Things that boggle the mind lately: teen boys wearing 'virginity rocks' shirts. Is this supposed to be ironic? An angle to get laid? Perhaps the church youth groups infiltrated Zumiez and this is Gen Z's iteration of the purity ring? I am thankful I’m not a teenager in today‘s world.
Why do kids feel the need to label themselves, anyway? Probably the same reason I have about 15 shirts that say 'mom' on them, or have several that indicate I'm a progressive mind who laments about the patriarchy often (as my husband is out there hustling, no less). Hey, at least I‘m aware of my privilege and hypocrisy! Thick irony aside, we derive a sense of identity from our choice of clothing and from the brands we buy and flaunt. Their capitalist powers that be know this. After all, it’s their job to exploit our emptiness and sense of lack. That's what makes the money flow, baby.
I am currently having this discussion with my daughter, who thankfully doesn't wear shirts which proclaim her status a 'princess' or 'angel' (talk about ironic). Not her. No, instead she's decked out in $300 of Lululemon attire, white Nike crew socks, white (shudder) Crocs (double shudder), and a $50 Stanley mug full of iced water syphoned from the fountain of youth itself.
Deadass, today's tweens out here looking snatched in their fit drips (sorry for the cringe but I had to try).
Don't worry about my parenting or my pocketbook - she paid for most of it herself with her paper route and some Christmas money. There's no way I'd actively encourage this when, at her age, I looked like a toad in my boyish, raggedy hand-me-downs reminiscent of a run-over Sporty Spice. Kids today will never know the struggle.
As a 36-year-old woman, I now just wear what I like - you’ve seen the berets which my daughter begs me not to wear to school. I crave individuality, but like anybody else, I've had moments of wanting to fit in. But I think I only ‘self-labelled‘ myself once in high school. It was a bright blue tee that said 'Hottie' and had flames on it. Regrettable choice, I know. But I wore it with pride, because at that time, I was one. Grade eight humility, y'all. Anyway, this sentiment was shared by my pervy male French teacher who began to refer to me as such. I stopped wearing it shortly after that. I also cheated on his midterm exam when he generously left me alone with the answer key. What can I say? Some things come easier to us than the French language. I was not destined to become a Francophone.
A hottie?
Well, maybe.
Comments