how mean girls demonizes hyper-femininity

email (sponsorships): [e-mail]
email (general contact): [e-mail]
instagram: / elle.literacy
letterboxd: letterboxd.com...
faq:
-accent: lived in america when younger, ireland most of my life
-edit: final cut pro x
-study: English Lit & Film Studies, graduated in 2022

[@Rebecca-zo3qg]

okay i loved this video so much and it also reminded me that i desperately need to rewatch mean girls. as for the plastics vs janis, i feel like the people saying that janis also didn’t get to achieve her goal (destroying the plastics and taking the power for herself) are missing the point. both janis and the plastics clearly put a lot of effort into appearance (both wear heavy makeup, style their hair, wear earrings/hair clips/other accessories). the only difference is that the plastics’ style matches up w ideas of hyper femininity (pink, lip gloss, mini skirts, etc) while janice’s doesn’t. the movie ends w no one achieving their initial goals and everyone “learning their lesson,” but much of that is conveyed through the plastics taking up masculine hobbies (w regina becoming an athlete) and dressing in much more casual, modest clothing. janice’s appearance never changes bc the movie sees hyperfemininity itself as something vapid and negative that needs to be solved

[@elleliteracy]

my bff on point as per usual

[@5ananyaaditya93]

You're absolutely right. Janis doesn't really show a growth and Regina has to take up a stereotypically masculine game to be considered 'good'. But at the end I think that we should notice Janice's hair style. Her accessories are red("girly"). And Regina still does her hair in a girly way. But of course she's much more modest in her appearance

[@diamondminer5459]

I have to disagree that this movie demonizes hyper-femininity. It’s more about the dark side of female interpersonal relationships, and the movie isn’t about protagonists or antagonists.

[@kiwimaracuia9834]

Not every sport though. And it makes a lot of sense anyways to channel anger or strong emotions in sport...

[@pearlcnrd]

@@diamondminer5459 yes, however it still demonises hyper-femininity. Just because a film has a complex story hidden underneath does not mean it can not to portray stereotypically feminine ideals on only the villains of the story. I truly do struggle to understand how things like this are so blatant in media and everyday life, yet people continue to try act like that it does not exist. Regina could have taken up ballet, gymnastics, yoga,acrobatics, ice skating, or cooking(not a sport) as a way to release her anger as these are stereotypically feminine sports, hell, she could have gone and gotten massages or gone to a psychiatrist which is also something women stereotypically do because men ArE nOt EmOtInAL cREatUrEs. The movie easily portrays girly as bad with expert subtlety. The only example of a movie where a character who is bad but changes for the better in the end without throwing away their stereotypical feminine ideals is probably Cher in clueless, i would say legally blonde, but Elle is not a horrible person.

[@consciousiota2161]

Demonizing femininity has also hurt the tomboy character because it has made her a “not like other girls” character.

[@diamondminer5459]

I have to disagree that this movie demonizes hyper-femininity. It’s more about the dark side of female interpersonal relationships, and the movie isn’t about protagonists or antagonists.

[@consciousiota2161]

@@diamondminer5459 Yes, but the mean girls are the most feminine girls.

[@dearlily325]

@@diamondminer5459 yes, yes, yes

[@semolinalibra]

@@diamondminer5459 I disagree with you

[@kittykittybangbang9367]

@@consciousiota2161 and the alt character

[@elipeeli]

When you look at early 2000s teen movies, the "mean girl" is always really feminine which is strange to me. I think this is why many young girls developed this "pick me" mentality or "i'm not like other girls" kind of thing. Because the movies they watched subconsciously made them think that if you were typically feminine at all you would be a mean girl or annoying. This happened to me as a child because my favorite color used to be pink and I loved disney princesses, but seeing villians like Sharpay and Regina George made me reject those things and even shame other women who wore pink and were into shopping. I even began to be "sassy" to others for no reason because I thought it was cool. But I was just a bully. I hated everything I used to like for years because I thought it was shameful to like anything girly. Not until I turned 18 did I finally begin to turn back to pink and girly things that I loved in my childhood

[@MechaJutaro]

She represents the shadow side of the feminine, in the same way the macho asshole bully represents the darker aspects of masculinity

[@Nicole78365]

This is exactly what happened to me! Nice to know I wasn't the only one who fell for it :)

[@diamondminer5459]

I have to disagree that this movie demonizes hyper-femininity. It’s more about the dark side of female interpersonal relationships, and the movie isn’t about protagonists or antagonists.

[@lnbrr]

i lived my childhood in the early 2000s till early 2010s, i perfectly remember in that period girls used to hate the color pink and skirts, overall were considered cooler more masculine things and now reading your comment it makes so sense

[@catherinerosa644]

I was def a "not like other girls" type of teen. It's great that you realized that at 18. I'm 26, last week I was playing Mario Party with my sisters, and idk why I chose to play as Princess Peach. They made so much fun of me cause of that. I mean no one cares anymore, but it was something we always did as kids. And that got me thinking how deep this "I'm one of the guys or not like other girls" mentally goes. It's so natural for our generation that we still do it and we don't even notice. We have to be aware of the little things, cause that could eventually traumatize another generation.

[@danaco9942]

“Janis is a mirror to Regina” YES!!! Regina and Janis were once friends for a reason after all

[@please_im_a_staaar]

I think when ppl say that Regina and Janis are the same, and that Janis should be punished too forget that Regina did messed up things to innocent people in her school, Janice only does it to Regina. It is silly to use Regina's awful methods against her but at the of the day Janice is not the same. Janice tried to take down a bad person in a questionable way but Regina did that to the entire school especially, girls, for years!

[@summerrose8110]

@@please_im_a_staaar Exactly.

[@hadbetterdays8118]

In her own words 'At least Regina and me know we're mean'

[@juliannehannes11]

I think Janis fell in love with her then best friend Regina and Regina publicly outed her when she confessed her love

[@larrahhh]

@@juliannehannes11 no Janis is Lebanese but when she told Regina she thought she meant lesbian

[@weaselle]

This video is awesome, but I think it's important to separate critiquing hyper-femininity and critiquing conformist culture. At the end, the plastics hardly change; they're more so expressing themselves in ways they couldn't before because they had to put in so much effort to portray themselves a certain way. The reason Janis' (and Karen's) wardrobe remained the same is because she was dressing exactly the way she wanted to. Regina taking up lacrosse isn't a positive change because it's less feminine, but because she isn't forcing herself to not do things that interest her in order to maintain her femininity.

[@diamondminer5459]

I have to disagree that this movie demonizes hyper-femininity. It’s more about the dark side of female interpersonal relationships, and the movie isn’t about protagonists or antagonists.

[@dearlily325]

THESE ARE MY THOUGHTS EXACTLY

[@ilincabogza]

Absolutely!

[@BratzRockAngels]

I agree, I think this is definitely what the movie was portraying.

[@leelahasan3988]

THIS. It's not about femininity versus masculinity. It's about girls not being allowed to express their emotions of anger/powerlessness/rage in a healthy way when adhering to those rules.

