"I Can't Wait For This Trend To Die": 18 "Frustrating" Trends Younger Women Participate In That Have Older Women Incredibly Confused Or Straight-Up Gobsmacked
Trends come and go, but to some people, some of these trends just...aren't it. Recently, redditor r/IslamicAnime asked older women to reveal the trends younger women partake in that they think are fascinating or confusing and even a little inspiring. Here are some of the things younger women do that, according to older women, are either extremely perplexing or incredibly compelling:
1."Big, fluffy false eyelashes. I tried it once, and it felt like caterpillars on my eyelids; they had to come off right away. I don't know how these younger girls stand it, but I admire their skill. (Just want to make it clear that I'm not shitting on the aesthetics of young people. You do you, my sweet children! The eyelashes are just not for me.)"
2."Blasting pictures of their young children all over social media with 1,000 or more followers."
3."Well-done makeup, including contouring. I am an old hag and have NEVER mastered the art of makeup. Now, it seems like everyone is able to do it, and no matter what, I still look like a rodeo clown if I try. Young women who are into it seem to watch a couple of videos and become total artists."
"They are SO good at makeup. I don’t know if it’s because they have better products, the availability of tutorial videos, or both, but they all look amazing, and we were walking around with orange faces and smudged eyeliner. Not gonna lie, I’m a little jealous."
4."The overdone lip injections. I can't wait for this trend to die."
5."This is really small and makes me feel ancient, but when young women pull their bathing suits up their butt cracks. It just looks SO uncomfortable to me, but y'all do you. I'll sit over here in my full-coverage bathing suit that's probably ugly, but at least I'll be comfy."
6."Wearing comfy shoes (like sneakers) to the club. I'm not mad at it; I'm mad my dumbass never did that."
7."Voting against their own interests. I know so many young women who are 100% for birth control, abortion, equal pay, maternity leave, and the like, yet consistently vote Republican because 'the economy is the most important issue.' Now, they're shocked Roe was overturned. Nothing is more important than your rights and freedom!"
8."Low-rise jeans. Don't do it, kids! Learn from our mistakes!"
9."I know a few 17 and 18-year-old girls who have decided not to learn to drive or get licensed because their boyfriends always have cars. Or they don't want to finish school because they don't enjoy it. Or they don't ever want to vote because 'that stuff's boring.' They have these precious rights to be free, educated, and heard, and they don't care!"
10."Buccal fat removal surgery."
11."Not limited to women, but gender reveal parties. I already had to go to your baby shower, and now you want me to go to another party? Do I have to bring a gift?"
12."Crying on the internet, and I'm talking full-on snot-bubble-crying. Maybe it's my childhood trauma talking, but I cannot fathom having an awful thing happen to me and then whipping out my phone to tell all my 'followers' about it. Maybe it's because I have no followers. I just bury whatever is wrong deep down and slap on a smile like my mom taught me."
13."The performative nature of everything. Ask someone to dance? Have signs and cameras filming and gifts. They film everything; it's wild. There's no concept of privacy or events just being for them and their loved ones. It's like it's all a movie or play put on for the world to see. They don't seem to live their lives for themselves but for their followers. It's really sad."
14."Putting up with bullshit you know isn't okay. We all do this, but as a 40-something-year-old, it's painful to watch young women continue to stay in abusive or just frustratingly imbalanced relationships. Realize your worth, ladies — sooner than later."
15."Van life. The whole 'Van life is so glamorous; look at me sipping my coffee and sitting in the back of my van in front of the sunrise' thing is WAY overrated and very, very fake. Van life or camper life can be fun and an adventure at times, yes, but it comes with a LOT of work, expenses, and risks that people don't tell you about."
16."The way young women seem to worry so much about their genitals' appearance — to the point of considering surgery on their labia or bleaching their anus. I suppose I blame porn, but I hate that these young women feel so judged that they need to resort to this."
17."Focusing on social media appearance. The lighting, the posing...it's all for likes. They post where they are and where they go. The complete transparency over their location floors me after being told not to tell people that stuff online. I worry that a lot of young people are too aware of their social media standing, appearance, and aesthetic and are forgetting to find and love themselves for who they are."
18."I am 50 and am actually amazed by young women's self-confidence. So many of the amazing young adults I meet through my kids just scream self-confidence. I still feel insecure at 50. Maybe it's because since they could be online, everyone had an opinion on them, and they just had to learn not to care. But so many young women have that self-confidence. Her whole life, I've told my middle child that I wanted to be just like her when I grew up. She is so fierce. She makes no excuses for who she is; she is amazing. And her life is not always easy. She just handles the world like it's hers to be handled. And I watch the same thing from her brother, her sister, and everyone they know. They kind of give me hope that the world is getting better."
I don't know if it's because I'm a Gen Z'er, but gender reveal parties are fun! If you're an older woman, what trends have you noticed that you think are strange or fascinating? Let me know in the comments, or you can submit your response anonymously using this form!
