Individuality is now Insufferable
As a collective, I would like to think that people have become more open to the idea of inclusivity. Looking back at the past 50 years, there have been undeniably positive shifts in our world’s social and political systems that have motivated more progressive ways of thinking. Yet, it seems as though, recently, being inclusive only applies to the fight for recognition of a person's cultural and biological attributes. It only deciphers the attributes that deem us outwardly different from others. We tend to forget how being inclusive also means being nonjudgmental towards the individuality and creativity of others.
Your individuality is the best part of yourself. Every person has a distinct character and uniqueness resulting from the various circumstances we deal with in our lives. Our experience in this world is incomparable to one another, which is why we express ourselves differently. We aim to be inclusive and accepting of others. Still, when others decide to dress eccentrically or have interests contrasting to our own, we consider them “weird” for their authenticity. Why do we diminish people for going against the grain?
Often, stereotypes play a part in being so afraid of originality in more ways than we care to admit. Placing biased perceptions because of race or ethnic background is just as bad; it boxes people in, making them ashamed of their identity. Marginalized groups are guilty of doing it subconsciously to their own. For instance, my music taste consists of various genres, the same as my style, which I enjoy experimenting with. The amount of times I have been called “white girl” just because I enjoyed Paramore is crazy. My interests don’t strip me of my Blackness. Our creative outlets don’t defy our racial identity. Regardless of our appearance, we are not obligated to conform to any labels based on another person’s judgment.
Why do we do this? Don’t deny it; at some point, we have commented on someone wearing something we believe to be out of the ordinary. But the next time you think about judging someone, remember that art is subjective, and so is identity. We all interpret it differently, but that doesn’t mean we are wrong.
Social media has greatly impacted how we view our day-to-day environments socially, politically, and creatively. But although we have been able to build communities around the world, it has caused us to follow the mindsets of others. It has debilitated many from being able to seek originality without the influence of someone prior, especially concerning fashion. One day it's the “clean girl” aesthetic; the next day, it's “Coquette.” Type the word “core” after any word into your search bar, and an aesthetic based around it is bound to pop up.
Whenever I open the TikTok app, I learn of a new micro-label or “core” aesthetic a whole group of people use to describe themselves. It is crazy to think how much we “content-ify” ourselves by creating a brand for every aspect of our lives and categorizing each part of our personality. Whether it is clothes, music, or art, basing our personalities off trends has caused so much uniformity in the fashion and creative industries. Algorithms also play a part in constricting our creativity by showcasing the same content based on those specific genres of interests. It’s challenging to find your own identity when one is practically mapped out for you on social media. People criticize others for going against social norms only to fall victim to normalcy by following every trend they see.
The difference between duplication and inspiration is applying your personal spinoff on a commodity rather than replicating it entirely. Being a carbon copy of one another is the new wave, suffocating the colors of individualism. But to break out of this, don’t ask your favorite influencer where they got their skirt from, or replicate an entire fit from Pinterest; try to think of how you can put your own twist on the items you already have. Don’t be afraid of being outrageous; that only shame is masking your true potential. You don’t have to take food from another to eat, just make your own, and you’ll serve in your way.
Strike Out,
Gael Laguerre
Boca Raton
Gael Laguerre is a content writer for Strike Magazine Boca. She’s a textbook Aquarius: super hyper-independent but also super hot. In her free time, she enjoys music festivals, writing sad poetry, and oversharing on twitter. You can reach her at lgaellynn@gmail.com
