By Sophia Sullivan, Arts & Culture Editor
You may recall an infamous movie by the name of Mean Girls that came out in 2004. Now, 20 years later, with a new cast and updated plot, Mean Girls has once again taken the pop culture world by storm with the 2024 remake of the film, which was released in theaters on Jan. 12.
The movie stars Reneé Rapp as Regina George, Angourie Rice as Cady Heron, and Christopher Briney as Aaron Samuels, there were sure to be some faces that newer generations would recognize.
In a world where we still wear pink on Wednesdays and say phrases like “get in loser, we’re going shopping” and “that’s so fetch,” it can be easy or even tempting to look past the true message of the franchise.
“This movie […] perpetuates outdated stereotypes about women and at its core, the plot centers around pitting women against others and putting down women that deviate from the ‘norm’,” said Kat Ward, a freshman majoring in history. “I enjoy the movie, but I can also acknowledge that it’s an unfortunate example of how some women struggle with internalized misogyny.”
But surely by now we’ve moved past the “mean girl” culture, right? In most cases, this does not seem to be a reality.
The movie, based on a book by Rosalind Wiseman called Queen Bees and Wannabes, highlights an ugly side of girlhood: the competition, hierarchies, cattiness, and tendency towards cliques.
Dr. Marissa C. Rhodes, assistant professor of history at Saint Leo University, and instructor of the History of Gender class, sees competition as natural for humans. However, in a patriarchal society, she says, this sense of competition among women is much more prominent.
Of course, we don’t all experience it, but overall, it is a universal thing that girls and young women face. The prominence of social media that many of today’s college students grew up with didn’t help, of course, but the question is: Does it go deeper than that?
“Sometimes women gain power in a male-dominated environment by betraying other women. Other times, women gain a sense of superiority for socializing with mostly men. I think it’s hard for some women to value the importance of sisterhood depending on what they choose to do with their lives,” said Rhodes.
Even for female college students, this feeling is prevalent.
“For too long, women have been forced to perform for the male gaze, and in that, many women struggle with internalized misogyny. Today, there are women that put down other women for things they struggle with as well, such as body image issues, sexuality, and mental health,” said Ward.
To counteract these feelings, it is key to get close to those in your female circle and really make connections with them.
“I connect with other women by wanting to have fun, and by wanting to find humor and share affection,” shared Valerie “Ray” Eulett, a sophomore majoring in English.
To others, this connection look more like relating to one’s understanding of the woman condition.
“I connect with other women by talking about the shared experiences of womanhood. Women are subjected to many standards, criticisms, and hardships, it’s nice to find solidarity with other women that are going through the same thing,” added Ward.
This can look different to each individual woman, but the purpose is the same: Forming connections and reducing nefarious feelings and motives towards one another is incredibly important to overcoming barriers and walls as females.
“In a patriarchal society, it’s important for women to have positive relationships with other women. Women are at such a disadvantage [for example, pay gaps] and socializing with someone who has similar experiences can be invaluable,” noted Rhodes.
Now more than ever, women need to be able to form connections and show love to one another. College is a wonderful time to begin establishing those relationships that could someday turn into lifelong friendships.
“Lead by example. Surround yourself with and connect with women you admire and love. Not to the exclusion of the men in your life but as a complement to them,” advised Rhodes.
Here’s your challenge for today: Take a step to make a connection with other women in your life or introduce yourself to someone new. A compliment to their outfit or hair, asking them to grab lunch or a coffee with you, or even just give them a smile or a hug.
“Our differences as girls don’t mean that we don’t have the same cause,” said Eulett.
While Mean Girls may be in, “mean girl” culture is not. Show love to women, as women, and build one another up. Give yourself the power to make it happen and watch your relationships flourish.
Now, “that’s so fetch!”
