Girl Math *eye roll*

[Heylylaa]

AIBU to be sick of expressions like "girl math"?

Google says the definition of Girl Math is "a term used to describe the financial rationalizations that some women use to justify spending money. It's a fun, unserious way of justifying purchases that might not be essential". However, that's not the context I hear it used in.

People I know basically say as a way to insult a womans intelligence if something isn't adding up. Basically you're a woman and you're thick.

For example on a Facebook page where someone declared they were 100 days since the start of something, a commenter queried how that could be as they were 83 days a couple of days ago. A different person comments "girl math".

I don't know if I'm being irrational to hate this phrase so much?

Yeah it's one of those terms used to generally disparage a certain group. It's dangerous because it is not like an outright insult so it is more accepted in general conversation.

It's similar to BPT, people who would be aghast at the N-word creeping into conversation are happy to throw this term around.

Hate the word math rather than maths full stop.

I hate it as well.

Girl math is any illogical shit involving numbers, generally to justify spending money because aren't we all just so ditsy and silly we don't understand complicated things like money (eg "this handbag is £100 reduced from £200, so I've saved £100 - girl math!! hahaha")

Its ridiculous. If someone said to me its Girl Math i would say is that because you are thick and cannot do proper Maths.

Google says the definition of Girl Math is "a term used to describe the financial rationalizations that some women use to justify spending money. It's a fun, unserious way of justifying purchases that might not be essential". However, that's not the context I hear it used in.

This is what comes of Google's stupid AI result at the top of every search page, it makes more mistakes than... well just about anything tbh. Don't take anything it says as fact, true, or even well-researched, it's awful.

I'd like to see the definition as: Girl Math is a misogynistic term used to imply that women are poor at maths and mathematical reasoning. It originated on TikTok and trended in 2023, and thankfully is on the wane now.

I don't mind it, "boy math" ones can be really funny.

Boy math is wanting 0 kids but having 0 condoms with him.

I’ve never heard the expression before. From the comments given above, I don’t like it.

I’ve seen it used online, and my 23 yr old DD uses it as a joke in work. I really dislike it.

I think it's harmless. It's not used commonly like 'Karen' for example. And I've never heard a man say it in a day to day scenario. I've heard young women use it when talking about themselves and used in humour.

I usually say 'baby math - when the kid keeps spitting his dummy out and then gets annoyed it's not in his mouth' etc

It's just used to make fun of a silly situation

I like it and use it often about myself!

Bought myself a coffee with money already in my purse? Well it's free, girl math.

It's a fun way to laugh about the way I justify treats / spending to myself. The same way when I purchase something expensive / do an expensive activity, I'll say "it could be worse, I could be spending money on drugs". It's just a way to laugh at something.

Makes me roll my friggin eyes.

Just like older men who comment on women drivers and call them Doris but can't even drive safely themselves

I really dislike girl math, girl boss and boss babe.

It's bad enough when men insult or credibility but when women do it to themselves or other women, it really annoys me.

It o kg world as a laugh if at sone level you think girls can't do maths

Horrific expression

Karen was a specific sneer now means any woman young or old who objects

And girl maths will be common as its in SM and its telling young girls to laugh at women as a group while continuing the theme that women cant do maths.

I'm far more irritated by the use of 'math' rather than 'maths' in the uk.

I don't think it implies that women can't do maths/understand numbers - its just referring to how we justify spending.

I know that my coffee isn't free because I used cash to pay for it, but it's not affecting the balance in my bank. I know that returning a coat I bought and don't like doesn't make me £100 better off - buf if I then use that £100 to buy trainers I'm not spending any more than I would have if I'd just kept the coat.

It's just a bot of whimsy and I've never seen it as misogynistic - much in the way "girl dinner" isn't saying women can't cook, just that they make simpler choices when they're left to suit themselves.

What women justify spending in a special way ?

Stop making up differences between men and women that don't exist

Especially in ways that demean the capabilities of women

Dodgy math isn't girl math is dodgy math

Describing Prosecco as 'lady petrol' is just as bad 🙄

It was never designed on the basis that ‘girls can’t do maths’ though. It didn’t stem from a stereotype, but silly things most of us do like spending an extra £10 to get free shipping. There were also many spin offs at the same time such as boy math which would talk about equally silly things most men do. The trend has also passed. It’s not an expression you hear a lot of anymore.

"Man maths" used to be a common term among my biker mates 20 or 30 years ago to describe the creative accountancy used to justify buying a new motorbike. I've heard it used more recently in relation to a photographer buying new cameras and lenses.

Insulting shit isn't it? Like mumpreneur/ boss babe. Ugh.

I jokingly use it about myself to justify the sheer number of epic holidays I book. I just see it as a funny comment, when I've debated if I can afford something trivial but then go book a holiday.

I work in a male dominated environment, in a STEM based role and quite frankly kick ass against my peers, and am passionate about getting women into engineering, supporting many initiatives to do that. It doesn't detract away from that because I jokingly use "girl maths" in my justification of spending on occasion.

I hate it. If I want to blow some money on treats for me then I absolutely do not have to justify it in a self deprecating well. I spend because I want to. End of.

DD2's career will have her working as a forensic accountant with one of the Big Four. Pretty sure her maths would shit all over most men's?

Sorry but YABU - the term 'man maths' has been around for decades as a jibe to describe the sort of hoops men will jump through to try and make buying a new car or a set of golf clubs or whatever make financial sense.

Its generally a harmless jibe at the daft stuff we all do sometimes when we want to buy something extravagant

eg: