of life. It is good to have a routine and achieve your goals but sometimes you need to go inside and reconnected with yourself. Thank you for this video!!

Thank you for the content. I value your production.

“Habitus” first time I’ve heard and learned about it. Thank you😊.

this was sooo interesting, i just stumbled upon your channel with this video and i immediately subscribed ! i idolise the that girl aesthetic as something i aspire to but i always have to remind myself that you have to do what you can and not pick on yourself for missing deadlines or stepping outside the routine, you breaking this phenomenon down was soo interesting thank you :)

I’ve just discovered your channel and I’m OBSESSED! 🙏🏻

When you explained the underlying ideology that we absorb while watching those videos made me go "I'm not like that... I... I know this??" And then I realized that it was true, I've been living with that ideal of a perfect routine and perfect habits for a long time and been aspiring to it. It's the reason why I sometimes feel bad when I don't stick to mine (not to say that about routines bc they have benefits but to think they're the sole reason behind success and growth is not really true). Thank you so much for the video, Alice!! Believe it or not yours are some of my favorites to wind down to and feel more down to earth when I'm getting anxious.

this is such a good breakdown of that girl. thank you for this video and perspective!

My friend and I discussed this today and your video tied in with so much we noticed too! Thank you so much, such a fascinating discussion!

This is sooo good Alice!! So insightful... it touched me deeply because although I am not on YT I am "that girl" in my private life. I also enjoy the content. Also, thanks for the philosophy refresh haha!

I'm not surprised that we have That Girl. To me, it's the way Asian cultures put pressure to their women to be the best at anything on the dot! She's not the richest, most beautiful woman, but she has something that we think is accessible or reachable. The thing is, it is, however That Girl is an illusion of idealism and obsession. Here in Asia, both men and women have this, but with this video, there is a particular routine that gives a picturesque idea of That Girl, That Woman.

I don't usually write comments. But I can't help writing one after watching your videos. Just wanted to say thank you for the new perspectives you are pointing at to your viewers. And you do it with so much kindness, tenderness and respect! Love your dress today as well 😍

@AliceCappelle

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you 🥰🥰

Wow, I wasn’t expecting this content and I’m very pleased. What an interesting relation of ideas. Thank you so much!

super contenu, plein de références intéressantes qui donnent envie de faire des recherches et d'aller plus loin ! merci, hâte de voir les prochaines :)

Hi Alice, I just stumbled upon your channel. I am also a Sociology student (double major in Sociology and Geography) and loved how you analysed this video Xx

For me, 'That Girl' content is simultaneously soothing and anxiety inducing. On one hand, you see them living a life that is achievable because of the way it's portrayed. On the other hand, I can't help but think about how many more factors play a role in achieving a lifestyle like this. Class/financial privilege is of course one of the major factors because when you aren't constantly worried about when you'll get your next pay cheque, you are able to invest and have time for things like working out or reading 200 pages a day while still studying and keeping up with other routine tasks. I also think that you need to not be mentally disadvantaged in order to achieve a life like this. Because when you're struggling to just sustain your life on a very bare minimum level... well, a work out is not exactly on your priority list. I do think all of this is rooted deeply in capitalism and the current "hustle/grind" culture where you're encouraged to always have something to do throughout the day (i.e. be productive. i hate that word) or else you're deemed worthless. I personally don't believe in being productive at all times. Humans need rest and time to themselves. We need to not be juggling 100 tasks at the same time. We need deep, authentic care for ourselves. Not a performance to put up on the internet.

@mjj7781

2 жыл бұрын

The last two sentences are gold

I have just discovered your channel. Thank you so much for this high quality content. Much needed !

Wow this video was super insightful. The idea of the 'habitus' was new to me and i love this concept! Thanks for making this video :)

these women you’re putting in a box, are very helpful for me as someone who was abused and struggles with mental illness. it helps me reparent myself and learn to care & love myself more. im not sure what the point of this video is. yes, they are privileged, as most influencers are. they inspire me to have a better life.

@kiss4god

2 жыл бұрын

@livingthedream thank you for validating me! sending love to you on your journey

@esterklimecka1013

2 жыл бұрын

I was little bit confused that so much visual material in the video came from Hitomi Mochizuki channel - in other words from the channel of a person who was doing sex work, was psychicaly an physicaly abused, was not from middle class white family etc. I actually have had some troubles with suicidal thoughts in the past and her videos helped me a lot. I find this video little bit simplifing. Yes, capitalism does exist. But no, people are not ideologies with feet.

@nollanoodle5697

2 жыл бұрын

@@esterklimecka1013 Exactly.

@strawberrycola39

Жыл бұрын

I agree. Ideas are born of repetition, as she quotes in the video, but I'm glad that the repetition that this trend emphasizes are of things that, for most part, can help people direct their life towards a more positive trend

while being chronically online, "that girl" concept has been subconsciously engraved in my brain that i actually became her while romanticizing everything that i do and there's nothing wrong with that, it's part of the self love process

Alice thank you so much for your videos!! I watched the one about WOOF because it was somethng that i reaally wanted to try, a differente kind of volunteering that involves more contact with nature and workers in organic farms buy your video made me realized that if i ever want to do that kind of work i can contact local communities direclty and not through a global company that is expecting me to work for free. Keep up the great work !!

this was so solid. really refreshing to hear such a thorough and thoughtful analysis of this genre of video

I’m thinking about how I stumbled upon your content now too. Last week, I watched a series of lecture on Foucault and I’ve been murmuring to myself his famous quote “the soul the is prison of the body”. Now I’m watching your video essay on ‘That girl’ and disciplined bodies. These algorithms are getting so smart.