[@pinkopat]

So many good points! Tina Fey also parodies the demonization of hyper feminity in her show 30 rock. Liz Lemon (Tina Fey) decides to tear down her co-worker's hyper feminine facade and ends up runing her life. The "cool and casual" girl is actually the villain who can't accept an expression of feminity that isn't her own

[@diamondminer5459]

There is no wrong way to be a girl.

[@Ithikajewel3]

Or accept the part of herself that loves being feminine for whatever reason.

[@Sweethearts4969]

good point! i remember that episode, i thought it was strange the girl changed her identity to someone who is very popular in hetero male attention. i feel like that would only make it easier for him to find her again? but liz shoulda just minded her business anyway lol

[@Bubaiel]

There was also that episode where she remembers the blonde pretty feminine girl as being a bully in school but when she shows up to the reunion it’s revealed that Liz was a bully while still being a nerd 😚👌🏾

[@johnmobley9369]

@@BubaielLiz is even a bully to her best friend at times who is often shown to be the more stereotypically feminine and dramatic one in the spotlight. I remember she would always do this passive aggressive way of showing she didn’t approve of something she was proud of, and in the end she didn’t enjoy her new movie because she wasn’t a part of it. The show really did do a great job of showing the other end of the spectrum of a mean girl demonizing others for not being a girl or feminist in her exact brand how that stemmed from insecurity. There is no one way to be a girl.

[@youtubers8166]

I was bullied more by people like Janis, than Regina.

[@etherealcore_1]

Same here

[@lisaearles4175]

Same!! None of the girls who were mean to me for no reason were pretty. I never understood this stereotype.

[@iheartcheesecake]

honestly can we normalise dressing like janis and the plastics at the same time

[@richardneville1745]

I am so excited for more videos over the summer! Also, I feel like the “so you agree, you think you’re really pretty?” line/meme kinda encapsulates a part of this ‘trap’ of femininity in Mean Girls. The gals have to be perfect without caring about being perfect, at the risk of being vain. If they embrace being ‘vain’ or adhering to this particular standard of pretty/pink femininity it’s portrayed as negative, despite the entire school’s obsession with this image - and the plastics end up being punished for it! Also, with Regina’s mum constantly reinforcing the importance of this kind of femininity and of being popular, it seems natural for Regina to be obsessed with amassing this kind of social capital and being the perfect queen bee and all the more unfair that she is demonised for it.

[@elleliteracy]

preach it king!!!! i feel like that’s where the “cool girl” stereotype comes from, an “effortlessly” hot woman who doesn’t care about her appearance and is interested in sports, drinks beer, etc. also so perceptive about her mom! didn’t even think of that

[@diamondminer5459]

I have to disagree that this movie demonizes hyper-femininity. It’s more about the dark side of female interpersonal relationships, and the movie isn’t about protagonists or antagonists.

[@semolinalibra]

@@diamondminer5459 I disagree to you

[@ivysaur2305]

Once again, although I agree, the 'economically privileged' part is what stands out to me as the core of the villain trope within teen films.

[@please_im_a_staaar]

Art representing life.

[@dontworryimnotastalker5486]

That is because people with more money or with a higher class in real life possess more power, the original films do it for a reason because it reflects real life. Knock offs just take everything at surface level, mean girls does think hyper femininity is bad but it makes it pretty clear that Janice is also a mean girl but things like mean girls 2 just read it as femininity is bad and create not like other girls protagonists

[@imxel2193]

@@dontworryimnotastalker5486 yet Janice wasn’t ‘punished’ for her actions like the others

[@dontworryimnotastalker5486]

@@imxel2193 This film is about Cady growing up so Regina being hit by the bus wasn’t really about Regina being punished for her actions. This is the moment that Cady comes face to face with the reality of what her manipulation has done, this couldn’t have been done with Janice because Janice isn’t who she’s been devoting all of her time and energy manipulating. The films response to the characters actions isn’t to give them a fair comeuppance, it doesn’t believe in an eye for an eye, Aaron samuels makes the comment that these were just girls that were bored and had nothing better to do, we see after this the girls devote their time spent gossiping to real hobbies, Regina gets involved in sports, Cady joins the mathletes, Karen becomes a weather girl, Gretchen joins another clique but she at least starts talking a new language and Janice starts a relationship with Kevin G.

[@urdad1725]

ironically, this film encouraged me to grow out of my 'not like other girls' phase and embrace my femininity

[@imthebossmermaid3648]

Awww that's nice!

[@jovialjada6226]

This is why I liked clueless. The Protagonist and antagonist were both pretty in touch with their feminine side. And not making it seem like the more feminine person is the problem.

[@imthebossmermaid3648]

Same with DeeDee.

[@memorydocumentation5942]

5:38 i think this also links with pretty little liars as when the actress who played alison gained weight, they gave her a redemption arc, utterly ruining her character as deliciously sociopathic.

[@diamondminer5459]

I hear a lot about how Mean Girls sucks because part of the Queen Bee’s downfall was her gaining weight, but that was a plot on the part of a person who is demonizes later for doing so.

[@acedino535]

i just rewatched the movie and i think as the story goes on aaron's approval of cady's choices becomes increasingly important to the narrative as a whole, not just to cady as a character. cady wins aaron's approval when she is less feminine, which came off as very patronizing, especially given his history with regina. at the beginning of the movie, part of her choosing to become hyperfeminine has to do with getting his attention, but by the end of the movie it's her becoming less feminine that ultimately gets them together. his attraction to her seems based in how she's not like the other popular girls, but him seeing her that way requires her to constantly be in the same setting as the popular girls to demonstrate that contrast (there are many un-hyperfeminine side characters in this movie that aaron never shows any interest in). so in order to win aaron's approval, cady has to walk the line of being plastic but not TOO plastic. the balance that narrative settles on in the end is exactly the view that aaron has, which feels a little yucky.

[@oncefortwice1389]

I love your contribution to this analysis! It’s important to remember what lens we’re to be watching these movies with. The targeted audience can be different to the gaze in which we watch the story playing out. How things are presented show us how the director believes the targeted audience should act, or instead, what’s meant to appeal to the targeted audience. Aaron was a part of the whole thing because he tells young girls (the targeted audience) what they should do to get a man while also telling men/young boys (or the lens they look through to what directors think men should like and act like) that they shouldn’t like girls like Regina or that they wouldn’t really be happy with a girl like Regina. Ah, but I digress. Basically, I just really agree with your comment.

[@5ananyaaditya93]

I think at the end of the day it all boils down to misogyny, the patriarchal mindset. Regina and all the plastic girls HAD to play into the heterosexual male fantasy of a woman in order to gain popularity. And once she gains the popularity( and the privilege that comes along with it) she overlooks the sacrifices she has to make in order to be at the top of the hierarchy. And who doesn't like being RESPECTED?( in their faces at least). So the girls have to play a kind of role to remain popular And this is why I respect Tina Fey's writing so much. She showed the reality for us girls. That this mindset is not going to go away any time soon(the junior plastics)

[@billyb7852]

I feel like this analysis totally misses the point of the movie. This film is about how femininity is weaponised against teen girls, and it does a really good job of it. They have to be pretty, but not slutty, but not frigid or a virgin, but not not a virgin either. Karen is an airhead, but she’s not a one-dimensional character. She’s not a stereotype. Janis is not a hero either, and the film doesn’t glamorise her, she is clearly also a mean girl. This is a well-edited video, but I literally don’t think the analysis supports the thesis in the title. It’s not demonising femininity at all, it’s showing how teen girls are taught to use their femininity as a social currency. It is a criticism of female teen bullying. It’s such a reach to say wearing lip gloss makes someone bitchy. Gretchen and Karen stay very feminine because that’s who they are. And Regina playing sports doesn’t mean she isn’t still hyper-feminine. It just means she’s currently playing sports. She’s wearing the uniform, but she’s still got long hair. She’s not masc-presenting because she’s playing a contact sport.

