Melancholic imagery, captions that romanticize pain and despair, tear-streaked faces. These are just some of the features of the “sad girl aesthetic”, the famous trend in which mental illness and sadness are portrayed as alluring, tragically beautiful, even desirable. This phenomenon often glamorizes the struggles associated with mental health, perpetuating harmful stereotypes, and potentially disregarding other accurate experiences of those who suffer from these conditions.
One of the most significant issues with the sad girl aesthetic is its tendency to romanticize depression and mental illness. Through carefully arranged posts, individuals may create an idealized version of sadness, making it appear attractive or desirable. This romanticization can contribute to the normalization of mental health struggles and perpetuate the misconception that these issues are merely a part of a trendy lifestyle.
While the intention behind sharing personal experiences on social media may be to raise awareness about mental health, the sad girl aesthetic often falls short of conveying the complexity of these issues. The oversimplified and glamourized portrayal of depression leaves out the struggles and complications that mental illness may inflict on someone’s behavior, relationships, and life. By idolizing a romanticized facade of mental illness, individuals may be discouraged from seeking help, as they may fear that their struggles won't align with the idealized version presented on social media, or that, on the other hand, they will be perceived as seeking attention or following a trend.
So, how do we tell apart from who is blindly following a trend and who actually struggles with mental illness? The answer is- we can’t. Those who have taken part in the “sad girl aesthetic” trend may have been unconsciously influenced by what they might watch on a regular basis on social media- Pinterest boards filled with models crying, their mascara running perfectly, Tiktoks with poetic captions and Lana Del Rey songs, and paintings that depict Ophelia’s suicide in the most feminine and tragically beautiful way. This allure that is created on the internet becomes an irresistible force for most teenage girls who internalize the strong messages and emotions that they receive daily on their feed and recognize them as their own.
So, someone who has adopted the “sad girl aesthetic” may develop depression and other mental illnesses, their struggles being just as valid as any other person with emotional disorders. Depression, anxiety, eating disorders, addiction, trauma are all major mental health issues that impact the life of anyone, and regardless of the cause and origin, all of the individuals who suffer from these should be treated with the same respect.
The “sad girl aesthetic” seems to poison the idea of self-improvement, self-love and lust for life, shaping the concept of mental illness into a fashion statement that ignores the real and painful consequences of emotional disorders and disregards those who do not identify with these dark styles. The “sad girl aesthetic” is all about finding femininity in sickness, but true beauty is in personal uniqueness.
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