BASICally

I have never been one to pay attention to or keep up with popular culture.

Somehow, I always seem to be 10 steps behind everyone else.  

-What is Twitter and why do people use it? 

-I never "lol." 

-And what the actual fuck does "bae" mean?

However, with the ever-increasing use of social media, there is one cultural phenomenon that has not entirely escaped me.

The concept of the "basic bitch."

Urban Dictionary defines a "basic bitch" as such:

"A girl who...wears Uggs, leggings, oversized sweaters, and posts pictures of her iced Starbucks white chocolate caramel soy latte on Instagram..."

A couple of good friends and I shared amusement just the other day through a Buzzfeed article that gave a list of steps demonstrating how to dress up as a "basic bitch" for Halloween.  The list included: yoga pants, a Pumpkin Spice Latte from Starbucks, a North Face jacket, and Ugg boots.

I won't lie.  "Basic bitch" is fun to say.  It's funny to joke about and I don't think there is much weight behind the insult due to it's widespread and frequent use in the media and among our generation. 

My main qualm with this concept is that this overall definition of a "basic bitch," as agreed upon by the general public, seems to consist of a very broad and superficial list of character traits. 

It is at this point that I must refer to another recent trend in pop culture: Emma Watson.

Ever since she made her speech about the launch of the HeForShe campaign in front of the United Nations, people cannot get enough of her; reblogging, posting, tweeting, sharing, liking, and commenting at every chance they get. 

I applaud her, I really do.  But I have done some research and I have some unfortunate photos to share with all of her fans:

Uggs, dear readers. Emma Watson in Uggs..... And is that a baggy sweater I see?

Just Emma being fab, right? Take a closer look at that cup in her hand.  She is drinking Starbucks, folks! I wonder if it's Pumpkin Spice...

And last, but certainly not least:

I didn't want it to be true... but, alas. Our Emma is wearing leggings... Or, even worse... Could they be yoga pants?

So, with this evidence, are we all in agreement that Emma Watson is just another "basic bitch" like the rest of them?

Personally, I kind of hope not.

Because if being the UN Women Goodwill Ambassador at the age of 24 is basic, then I really don't think there's a lot of hope for the rest of us.

And while, in good fun, I am a bit of a self-proclaimed "basic bitch," I don't think I would ever want someone to seriously describe me as "basic."

I don't want to toot my own horn, but I think I have some interesting qualities... Right?

Does that mean I don't enjoy the occasional PSL (Pumpkin Spice Latte)?

No.  They are one of the reasons that fall is my favorite season... I wish I was joking.

Do I wear yoga pants and baggy sweaters?

Hell yeah.  That shit is comfortable as hell.

Do I have a North Face jacket?

No.  I have two.

And any girl who hasn't buried her toes in a fluffy pair of Ugg boots when that cold weather comes around, hasn't lived. 

The end.