[@dreamchaser7603]

Modern feminism based on male perspective of coolness, which is being, looking and acting like men!! It definitely influences how people perceive and treat each other in real life. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve experienced other female „feminists“ who only like you if you are an alternative/ tomboy/ sage kind of girl and hate you if they perceive you as a feminine/ classic/ bombshell type of girl… The stereotype that if you are beautiful and attractive, you’re stupid, shallow, mean, uninteresting and talentless..

[@judgement7164]

Define acting like men.

[@schnozz4301]

@@judgement7164 Doing things society perceives as masculine and rejecting anything feminine.

[@imthebossmermaid3648]

I agree that society often shames women for being feminine and that sometimes other women who are supposedly "feminist" do this too but please don't shame modern feminists for it. Feminism is not the reason why women are told that they don't deserve to be taken seriously if you're feminine. Quite the opposite.

[@judgement7164]

@@schnozz4301 What's wrong with that? Women and girls are expected by society to be feminine, rejecting an expectation such as that isn't bad.

[@judgement7164]

@@kyleydiamond @kyleydiamond I *partly* agree with your statement about "male identified women", however, it's only to a small extent, and there's a part you haven't addressed, the part where even those "male identified women" (what is this? Are you referring to masculine women or women who don't fit beauty standards? Can't you just say masculine women? Why do you have to use this term?) have to follow feminine beauty standards, they can be masculine, but in a way which still appeals to men, *in a way which is still feminine* . I don't think you mean this, but you're implying that masculine women generally have male privilege, which is untrue because a woman who doesn't conform to patriarchal, beauty standards often experiences passive and active violence from the community she is in, for the purpose that she adhere to those standards. Women being attractive to men in all ways is basically still an expectation and many companies strive off of that. Check subs and places for neurodivergent women/girls, they often don't conform to gender roles and patriarchal beauty standards, and are often treated like shit for it by their female/male peers. Society encourages women to conform to these beauty standards, as women who don't will be ostracised, isolated, or subtly and passively forced to conform (i.e not getting a job because of "women look sick/tired without make up on") What you're saying is also very terfic and gender essentialis as well...there is no such things as acting like men, there is only acting like humans, plus *manipulation is not a masculine trait, it is a human trait* , humans have been doing it for centuries overall; it is a negative humn trait, not a masculine one...the way you consider these negative traits masculine is actually telling of your opinions of those who are masculine, are you normal about them? You deeming masculine traits unhealthy compared to feminine ones is what terfs basically do. D you think women can't be what you deem masculine, or that men can't be what you deem as feminine? This actually reflect your bias and is what we call benevolent sexism. You know what else capitalism expects of both genders? Constant performance of their assigned genders.

[@hidansektas]

hit the nail on the head once again!

[@kirtu9035]

i lovvvveee the typical feminine aesthetic yk, pink, skirts, long hair, frilly stuff, that's just who i am!! but i remember watching this movie a couple years back when i was a little younger and easily influenced by messages in videos and films and at that time the whole "not like other girls" thing was very popular and i felt so bad bc i loved pink and other stuff as much and i remember for years i kept cutting my hair short even though i hated it and only wearing shirts and jeans and im so glad i grew out of that phase, i remember i used to be ashamed when everyone went on about how basic "girly" stuff was... if only this video still existed then or if only hollywood didn't demonize hyper-femininity as much.. i think this video mentions a lot of important points and anyone who went through the whole tomboy thing just to be accepted by their peers should watch this as it covers everything we thought

[@aldogrof6700]

This video l(in my opinion) literally misses the whole point of Mean Girls. To say such a blanket statement like that literally denounces the nuisance in the film. In my opinion, the film rather offers us the audience, front row seats to a problem in what Cady calls ‘girl-world’ is known as toxic femininity. No one in the movie demonize female characters are any characters who are hyper-feminine (heck even Damien express is own inner femininity through his adoration for The Plastics’ style [even though he still hates toxic ways] and Karen who is a lovable girl that just caught up in toxic crowd.), rather the film discuss the theme a group of girls who uphold a social hierarchy that built off manipulation and weaponizing each other’s relationships and insecurities. Ps your point that Regina is good after joining a sports team is foolish, when considering how the film wraps up telling us that for Regina being an athlete gave her more room to have a more healthy way to manifest her aggression.

[@stefanmakara373]

Agreed. Not to mention that 2 of the Plastics remained "hyper" feminine, Cady returned to her own style, Janice remained the same- literally the only person who massively changed their style is Regina, which makes sense for her character because she ditched the role she was playing- so now she doesn't mind dressing casually because she no longer needs the feminine accessories she was using to get what she really wanted,which was popularity. Hyper femininity wasn't her personality, it was her tool- and at the end of the movie is probably most often going to and from practices and hanging out with a different crowd, so she dresses in casual wear. I also think that saying who "turned good" and who didn't is silly since none of them were bad people. They were teen girls. Regina was never actually evil, that is how Janice and Cady saw her because they too were kids and to them Regina's actions seem bigger than they are. All of them were just teen girls doing mean things because of the various influences in their lives, and the end of the movie isn't them "turning good" it is all of them /finding peace/. They're kids.

[@LizHawk]

Totally agreee

[@oncefortwice1389]

It’s not a matter of what the characters are doing, per se, but more about what’s not being said. The movie itself (as in the storyline) is about your point, but the message it delivers is more to what this person states in the video. It’s the difference between the author’s intent and the reader’s interpretation. You’re thinking about what the story is directly stating while the person in this video is focused on the messages being sent with the frame we’re watching through. It’s like how when reading a book, it’s typically assumed the character is white unless it’s stated otherwise - showing the context in which the book happens is from a white character’s which not everyone can relate to. That’s where cultural meanings and contexts don’t always translate across to other cultures. For a different example, say there was a book written in English that takes place from the perspective of a native French person that didn’t know English. The story itself is French (as in representing what the characters are facing) though the lens we’re looking through is of English author believes represents French culture. It’s accurate to the author’s views of France (if it’s appropriately researched), but may not be an actual representation of French culture.