Very enlightening and thoughtful analysis! It shed light on the rise in popularity on “productive day in my life” videos. I can’t help but feel like some of these routines were unrealistic because they appeared too staged. As mentioned, every is scheduled and very minute of time is allocated perfectly. Lemon water at 5am, yoga at 6am, avocado toast at 7am, study for 4 hours, etc. I stopped watching those type of lifestyle vloggers. (Very true with the analogy of the panopticon that content creators are pressured by viewers to keep churning out productive content) A question: Will we truly become the best version of ourselves if we adhere to these strict, performative, and regimented routines? I’m not so sure. “That girl” is an ideal- she doesn’t exist. Even what we’re shown in the vlogs are the edited, curated and best footage of themselves. I can’t remember who said it or where it came from, but it went something like: I’m not who I think I am. I’m not who you think I am. I am who I think you think I am. That’s what I thought of when you explained the concept of habitus.

@AliceCappelle

2 жыл бұрын

Yes ! Exactly, I couldn't agree more. Most of this trend is about performing a persona, a lifestyle that nobody can really sustain in the long run

@Shg228

2 жыл бұрын

So true, it looks like Samanthas think alike! I tried being "that girl" a couple years back before the trend had a name and I was always upset I couldn't time everything like they did. Do they not do dishes? I started falling out of love with the trend the more I started deviating from the "that girl's" standard list of activities. I don't want to sound like "I'm not like other girls" but I wish there was more diversity with the activities they do. For instance, I do powerlifting not yoga because I want to be super strong and have huge muscles. I don't eat avocado toast bc I'm sick of eating it for years and it will keep me full for like 15 minutes. I still admire the core values that this trend promotes, like focusing on your mental health

I Remember reading about the habitus in college. I was a sociology major and I’m so happy you revisited this!

Treasure the education I’ve received from just watching several of your videos. Such a voice of clarity, and deliberate reason. Thank you!

très bonne vidéo, très intéressante et super d'avoir utiliser des concepts et notions de sociologie et de philosophie

It is possible to become “that girl”. Because through working on yourself everyday and not giving up it is going to bring you somewhere. Hitomi is the perfect example of a positive “that girl” or whatever. Because she struggled a lot with mental health and talks about it a lot. But she worked on it and now she is apparently living a better life, which is very inspiring. It shows that you can achieve your goals through being consistent and that’s why we or at least I watch it. Because they remind us of the possibilities and strength we have in ourselves.

Such a great analysis! Thanks for your work!

i’ve seen some videos now from your channel and i just want to thank you for your content, i find it very interesting and it has made me think more about different daily topics

The “that girl” trend should be renamed the “rich girl” trend let’s be honest 😂 so much of these women’s lives is a product of privilege; saying you have such an amazing, aesthetic life simply because you worked hard is frankly insulting to working class people who practically kill themselves at their jobs just so they can survive.

Also, I feel like we are constantly grouping girls into different categories and then analysing them and finding their flaws, whilst we don't do that for boys at all. Like where is the male equivalent to the pick-me girl, that girl or karen (i know we then invented the kyle or kevin or whatever his name is, but that was after and not as big)? Why do we put so much energy into tearing types of girls down?

@kaypat23

2 жыл бұрын

Yeah, i mean it ain't so deep. these girls are just doing lifestyle vlogs and videos because they want to share their lives with others and possibly grow their channel because such content is in demand now. She has no control over how other people feel about her videos tbh. What're they gonna do? Just stop making lifestyle vlogs and constantly put a disclaimer about how their videos are not "real" and they are extremely privileged? It seems ridiculous that we are analyzing this.

@kiss4god

2 жыл бұрын

100% i dont see the point of this video but to hyper fixate on women and their routines

@pagethreemodel

2 жыл бұрын

Exactly!!!

@samsemp10l23

2 жыл бұрын

I mean ig you can the male pick-me girl is the “nice guy”, the Karen is the boomer and that girl is the “sigma” male that is being now made fun of.

@Maya-so5yk

2 жыл бұрын

alpha males

This video came up in my road really at the right time, you've inspired me and made me curious to listen more after few minutes. Glad to see someone with the will of going deeper into things that, at this point, are completely part of our lives. Thank you for sharing this kind of content🙏🏻

I'm in my last year of college and two of my classes rely heavily (at least for now) on Foucault and all of the power and dominance speech. You've really blown my mind by taking that into the KZread and social media mechanics!! Excellent content

Today my best friend and i were discussing how we emotionally cosplay as some version of 'that girl' when we are trying to get out of depressive episodes. It's fascinating the way you name that in your description of habitus- I'm glad to have a word for it now. Thanks for this thoughtful and nuanced analysis, Alice!

@ib4110

2 жыл бұрын

also the point about how algorithms reinforce our habitus *chefs kiss*