I’ve never been one of the cool kids, and since I am no longer in school I am really out of the loop with trends. Almost overnight my Facebook newsfeed was filled with articles and comments about “Basic Bitches.” The first time I heard the term was back in July when Allure magazine called my fashion icon, Lauren Conrad, a Basic Bitch.. (Note that her response suggests that she was insulted.) Lately, my newsfeed has been obsessed with Basic Bitches.

For the first time ever I embraced the pumpkin trend this fall, buying pumpkin candles, pasta sauce, ice cream, coffee, and even baking pumpkin infused goodies. I posted a status on Facebook about all of the pumpkin themed items I had bought and joking that I was also wearing yoga pants and wanted a Diet Coke (for the record: I was really, really late to the yoga pants bandwagon too). I figured people would tease me for all of the pumpkin items I had purchased; however, the first comment was from a guy friend who called me basic. Another guy friend commented that “basic white girls” were his “kryponite.” I almost felt like I should have been insulted, and I really had no idea why.

I had read an article by Noreen Malone a few days before that discussed misogyny and being called basic. Basic Bitch is a new insult for women without calling them a slut or a whore. And Basic Bitches are easy targets because they are so generic and non-threatening. They’re basic and boring. And we must hate them. The fact that two men commented on Facebook about basic women highlights the misogyny. No one is commenting that they are basic when they post stereotypical masculine Facebook statuses.

What is a Basic Bitch? Fashion & Power 2014 explains that it “generally refers to young women (most commonly) who adopt style and social trends without attention to meaning or active selection. Being basic refers to opting for what is popular on the most primary sense.” Basic Bitches are, essentially, generic representations of trends and even subcultures (See Fashion & Power 2014 for further review of Basic Bitches and fashion trends). Typically this is a white young woman who loves Pinterest, Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Lattes, leggings, working out, and doesn’t have a lot of depth to her (Malone, 2014).

However, Kara Brown, argues that people are overanalyzing the term “basic.” She says: “Truly, has there ever been a whiter problem than worrying about your level of basicness? If that’s the shit you like, then that’s the shit you like. Going on and on about navigating this self-constructed maze—how you’re basic but you don’t care and you’re totally going to own it, or how no one’s actually basic because it’s impossible to be basic the way white girls mean it because late-capitalism is complicated—sure doesn’t make it seem like you don’t care, or that basic’s not a real thing. (It’s a real thing.)”

Brown goes on to explain that things typically considered “basic” ($5 flavored lattes, leggings, Northface jackets, Ugg boots) were once enviable and elite items but have now become common (and, therefore, basic). Essentially, calling someone basic means there is nothing distinguishable about her. She argues that American culture is “exploding outwards” so quickly that some people can’t keep up because they are so worried about being basic. She disagrees with the assertion that calling women basic is a form of misogyny.

I could not disagree more. Let’s examine who is a Basic Bitch: white women. To be basic is to be boring and average. It suggests that non-basic women are more unique and trendy. Brown explains that American culture is moving away from “basic” interests to more original aspirations, like being “that cool chick on Tumblr.” The stereotypical Basic Bitch embraces things that are no longer exclusive and elite; anyone can buy leggings and a flavored latte. She does not think deeply about things, and instead wants to keep up with trends and appear a certain way (e.g., wearing athletic ware without working out) (Fashion & Power 2014).

So, are we all supposed to express our individuality and anti-basicness by all rejecting the same exact things? Being basic is not a good thing. Suddenly, I’m not supposed to be buying a bunch of pumpkin flavored things. And how dare I wear yoga pants and athletic shoes without going to the gym! I need to spend my money in some other way that will clearly express what a unique and un-basic bitch I am.

I side with Anne Helen Peterson. Being called a Basic Bitch reflects anxiety and concern over how certain women choose to spend their money.

I’m still being told who I am based on what I buy, and I’m also shamed for it. I’m being told that certain things are no longer cool and that I should spend my time, energy, money, and resources on other, cooler things that will make me an individual, and therefore, a better person. I’m still being told what to do. Calling me a basic bitch is just another way to label and contain me.

Things that used to be exclusive to rich white women are now easily obtained. I love the fact that I can shop at Target and buy $20 knock-off Ugg boots. Why is this a bad thing? As a Marxist Feminist I am really happy that formally exclusive, high-end items have become so mainstream and attainable. Anyone can afford to buy leggings, flavored coffee, and athletic wear. Why is this a bad thing? Fuck all of this anxiety about being a Basic Bitch.

At the end of the day, “Basic Bitch” is just another overgeneralized category that women are forced into. It’s just another way to shame women and dictate the things they should and should not like and buy. It’s another way of normalizing and hiding girl-on-girl hate.

But Brown is right when she says women should stop caring about being basic.

Fuck you haters. I love the fact that there is greater access to items that were once the epitome of rich white women. We should be celebrating this, not hating this. I love that anyone and everyone can purchase Ugg boots at Target or Walmart. I love that more people are able to enjoy overpriced, seasonal coffee drinks. I love that athletic ware is a trend and that women are excited about their bodies and working out (even if it is a trend). The new label of Basic Bitch really just means that more people have access to things they couldn’t access previously.

I think this is great. But like I said, I was never one of the cool kids.