Western Aesthetics Blog

“On Wednesdays, we wear pink, (and stand up to bullies)”

If you’re a fan of the movie Mean Girls, you know that this line is iconic, but what you may not know is that it’s also a reminder of the dangers of bullying.

In the movie, Regina George is the queen bee of North Shore High School. She’s popular, beautiful, and seems to have it all, but she’s also a bully. She’s mean to people, spreads rumors, and makes them feel bad about themselves.

The Western fashion industry is a lot like North Shore High School. It’s a competitive industry where people are constantly trying to outdo each other. This can lead to a culture of bullying, where people are targeted for their appearance, their style, or their perceived lack of success.

The effects of bullying can be devastating. Victims of bullying may experience stress, anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem. They may also have difficulty making friends, participating in activities, or succeeding in school or their career.

In Mean Girls, Cady Heron is a new student at North Shore High School. She’s not used to the mean girls, and she’s quickly targeted by Regina George, but Cady eventually stands up to Regina, and she helps to expose her for the bully that she is.

In the Western fashion industry, we need more people like Cady Heron. We need people who are willing to stand up to bullies and create a more welcoming and inclusive industry for everyone.

The Western fashion industry is a competitive and image-conscious industry, which can create a breeding ground for bullying. In recent years, there has been a growing trend of women being mean to each other in the industry because of the type of turquoise jewelry they wear. Some women believe that only real turquoise is acceptable, and they will make fun of women who wear fashion turquoise. This type of cyberbullying is harmful and outdated.

What does it look like?

• The rise of social media. 

Social media has made it easier for people to bully others, as they can do it anonymously and reach a wider audience. These people are commonly  referred to as trolls or keyboard warriors. They exercise their expression of free press to target individuals for the sole purpose to hurt them. 

• The pressure to be perfect. 

The Western fashion industry is often seen as a place for beautiful people, and this can lead to people feeling insecure about their own appearance. This can make them more likely to be targeted by bullies.

• The competitive nature of the industry. 

The Western fashion industry is a very competitive industry, and this can lead to people feeling pressure to succeed. This can make them more likely to lash out at others.

• The influence of influencers.

Influencers are people who have a large following on social media. They often set the trends in the Western fashion industry, and their words can have a big impact on people. If an influencer is seen bullying someone, it can send the message that bullying is acceptable. Influencers can also be bully’s by making another one feel inferior to their presence and purposely leave them out of things such as content shoots or retreats. Their negative energy will cause an unsettling feeling in others and make them feel like they aren’t enough.  They can also make the rest of the content retreat feel the same way towards a specific individual in a way to single that person out. 

• The use of derogatory terms. 

There are a number of coined terms that are being used in derogatory manners. You have people calling those of western fashion “buckle bunnies”, “fake country girls”, these are used in bullying circumstances. They are mainly used on social media under a fake profile with no profile picture. These are the “trolls” of the internet doing their dirty work in hopes to damage or tarnish the esteem of an innocent individual.

Where did we go wrong?

In the past, the Western fashion industry was more inclusive. People of all shapes, sizes, and backgrounds were able to find success in the industry.  However, in recent years, the industry has become more focused on beauty and perfection. It is sad to say, but there are a number of people who judge you by what kind of turquoise you wear. You get looked down upon for wearing fashion turquoise instead of authentic. You get looked down upon for wearing bright colors. You get degraded for wearing rhinestones or sequins. You get verbally blasted by trolls on your videos in order to break you. Everywhere you look on social media you will see this. They only lurk there because that’s where they can hide. Social media is a dark swamp riddled with negativity and emotional distress.

The western fashion industry is so convoluted now.  People are breaking away from their morals and norms to “stand out”. They will stop at nothing to gain notoriety, even if it’s hurting people who get in their way both psychologically and emotionally.  

There are a number of things that can be done to address bullying in the Western fashion industry. One important step is to raise awareness about the problem. This can be done by talking about bullying in the western industry and bringing the issues forward to the light. We can all just be nice to each other. It’s not high school. There are no clicks in this industry. Also, there shouldn’t even be negativity from an industry that has been branded as “inclusive” and “supportive”.

In the words of Cady Heron, “The limit does not exist.” That’s true for the possibilities of what the Western fashion industry can be, but it’s also true for the power of bullying.

So what can we do?

Bullying can have a devastating impact on victims. It can lead to physical and emotional harm, decreased self-esteem, and difficulty making friends. It is important to raise awareness about bullying in the Western fashion industry and to promote a culture of respect.

Here are some practical tips for creating a more welcoming and inclusive Western fashion industry:

• Promote diversity and inclusion.
• Provide support for victims of bullying.
• Create a culture of respect.
• If you don’t like it, scroll past it. 
• If you feel the need to comment negatively, don’t. 
• If you realize you’re the one becoming a cyber bully, step back and realize what your doing. Then ask yourself, is this really worth it?

We all have a role to play in creating a more welcoming and inclusive Western fashion industry. Let’s stand up to bullies and make the industry a place where everyone feels safe and accepted.

As Gretchen Wieners would say, “That’s so fetch!”