[@Man-wolf-]

@@oncefortwice1389 your comparrison of assuming a character is white really isnt good, we only assume a character is white because we were brainwashed by society to assume “white is the defualt” , thats not the same as assuming ragina is no longer hyper feminine because she happens to like sports shes still fairly hyper feminine she simply enjoys sports too

[@foreverconfusedandkindacute]

Whether her take was hot or nah it eventually having negative effects and contributing to the birth of the pick me girl is very real... - an ex pick me girl 😔

[@tiaowo642]

yall are so obsessed with non-issues like '''oppression''' of hyperfemininity huh. Like masculinity in women isn't extremely underrepresented in media and demonized by society(masculine women being called ugly for not shaving, wearing makeup, not wearing womens clothes or not making themselves look conveniently attractive, being pressured or forced to do any of those things because they're women). Like, all of society expects women to be feminine, yall are so annoying to treat this like the biggest issue, knowing what the real life treatment of masculine women is

[@taliahturqoise9673]

They're just so chronically online... i just come to these videos to troll people because it's fun and they say things that are sooo detached from reality its funny lol They need to touch grass tbh.

[@tiaowo642]

@@taliahturqoise9673 fr some people need to just. take a moment to look what is actually happening in the real world outside of these over the top movies lmao

[@Mathematik_Anhaenger]

Preoccupation with apperance IS vanity

[@nephinie]

i'm late to this video and i agree with you, i also however have had real life experiences of mean girls/high school bullies, all of which fit into the hyper-feminine trope and excluded and outcast me for liking alternative things. i feel janis' rage and hatred towards regina, she didn't want to be like her she just wanted to not be outcast for not liking the same things they did, which was the same way i felt all of my school life

[@dashingtherouxthesnow4017]

Amazing video, it's been a pleasure seeing your channel exponentially grow so rapidly :D

[@lunalee3021]

Mean Girls does not demonize femininity. Being pink and materialistic and fashionable is NOT feminine. It's just an aesthetic. I hate this trend of "defending" femininity while stereotyping it even worse. Why does every young girl consider themself a tomboy/not-like-other-girls if this is actually the standard girl personality? It's not and it is kinda shallow and unlikeable.

[@fictionfixer9512]

This was such a great essay & a look at how Janis & Regina parallel each other a lot. And now I wanna re-watch Mean Girls :')

[@fluffymonster396]

4:45 This is an interesting point! I always thought "Plastics" refer to them being fake. Like they're friends, but only if they can get something from you.

[@user-hl1ct3yh1r]

Why can’t we just embrace femininity in its purest form? Hyper femininity is destroying young women with the need to perform and ‘look good’. I read an article on this topic about hyper femininity and it goes like this: “Overall, the study found hyperfemininity to be correlated to increased psychopathology (e.g., symptoms of anxiety and depression) as well as personality traits such as separation anxiety, manipulativeness, submissiveness, and perfectionism.” The article is called ‘Hyperfemininity As A Maladaptive Adherence To Feminine Norms’. Reconsider what you’ve been taught and fed. Stop watching movies and tv shows for guidance as they only teach you to be what they want you to be. Media feeds us with a false reality. Turn off the screens and go figure for yourself💗

[@keeptaiwanfree]

You said it so well

[@amyh3873]

There is no wrong way of doing femininity. If a girl prefers short skirts and heels that's her right.

[@MarcellaisprobablyConc3rned]

It's interesting, that study defines hyper-femininity in a very narrow way, including " traditional attitudes and beliefs surrounding the rights and roles of women in society" and "submissive behaviors, nicety, compliance, and politeness" which I don't think describe Regina George at all. It also does not take queer hyper-femininity into account, but that's a whole other conversation about the article. I don't think the article is a good reference for this video, which is about a much more expansive vision of femininity in which there is room for people to play with the social constructs. The "hyper" part means exaggerated, which can encompass drag queens as much as teenagers who love the mall. It bums me out sometimes that femmes live in this culture that bullies us into these gendered roles, but if we figure out how to enjoy it, iterate on it, or play with it, we're looked on with suspicion.

[@thenablade858]

@@amyh3873I’m sorry, but this is the most ‘Who cares? Do whatever you want!’ nonsense. The need to perform youthful hyper femininity is DESTROYING the self esteem of young girls. The makeup industry and plastic surgery are two large examples of this.

[@porovis]

the reason regina gretchen changed from hyperfeminine to "normal" is because they were faking it, karen remained the same even after the group broke rest everyone changed into different appearances

[@nanalove3819]

I really wish that at the end, Cady were not complety back to the start chen it comes to her style, but keeps some things about her plastic phase. I think it would diminish dressing feminine = losing yourself. I mean sure, it is true in Cady's case, but she learns something about her experience and I don't think she knew herself that much at the begining of the movie anyway, so it would make more sense to me if she had kept a more "girly" style, though not as much as when she completely turned like Regina of course.

[@yeeeeeeeeeah]

Maybe it's just me- but I am not sure if hyper-feminity is demonized or evil characters happen to be hyper-feminine😅

[@imthebossmermaid3648]

It's the former.

[@beingsaee]

I think hyper feminine girls are shown being mean as its supposed to be ironic.As generally kindness is considered to be a feminine trait.

[@michaelcallaway6962]

100% AGREE. This movie is supposed to spotlight school bullying but also perpetuates the stereotype of super feminine girls as being “dumb” or “the bitch”. There’s nothing wrong with being stylish and fabulous :-)

[@lisab5592]

the other issue I see with mean girls, similar to your point of the demonization of the girl vs the world, is how when all the shit goes down, only the girls are given a talking to despite the guys also playing a part

[@oncefortwice1389]

The media we watch/read/consume seems to really want to makes things clear cut, black and white, easy to solve for us. They always display things as if it’s good OR bad, desirable OR undesirable and saying that we have to choose one side. As if two opposing facts cannot exist at the same time or as if complexity only goes so far. We always attribute what’s good or bad to things that just are. Regina isn’t completely good or completely bad she’s a mixture of both. That’s why I think your point in how things are framed is so important. We get blinded by the lens we’re looking through instead of how the situation actually is. That’s why everyone’s perspectives are so different, yet the media tries to make you think that their lens is our own. We get so caught up in what they present as fact that we forget to take the lens off to look at it from an outsiders pov.

[@arnepianocanada]

Very well stated. I think Rachel McAdam deserved kudos also - for astounding stage presence and (though not often called on to demonstrate it here) range.

[@wareciss8088]

Why is no one talking about the dumb Africa's portrait they made ? No one dresses like that in afric and also they keep saying Africa like Cady wasn't in a COUntry at some point.

[@nm9688]

Yeah that was really annoying

[@theyadorejor]

omg I LOVE your analyzation of this video.

[@atlascalliopecharon]

I’ve been saying this for years, oh my god the joy of seeing this on my recommended

[@tarakennedy707]

That's kind of a whole theme of the movie....

[@ninavinterova9875]

It's not only mean girls. It's the whole Hollywood.

[@ladytalksalot4097]

Y'all are gonna lose your crap when you see Mean Girls 2...

[@rivaldovillegas3725]

Hiii, glad you made another video!!!

