One of the things that might happen when you hit your thirties is that all of a sudden you find you’re no longer au fait with the latest trends, buzzwords, music or celebrities. I like to think I keep my finger on the pulse to a certain degree but there is something that has been flummoxing me recently.
I don’t want to sound like a prude, but I really don’t understand why I’m seeing so much rump all over the internet, without having searched for something quite specific. Why are so many “influencers” on social media – and I really hate to call out just females, but it does seem to be almost entirely a female thing – constantly pushing their bare arse cheeks towards the camera, and then pretending the post/photo is about something else entirely?
Just today I was scrolling through Instagram and came across a photo from a UK reality TV personality who’s recently had a baby (I also have separate opinions about putting loads of photos of your baby all over the internet and making them publicly available, but that’s a different subject). In this particular example she’s wearing something with all but a thong bottom, and of course she has her back to the camera, ensuring full view of it. I’m not slating the bottom at all; it’s very nice and clearly she takes good care of it. But when this is a post apparently all about adjusting to life as a mother with a newborn, why is her arse the main focal point?
Look, I’m a proud feminist, and a relatively easy-going one at that. I am all for choice, and you-do-you-boo, and whatever makes people feel good. So perhaps I’m being a hypocrite for calling this out, or I’m in fact a bad feminist who’s subconsciously jealous of all these very pert bottoms. I don’t want to judge; I just can’t understand it, and to be really frank I’m a bit tired of seeing so much arse when I’m having a mindless scroll through the socials. I can understand it if it’s relevant to what they’re posting – i.e. fitness – hey, look, this very peachy derriere is a result of all this hard work. Or modelling bikinis/underwear – I get it. But to post a photo of yourself with a pair of knickers hiked right up your crack, your newborn baby next to you and then a caption about motherhood, is something else, surely?
This new trend seems to coincide with the TOWIE/Love Island era, and I certainly can’t cast judgement on that as I’ve been known to watch both shows a fair bit in the past. I’m all for a bit of guilty-pleasure viewing. When Love Island first got popular I got swept right up in it. It reminded me of those Big Brother heydays, when the country watched with bated breath as Nasty Nick got busted for having a game plan and passing secret notes to other contestants, trying to fix the nominations. Oh boy it was good.
But, I digress. I guess what worries me are those youngsters (ugh I’ve just used the word youngsters) who don’t actually see this sort of thing as a bit of fun, light-hearted, eye-rolling entertainment, but aspirational instead. I’ve got a young female relative who’s really bright, but has started posting duck-face selfies and mimicking the posing style of a lot of these influencers. I’m sure a lot of this can be written off as teenage behaviour; I mean when I was 14 I was an utter chav, head-to-toe in tracksuits, dodgy costume jewellery and loud garage/drum ‘n’ bass blaring out of my stereo constantly. We all have to go through it to some degree. I just hope she doesn’t start getting lip fillers, eyebrow tattoos and suddenly stops wearing anything that covers her bum cheeks.
I know the answer, I need to stop following the repeat offenders, and I will do so. But I would genuinely like to know the reason why this is now a Thing. I guess it’s probably none of my business, and I’m being a hater by bringing it up, but that’s weird given I could probably match every girl to their bum from Love Island series 4 and 5 (not that I am proud of this).
Anyway, I’m off to update my Instagram page. *Hikes up thong*
Do you know why this trend is a thing? Get in touch and let me know!
Thanks for reading,
XD
Thirty Secrets 