the joy of the LORD is my strength :) 

In the matter of how much society thinks we are progressing; I believe we are losing to the idea that we are superior to the insecure and impressionable.

Younger men and women alike need not be singled out for behaviors related to insecurity but reminded that their worth is intrinsic. The subtle systems that we use to assess people’s worth and character depending on their behavior or appearance are tainted by our pride. It is imperative to combat our response to the manifested insecurities of the generation. The youth of today are made more impressionable by the countless streams of information with no end in sight. In twenty years, technology has expedited the process by which we communicate with one another and with the surrounding world. Young men and women are bombarded by visuals showcasing what beauty is based on celebrity culture and fast fashion.  

A focus for women especially lies within the realm of empowerment. A term used to describe various states of being clothed, of one’s sexual behavior, and even slogans to inspire a vague sense of solidarity. My main concern sits with the notion that empowerment comes from following a series of trends. While it is easy for us on the outside of these conversations, middle schoolers and high schoolers are struck with the reality of losing the whole of their identity and autonomy without paying attention to the trends that seemingly guard against mortification and ostracization. More so, I believe that in this relatively new relationship to the scrolling video, there is a highly pressured expectation for youth to find themselves with a following and viewership. As it was natural twenty years past to associate large friend groups with status, the impression of status can be attributed to one’s online presence.

Following this thread, we look to vloggers whose daily lives have become their stage. It is not an analogy I am favorable towards, but it holds weight. The DITL and OOTD have sensualized and sensationalized several generations. Furthermore, these videos create demand for high-level influencers and young inexperienced alike to record every waking minute of their day. Vlogs follow students from their waking to late-night events – all with the illusion that they are unscripted and unfiltered.

The thrust of this piece is that these videos conflated reality with make-believe. At worst, they have disillusioned generations with how it is to be human and to struggle with insecurities, physical or otherwise. They have painted a picture of everyday luxuries that are not nearly as common as they are made to believe. To adopt the language of famed writer Chimamanda Adichie, viewers are not receiving the single story concerning the vlogger’s life, background, experiences, struggles, and habits at large no matter if there is the illusion of transparency and familiarity with the audience.

If the video frames us as actors, then it is easy to imagine our lives on display for critique and condemnation. We become insecure in our dress choices and our faces break out once again. We hold our faces and bodies up against our peers whom we perceive as ideals. There is little room for imperfection in the face of televised highs. No filtration system in this reality can lead to a dependency on makeup for a coverup or carefully selected outfits we are both ashamed and proud to wear. Insecurity drives conversations where are gauging one another’s responses and stifling our ugly laughter. We seek validation in verbal and social cues, desperate to fit within the mold we desperately pretend is exaggerated.

no i’m fine, i’m just reading the book of first john again and the part of us being God’s children got to me alright

i represent women who poop