[@bbs.5157]

Oh, how I used to love Mean Girls as a kid...almost as much as I used to hate femininity and the expectations that came with it. I didn't want anything to do with the gender roles that came with being a girl, and that became an endless struggle, especially as a teen: which is WHY I ended up hating people that seemed to align with those expectations. I hated them cause, in my eyes, they didn't have to feel excluded, they didn't have to have their gender expression questioned and they didn't need to fight against constant pressure to be pretty, be ladylike etc etc Of course, that was probably not true, but that was what it felt like and I hated it. And what do you do when you feel left out? You embrace it. You turn it into a "us versus them" thing. You take pride into being "not like other girls". You direct your anger not towards the people that tried to make you fit in that one box, but the people that happened to fit in it. Thankfully, I grew out of it. I stopped believing that certain ways to express yourself were superior to others. I wonder if that's the same path that the people that made this movie also walked down.

[@lovefromwonderland]

I don’t think it’s demonizing so much as deconstructing the stereotypes that surround the phenomenon of a “mean girl.”

[@mewcery]

I'm going to be honest and say that I don't think you understand the moral of Mean Girls and what it's ACTUALLY about. The film does not intend to demonize hyper-femininity and instead is trying to show that in the end they understand what they are doing is wrong but it never had anything to do with femininity. In fact this chick-flick embraces hyper-femininity because at the end, they may not all be friends but they are still wearing feminine style clothes and have reflected on their ways. They've become more humble and still are feminine.

[@matthewdrummond9961]

Love hyper feminine people, go queens!!!!!

[@hildeseter]

omg i loveeeed this video!!

[@saltyking100]

It's not misogyny, it's feminism that hates feminity. The Bratz and High School musical, are great examples

[@Andreaa_-_]

Yes that's called internalised misogyny

[@saltyking100]

@@Andreaa_-_ No, that's called feminism. Misogyny believes in the traditional roles of the patriarchy, meaning that women are sweet, loving, nurturing, delicate and submissive. While men on the other hand are the providers, the fighters and they compete against one another to try to be the best one. But also that doesn't that during the patriarchy you didn't have powerful women, noble courts are a great example of how women had their own world and competitions just like men. High school Musical shows a feminine girl that wants to do things that were seen as feminine become the villain, because she likes pink, she likes acting, she likes singing and dancing, she loves the feminine clothes and other objects that were trending at the time, while the hero girl is not feminine, she thinks being hyper feminine is ridiculous, she wants to be a scientist and not do "girl" things like the villain does. The Bratz are another example, the tweevils were feminine, they wear the colour that is nowadays seen as feminine and that filled one of the requirements of the traditional gender roles, but also they represented everything that modern misogyny is, their mother was the president of the organization called "women against change" meaning that their mother wanted to turn back to the traditional roles, their father is a plastic surgeon, meaning that he was imposing the beauty looks of that time and the girls themselves were always following the feminine trends, specially their boss, Burdine. While the Bratz rarely wear pink, they also used to have different hobbies that weren't commonly seen as girls' hobbies, like skating. And they also had their own magazine company that went against the "status quo" that was pushed by Burdine.

[@Andreaa_-_]

@@saltyking100 you did not just write an essay about the fucking Bratz movie

[@saltyking100]

@@Andreaa_-_ I had to, you people think that you know what you're talking about. Merry Christmas, dude.

[@Andreaa_-_]

@@saltyking100 who's "you people"?

[@EliTheAlien]

I just wanna say that this is one of the most well written essays I've heard on this site. Like. If this was a class and I was the teacher I'd read this in front of everyone to show them how this style is done. Nice work 🤸🏽‍♀️ Editing and audio was A+ too

[@thefrigolifam6307]

this is why Legally blonde is and will always be 🔛🔝

[@zkme2734]

"Forced"? I thought the girls were finally able to free themselves from being "mean girls" and they were just playing the trope of "pretty girl" just to lately see they don't really enjoy it. Sorry, I have to disagree with you in that regard.

[@b.h.7983]

Hmmm, a well-spoken video. Have not seen the film yet (that's my bad, so don't at me) so I cannot comment on the film's story, but coming at this from a guy (who has Asperger's) I've never really quite got why femininity or 'being girly' is a bad thing at all. Only upon learning what's beneath the surface in society did it all click, but I personally have never had with it. In fact, a part of my was silently interested in it, I just didn't know how to (properly) convey that b/c, well, I had and still have Asperger's and didn't want to look like an idiot. My philosophy is and was "Live and let live"; if girls want to be hyper-feminine or however which way they want, then let them be so. I've thought about writing a similar story; it'll have many familiar archetypes, but what I would've done is to take a more nuanced approach where the girls embraced their femininity, but also have interests traditionally considered 'masculine'--in other words, a more balanced look at things. Trying to say which one is inherently good or bad in any case is unhealthy and ridden with bias. I'll still check out Mean Girls, but if you handed that to me I'd taken the above approach. Sorry for the ramble, just wanted to give my 25 cents.

[@Jasmua]

This analysis is perfect for Miss Congeniality as well!!

[@DreamBoatEyes]

It inaccurate that Janis was not initially interested in Friendship with Cady, but later invested in that Friendship with that Ulterior-Motive of Revenge. REMEMBER: Both Janis and Damian were happy for Cady to join their Friendship-Circle out of Empathy of how lonely Cady Felt when joining a New School; and Janis Reassures Cady during an Incident, *We are your Friends!*

[@chelsi.mp4]

Exquisitely delivered!

[@swiftie4lyfe]

I love this so much

[@choles523]

such a great and insightful video! also, do you have a slight Irish/Northern Irish accent?

[@Super_Grover_]

The only hint at Janis’ growth is that she has a boyfriend in the end. It’s the mathlete guy she bullied throughout the movie. 🙄

[@fribit8474]

Though femininity should not be demonnised, shouldnt there be a form of toxic femininity just like with masculanity

[@RICtalks]

I mean... hasn't Disney been demonizing the gays as villains for the longest? that's cuz of our proximity to femininity too right? your video makes TOO MUCH SENSE lol I love it :)

[@0_Katt_0]

Did you live in Ireland at some point, cause your accent sounds like American with a hint of Irish

[@elinarohatgi1938]

Thsi video made me an instant subscriberr

[@celestedivine131]

I think is awesome i got over the "hate pink" phase at 11, now i'm a young teen and i'm all out for pink and cute clothing (even tho being nb and lesbian), and my bestie is goth and never wears very colorful things but she NEVER, NEVER I SAY, putted her style somewhat superior to mine, she always supported what i liked and the only thing we had actual problem with is politics (although she just kinda blind follows her mom, so i understand)

[@ohfoff]

Awesome. Needed saying - maybe not the movie's message, but trendy in culture. Plenty of grown-up girls with kind hearts love to be a Feminine Goddess, wear dresses, skirts. We can be who we want to be. And celebrate Masculinity too. Ladies don't HAVE TO wear pants and be career-focused to deserve respect or worth! We bring our own magic to the world

[@chefcar09yt]

she doesn’t even go here

[@emilyrouk1820]

This is why so many kids at my school get karen haircuts, weird clothing because they think its quirky

[@chrystianaw8256]

Great video!

[@princesslove018]

alright but as a highschool student, most the girls who wear pink n' use lipgloss do act bitchy

[@chanizard]

Everyone's entitled to their own opinion, but I'd love for y'all to see ModernGurlz take on the costuming of the main characters.

