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Original poster

BBC "soft girl" trend article

27 replies

LucieChardon · 05/12/2024 13:07

This came up on my BBC feed under Women's Rights... the irony.

BBC News - Sweden’s ‘soft girl’ trend that celebrates women quitting work
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0j1wwypygxo

Because it's too much to balance work and family - I know that we've been sold that myth for a few generations now, that women can "have it all" and therefore should do it all.

Am I reading this correctly? If life is too hard and stressful, then women should just go "soft"?

When do the men step up? Always women who have to give things up. Fuck the patriarchy.

Vilma Larsson looks at the camera while wearing a black dress

Sweden’s ‘soft girl’ trend that celebrates women quitting work

Sweden has a reputation for strong gender equality, but some young women are giving up their jobs.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0j1wwypygxo

OP posts:
MarieDeGournay · 05/12/2024 15:04

NPET · 05/12/2024 13:25

Don't understand why it's a "major talking point" in Sweden. If she wants to do that, then let her. I wouldn't - it smacks of being controlled by a man. But feminism as far as I'm concerned Is about doing what you want - so let her be.

I think it's a talking point because it is not just one individual woman doing what she wants to do, it's perceived as a social trend, as the article states:
even becoming an aspiration among younger schoolgirls, with 14% of seven to 14-year-olds identifying as soft girls.

I don't agree that feminism is about doing anything you want - choices are never completely neutral, and in the case of 'soft girls' they are choosing total dependence on a male partner- easier than the daily grind of childcare+ commute+ challenging job + same in reverse every day, perhaps, but what if Mr Hard Man decides he doesn't want to support Ms Soft Girl any more? Where does that leave her, and her children?

You can live with work pressure, or you can live with insecurity. Neither is a neutral choice.

BTW does 'soft girl' have the same meaning in Liverpool, or is it just the female version of 'soft lad'?Wink

NPET · 05/12/2024 13:25

Don't understand why it's a "major talking point" in Sweden. If she wants to do that, then let her. I wouldn't - it smacks of being controlled by a man. But feminism as far as I'm concerned Is about doing what you want - so let her be.

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