[@XoTheMisfit]

Omg it’s just a movie! A comedy it’s not that deep! Why can’t we just enjoy it for what it is we didn’t think about this shit when it first came out now everybody’s over Analyzing everything I get it to a degree, but don’t make a mountain out of a mole hill

[@orangesheep7094]

My biggest flex is that my birthday is on October 3rd

[@okfruit982]

id disagree in that janice doesnt change at all tbh. she is shown to have color(red) & more feminine accessories at the end of the movie & shows that she is interested in boys too. i dont believe her character "growth" was done well or significant at all but its there to an extent

[@mightymight24]

When I watch Mean Girls, I really felt like something is wrong with Janis' character (this is me before I discover what does "Femininity" actually means). The more I get to know femininity, the more I see the problem with her character. Like she can away with all the manipulation and mean things that she does just because she isn't that hyper "feminine"?? There was even a time that I hated her character more than Regina. Atleast Regina isn't as "pretentious" as her and openly express that she is indeed, a Mean Girl. Unlike Janis', whose beibg mean is being hidden underneath the "I'm not like other girls I'm cool" sort of pick me style facade

[@danielladahoui888]

Totally agree with everything you’ve said with hyper-femininity, the lack of commentary on the institutions that enforce gender stereotypes, and Janice having not learned anything despite her manipulative and selfish behaviour (which I never liked). Even you mentioning how expressing femininity is a spectrum in itself. Generally, I’m glad that girls going against convention are more celebrated, however it’s saddening when the tomboy/alternative girl is juxtaposed with the girly girl as inherently more aspiring or good. Whichever way you express your femininity, strength and intelligence are not mutually exclusive with being less feminine. This results in demonising any girl who genuinely likes looking conventionally feminine in any way. Not every show or film does this, but it was especially prominent in the 2000s, especially something like P!nk’s “Stupid Girls” music video was problematic in that regard (though meant to be empowering). Also the whole Disney Princess hate during that time: If people want to criticise a female character’s lack of agency or narrow motivations, that’s fine, but somehow the Disney Princess hate was so profound it resulted in a lot of critiques that were unwarranted (like when Disney acquired Star Wars, Leia was so often juxtaposed to the princesses to the point that she was treated as the “not like other princesses” Princess, and it didn’t matter if she had a similar agency as the more modern Disney Princesses).

[@yasjnsn]

Hi! Odd question but can you tell me the page and chapter of the Chappell and Young quote please about ultra femininity? I'm doing this topic for my thesis and the quote would fit in great with one of my scene analysis' :), also the direct quote and any full citation you used for it would be great if possible! I can't seem to find a free version of the book anywhere to view!

[@elleliteracy]

Of course! I can't find my full notes for the video but check Library Genesis for the book Bad Girls and Transgressive Women. The quote is from the chapter "Mean Girls End Up Dead: The Dismal Fate of Teen Queen Bees in Popular Culture" by Sara K. Day and the quote "she is, almost without exception, white, straight, and economically privileged. She is frequently blonde, always stylish, and quite often overtly sexualized." is on pg 138. Hope that helps!

[@yasjnsn]

@@elleliteracy thank you so much!

[@isaacb1045]

completely off topic but are by any chance irish? or maybe lived there for a while?

[@dominiquepocopio777]

3:25 thought it was tina fey 😭

[@raycasta10]

Imma drop smth…..i havent watched mean girls lol n i have no plans on watching it.

[@SEXgoddess.]

RIGHTTTTT I always saw Janis as one of the bad guy when I was a kid and I still do no wonder why🤦‍♀️

[@diamondminer5459]

Mean Girls isn’t about good guys or bad guys.

[@oftinuvielskin9020]

One way Janice does change is in getting a boyfriend (disappointing so many people who were hoping for lesbian rep). And I would argue that that is a small way of making her character more aligned with femininity. Point still stands though, as it is usually just the aesthetics of hyperfemininity and not the inherent heterosexuality of the hyperfeminine which is maligned - the feminine ideal is still held to be hetero and pretty, just more "naturally" so and less obviously knowledgeable about their own attractiveness.

[@p.montserratsa]

I always loved Totally Spies. They are the cliché of the three pretty girls obsessed with shopping, yet they are not demonized. Clover is the closest example. She is the blonde girl, boy crazy, compulsive shopper, trend follower, who is always figthing mandy, but she along Alex and Sam are the "good guys" who save the day. My favorite thing about them were the gadgets they had. The gadgets were usually things that are consider "girly"or"femenine" : compowdesr, laser lipstick, Data Processor Pendant, Freeze Bracelet, Flashlight Ring, Parachute Purse, anti-gravity gogo boots, etc.

[@diamondminer5459]

Most people, in fact, are fine with how you choose to be a girl. Some people are jerks about it, but that’s on them.

[@maariyahshamsi7061]

Bratz was like that too! 4 girls who were obsessed with fashion and shopping and wore make up and trendy clothes. However, they also spoke their minds, expressed their opinions, and even fought physically in some of the movies. They also had a spy movie with gadgets that looked like fashion items and also helped them kick butt

[@babyfaceweeb8937]

They even have a mean girl in the show who has similar interests as them, but she's just mean and stuck up. So it's not the fact that she's ultra feminine that she's a jerk, it's that she's just a jerk.

[@angelambrosia6397]

This may not stick but I feel like winx club captured my essence. The girls are very feminine and fairies with all magic with pretty pink but are still kickbutt and strong. Like Stella she has the look of the mean girl but is a very good friend and a strong friend

[@abigase135]

I loved Sam for being a nerd but Clover was the heart of the show, it wouldn't be as fun to watch without her and tbh she was very relatable sometimes. She just was rich enough to do what we couldn't

[@itsnebi9903]

The fact that Regina is only "good" when she starts doing sport a typichally masculine activity...

[@elleliteracy]

I think it’s really interesting! it shows how women aren’t encouraged to express their rage in feminine settings, so it must be channelled into masculine contexts

[@MechaJutaro]

Participating in sports hasn't been a typically masculine activity for decades. Hell, even Greco Roman women took part in athletics

[@itsnebi9903]

@@MechaJutaro ok and? It's asociated with masculinity, just like makeup it's asociated with femmes

[@MechaJutaro]

@@itsnebi9903 And sports haven't been exclusively associated with masculinity in eons. The fact that The Williams Sisters, Anna Kournikova, Ronda Rhoussey, Stephie Graff, etc are all house hold names is indicative of this. RG's image and reputation being improved wasn't connected to her joining a team

[@itsnebi9903]

@@MechaJutaro yeah, i know but socially it's a "male activity" i'm not saying that they're exclusive for males

[@thatgurlnamedria]

Also, I noticed that grown adults have called teen girls (especially under 16) who do more "feminine" things like wearing heavy makeup, wearing miniskirts, and styling their hair "fast or "grown". I feel that feminine activities are highly adultified and this shames teen girls for doing "girly" things that most adolescent girls try and do at that age. It's also an incredibly misogynistic and sl*t-shamey way to view things like makeup and skirts and other things like that.

[@miraculoustheories721]

Exactly! The first time I got ripped jeans I was told by a grown women, “Oh my you’ve grown up so fast!” It’s like no. I’ve just finally got a taste in fashion.

[@tiaowo642]

not the expectation that all girls will do those things 😐

[@thatgurlnamedria]

@@tiaowo642 I never said all, I said most or some would try to do such things.

[@oooh19]

@@miraculoustheories721 ripped jeans arent really girly though lol. i personally dont like ripped jeans but to each their own. youre allowed to wear what you like

[@belleanndm]

@@oooh19 i think they're just stating that showing any sort of style preference is seen as trying to grow up too fast lol

[@venusinvoyage]

Winx club was my life. They were so feminine, powerful and such deep women in touch with their own aspects of femininity.

[@neelamaulakh]

i still watch the original winx club show to this day!

[@stonersiren]

all they talked about was how hot the boys are and how they don't wanna break a nail!! i see it as a beautiful fashion/art project that should've stayed on mute lmao.

[@jakeystarsuper]

I need to watch that show

[@bali9435]

i've always kind of had the opposite perspective, and felt that mean girls, as much as it indulges in some harmful stereotypes, is really quite empowering bc of how strongly and unapologetically it leans into hyper-femininity and teen girl culture. everything you said makes total sense though!! great video!!

[@diamondminer5459]

I have to disagree that this movie demonizes hyper-femininity. It’s more about the dark side of female interpersonal relationships, and the movie isn’t about protagonists or antagonists.

[@alizetvargas]

I am fairly of the same perspective. It does not want to demonize hyper femininity as much as it wants to point out that in our society one of the few ways for us to get some sort of power is to embody that kind of persona, our power comes at the cost of being always self conscious about our appearance, or throwing other women under the bus (which has a quite visual representation in the movie), and being aware of that allows us to be more complex in our expression of femininity and fight for our place in society.

[@imxel2193]

@@diamondminer5459 except it is. And that’s what Tina fey does with a lot of her work

[@laminnare]

@@diamondminer5459 did you rly reply with this to every single comment lmaooo did you even watch the video. dear god

[@antithoughtpolice7497]

I don't think this movie actually does that either, considering it's not like Regina is hype feminine because she necessarily wants to be, but it's more of a requirement for her power. Karen seems to like being feminine just because, judging by how she still dresses the same by the end of the movie, then Kady is still more feminine than she was at the beginning of the movie, showing she doesn't want to be the tomboy from the beginning again, but that she also learned appearance matters (just not THAT much) from the plastics.

[@adrianr3885]

this is precisely why Legally Blonde was such an important movie

[@victorlolxd7347]

Not really…

[@MinisDunyasi5]

@@victorlolxd7347What makes you think that?

[@odisea8797]

@@MinisDunyasi5I think they say that because Elle just stopped being an airhead and started studying for a guy’s attention(?? But at the end she learns that she doesn’t need a guy to be happy so idk😭😭😔😔

[@eaenbean6050]

Because they don’t demonize femininity and instead play into it to showcase the main character’s strengths and unique skillset.

[@TheDailyPaige]

I also kind of have the opposite perspective because Karen and Gretchen are still very feminine at the end and don’t change much either like Janice. I felt it was more about the dynamics of female relationships. I read something about how Regina mistakes Janice for being a lesbian because she’s Lebanese. So, I think that is a part of reginas physical transformation because she said janice’s dream was diving into a pile of girls and then at the end of the movie that’s what Regina does. But loved your insight!

[@hawyee1162]

karen does change though, just not her style.

[@kyslighthearted9101]

@@hawyee1162 she's still hyper feminine tho

[@gaslightgatekeepgirlboss6321]

not to be rude but can we please stop this narrative that regina "mistakenly" thought janis was a lesbian because she confused it with Lebanese? she did not. she purposefully used homophobia to bully janis out of female friends, saying she "can't have a lesbian in an all girls pool party" and spreading rumors about it. of course theres nothing wrong with being a lesbian, but the fact she used it to paint janis as creepy and predatory and shouldnt be allowed near girls is cruel and evil, and definitely not a mistake. it was purposeful. why do people want to insist that regina is stupid? she clearly isn't.

[@jordand331]

At the end, it’s suggested that both Regina’s hyperfemininity and Janis’s rejection of femininity are both disingenuous. Regina explicitly performs the femininity expected of her to manipulate others for her own gain. Both Janis and Cady have obviously more feminine styles at the end, whereas Regina obviously less, but Karen dresses the same - because the problem isn’t hyperfemininity as long as it’s genuine

[@killme5630]

Yes!! While the video makes good points, i don't think it means to say that hyper feminity is bad. It's just that the femininity that makes women desirable also cages them and sets them against the each other. Every other girl clique besides the plastics has their own issues and that is made clear. Cady even says that she becomes a human being in the end - free of whatever bounds she once had. Even janis, chooses some girly star clip in the end scene, showing how she can be more feminine with out pretending now.

[@arwenschild6406]

A few years ago, I used to be the girl that said she "was different." Because, yes, I had more male friends and liked doing sports and gaming. Nonetheless, I internalized, that 'being feminine' was being weak and boring - straight-up misogyny. By now I understand that being "girly or womanly" is nothing bad. Heck, it is fucking cool! Your videos are great! Keep going :)

[@azereth338]

i feel like that also used to be Billie eilish

[@semolinalibra]

@@azereth338 how would you know?

[@azereth338]

@@semolinalibra just her whole personality and the way she was. I feel like she just wanted to be different from other girls so bad. She’s changed now though, it kinda stopped when she was around 17.

[@Melody--kq7cn]

miss omelette no she didn’t, she had her own style (style evolves and changes constantly) and she wore baggy clothes because people bullied her for her body

[@taliahturqoise9673]

@@azereth338 Why are you talking about a literal stranger like if you were her psychologist lol i don't even like billie eilish but what the hell lmao

[@spaceamundo9655]

Next time you should analyze The Powerpuff Girls and their contrasting personalities. I think that too would make a good video essay on the topic of feminine archetypes represented with a trio of superheroines who are highly distinctive but equally though when it comes to crime-fighting. I haven't seen any videos of it yet.

[@afz5355]

Omg yeah! A lot of tropes could be dissected right there!!!

[@oliviaharris8526]

Maybe you could try. Would definitely give that a listen

[@Kurooganeko]

Weird, it seems to me that what the movie does is showing how toxic privilege and hierarchy ideologies are, but also how society is super prone to put woman against woman. And how it is always a pleasure to everyone when we can tear down someone from a higher status, even though we may always be prone to make the same, if not worse, msitakes once we grasp the power left in vacuum

[@mellifluous_aura22]

Exactly

[@spaghetto9836]

I like how everyone has gotten a different message out of this movie. There is a long-lasting trend around making feminine things look evil & masculine things look good, but I think there's a "dark side" to both spectrums. Maybe it'd be better if they had shown that you can be very feminine without being toxic.

[@thanley]

I have the same accent as you, it's so fun to find someone with the american irish muddled accent! Also I really like your videos, keep it up!

[@elleliteracy]

twins!! 💖

[@shanareilly6649]

I'm Irish and I was watching this and didn't notice and you said one word and I was like that sounds suspiciously Irish maybe it was a fluke but no. Lol

[@itspienoon7883]

While I do think Tina Fey's message about mean girls still stands, I can't help but feel like she should've developed the Plastics more. The scene with Cady and Regina in the bathroom would've been more compelling if we learned more about her flaws than just in the third act. Gretchen and Karen could've been more developed too...

[@diamondminer5459]

I have to disagree that this movie demonizes hyper-femininity. It’s more about the dark side of female interpersonal relationships, and the movie isn’t about protagonists or antagonists. The Plastics should have gotten more screen time, but the movie was more about Cady anyway.

[@minivan1680]

Well to be honest Karen did not have much substance lol

[@semolinalibra]

@@diamondminer5459 I disagree with you

[@ouinoelle]

Agree.

[@mylesmarkson1686]

@@diamondminer5459 Well-said. People are reading way-too much into a 1-1/2-hour teen comedy, but some people are always going to feel the need to get attention.

[@beardpandaa]

I honestly don't even know if Regina liked girly fashion as a means of expressing herself or if she only saw it's value in manipulating the social order as a pretty girl in her position. We never really get to know what Regina actually likes for herself (except having sex with the jock which she tried to hide). Plus regina seemed to be groomed into being girly by her mom who did the same to her sister. We obviously know Karen likes girly fashion because she was very excited about wearing pink on Wednesdays and she's still very feminine at the end of the movie.

[@imthebossmermaid3648]

I think that Regina is still pretty girly, I mean just look at her room, all decked out in pink and cute, girly decorations. And she also says that she "made" her parents trade, so she clearly likes having that room. I think by the end of the movie it's not so much that she discards femininity, but that she learns to genuinely embrace femininity on her own terms. Throughout the movie, she wears sleek, body-hugging, and revealing outfits that she knows will appeal to the males of the school. She's not feminine for herself, she's feminine in a way that appeals to the male gaze. Meanwhile, at the end of the movie, she joins a lacrosse team, an all-girls one at that. And is shown still wearing a feminine outfit, but it is more comfortable and less revealing. Regina learns at the end of the movie to be herself and that she doesn't have to appeal to the male gaze, and that femininity takes many forms, not that being feminine is bad.

[@dumpsterhag]

A line I've thought about a lot is when Janis tells Cady "at least girls like me and Regina George know we're mean." Obviously it's not a huge thing, but I think it's a cool little nod to how Janis and Regina aren't that different and are both pretty toxic

[@imthebossmermaid3648]

It also shows how while Janis hates Regina, she still respects the fact that Regina is honest with herself, and owns the fact that she's a bitch. To Janis, Regina is better than Cady. She even goes on to say in the movie "Take Aaron Samuels for example, he broke up with Regina, and he still doesn't want you, so why are you still messing with Regina's life Cady? I'll tell you why. Because you are a MEAN GIRL! YOU'RE A BITCH!" In the musical she has a similar line: "I hate Regina's guts, but here's what you don't comprehend. At least she has the guts, to not pretend to be my friend!"

[@danyreyna929]

Brilliant observations. Now that I’m becoming a feminist I see how desperate we as a society need to deconstruct every piece of the culture we live and consume like movies and pop culture in order to stop demonizing femeninity. It's also interesting to see how society still rewards the cool girl arquetype with this male fantasies like the tomboy style and 0 interest in "girly things".

[@sofia-ut7kh]

​@@chocchipsxx e x a c t l y. Femininity is always forced on us in one way or another. So fuck that. Being a woman doesn't mean being feminine

[@diamondminer5459]

I have to disagree that this movie demonizes hyper-femininity. It’s more about the dark side of female interpersonal relationships, and the movie isn’t about protagonists or antagonists.

[@lunamoon4603]

@@sofia-ut7kh You responded to a comment about how femimity is demonized and masculine girls are rewarded with "exactly femininity is always forced onto as". Are you dumb or something?

[@nm9688]

I disagree that tomboys or masculine women have it easier. What you're talking about is the male fantasy of a Cool Girl, who is conventionally pretty but puts 0 effort and is super "chill" with everything. Shes good at some masculine hobbies but not better than her male partner

[@imxel2193]

@@sofia-ut7kh you missed the point

[@ItsMcGeeGents]

you guys, this movie uses lesbian as a pejorative throughout the whole runtime, casts only conventionally attractive women in non-gag roles, and pairs the suspected gay woman with a man at the end. how are YOU feeling demonized here. misogyny is only wrong against gender normative women??

[@imthebossmermaid3648]

Misogyny is definitely wrong no matter how the woman presents herself. The purpose of this video isn't to demonize and sideline gender non-conforming women, but to point out a problematic trend in media in which femininity is portrayed as a sign of vapidity, weakness, compliance, or evil. Which Mean Girls, to an extend, perpetuates.

[@rosabarrios7048]

Janice isn't punished because the story isn't about punishing people. The story is about people not getting what they want ( power ). Regina is the all powerful ruler in the established system, and Janice opposes the established system ( we get the impression that Janice does this in order to implement another system where she is the all powerful ruler and the girly mean girls are at the bottom ). Janice doesn't get what she wants, because when Cady destroys the established system, it's done in order to implement democracy ( we see this when she throws the broken crown to everyone in the room) as opposed to establish a new system where she and Janice are the all powerful rulers. Janice doesn't get to rule a new system just like Regina doesn't get to preserve the old system in which she ruled. When that happens, they both change, Regina becomes less of a tyrant and Janice becomes less antagonistic. Janice learns to be happy in her environment, and we see that at the end of the movie when she is with her new boyfriend.

[@elleliteracy]

I get where you’re coming from, but all the hyper-feminine characters are publicly humiliated while Janis is held up and celebrated. so while she doesn’t become the new ruler, she’s the only character that gets clout and praise for her actions. I don’t think the film is about punishment, I’m just examining how it treats characters with different gender expressions

[@diamondminer5459]

@@elleliteracy I have to disagree that this movie demonizes hyper-femininity. It’s more about the dark side of female interpersonal relationships, and the movie isn’t about protagonists or antagonists.

[@please_im_a_staaar]

Janice didn't try to rule anything. She only had an aspiration to take down the plastics. She's more like a revolutionary (who takes down the system but doesn't necessarily rule anything afterwards) than another dictator. I think when ppl say that Regina and Janis are the same, and that Janis should be punished too forget that Regina did messed up things to innocent people in her school, Janice only does it to Regina. It is silly to use Regina's awful methods against her but at the end of the day Janice is not the same. Janice tried to take down a bad person (a dictator) in a questionable way but Regina did that to the entire school especially, girls, for years!

[@summerrose8110]

@@elleliteracy Janis NEVER SOUGHT OUT TO BE A RULER TO BEGIN WITH.

[@_Sakidora_]

@@summerrose8110 How do you know? It's a well established pattern than revolutionaries often become dictators themselves.

[@icloudy3959]

This is why shows like Barbie and Bratz were (at least to me) really crucial to this era. It shows you that you could still be hyperfeminine but also be whoever you want.