A subculture in generation z e girl tiếng anh chuyên ngành văn hóa học

6 3.2 The effects of the E-girl subculture on mental health .... E-girl, an abbreviation of "electronic girl", is a subculture and stereotype of young women who are "online," meaning the

ĐẠI HỌC QUỐC GIA THÀNH PHỐ HỒ CHÍ MINH

TRƯỜNG ĐẠI HỌC KHOA HỌC XÃ HỘI VÀ NHÂN VĂN

KHOA VĂN HÓA HỌC

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A SUBCULTURE IN GENERATION Z

E-GIRL

NĂM 2023

MÔN H ỌC

GI ẢNG VIÊN

: Ti ếng anh chuyên ngành Văn hóa học : TS Tr ần Cao Bội Ngọc

SINH VIÊN

L ỚP

: Nhóm 3 : K15.1

B ẢNG PHÂN CÔNG CÔNG VIỆC

No Full name Student ID Task

1 Nguyễn Thị Dịu Thuỳ 2156140154 - Leader

- Content writer and presenter Chapter 3 (3.1, 3.2)

- Game powerpoint maker

2 Nguyễn Trần Thảo Nguyên 2156140135 - Content writer and presenter

Chapter 2

- Powerpoint maker

3 Bùi Tố Uyên 2156140170 - Content writer and presenter

Chapter 3 (3.3, 3.4), Conclusion

- Finish file Word

4 Đào Ngọc Thanh Thư 2156140069 - Content writer and presenter

Introduction, Chapter 1

- Presenter game

M ỤC LỤC

BẢNG PHÂN CÔNG CÔNG VIỆC 2

I INTRODUCTION 1

II BODY 1

CHAPTER 1: THE ORIGINS AND DEFINITION OF E-GIRLS 1

1.1 The historical and cultural origins of the E-girls subculture 1

1.2 The meaning and definition of the term "E-girl" 2

1.3 The characteristics and traits commonly associated with E-girls 2

CHAPTER 2: TYPES OF E-GIRLS 3

2.1 Game e-girls 3

2.2 Tik Tok e-girls 3

2.2.1 VSCO girl 3

2.2.2 Soft girl 4

2.3 Cosplayer & Anime E-girl 4

2.4 Asian e-girl 5

CHAPTER 3: THE IMPACT OF E-GIRL 5

3.1 The impact of E-girl on fashion and beauty trends 5

3.1.1 The positive impact 5

3.1.2 The negative impact 6

3.2 The effects of the E-girl subculture on mental health 7

3.2.1 The positive effects 7

3.2.2 The negative effects 8

3.3 The influence of E-girls on online communities and the digital landscape 9

3.3.1 The positive influences 9

3.3.2 The negative influences 9

3.4 The future of the E-girl subculture and its potential evolution 9

III CONCLUSION 10

IV REFERENCES 10

I INTRODUCTION

In one of the 20th century’s most influential books on fashion, Subculture: The Meaning of Style, the sociologist Dick Hebdige studied the punks, mods, and Teddy boys who hung around London in the 1960s and ’70s He posited that their funny haircuts and jarring clothing were in fact a form of political rebellion related to their status as young, white, and working class: The mods in their polished suiting Basically, Hebdige proposed that style is inherently political and that its ties to music make it that much more so That postmodernist, Marxist framework remains the dominant method of dissecting subcultural aesthetics today And what I have been talking about is E-girls, the categories of hip young people whose defining qualities are that they are hot and online This describes lots of people, of course, but while traditional influencers traffic in making their real lives seem

as aspirational as possible, e-girls clout comes from their digital personas In this essay/presentation, we will explore the fascinating world of E-girl, examining their origins, style, and impact on popular culture By delving into the history and culture of this unique subculture, we can gain a deeper understanding of the ways in which young people are expressing themselves in the digital age

II BODY

CHAPTER 1: THE ORIGINS AND DEFINITION OF E-GIRLS

1.1 The historical and cultural origins of the E-girls subculture

The first entry for "e-girl" on Urban Dictionary was posted in June 2009 and was originally defined as "A guy who pretends to be a girl on online communities or games for humor or sexual meetings Mainly 50-year-old perverts who still live with their parents.”

It is rare and almost uncommon to spot an e-girl in the real world of her dominion is the internet Little is known of the true origin of the e-girl but like every person, she is a product

of the evolution of many subcultures In the 1960s and 70s, we had the punks who were majorly situated in London and were formed as a political rebellion on status Later in the 80s to the 2000s were emos and goths mostly in America Across the world in the 90s and

2000, there was an emerging trend of the Harajuku girls made popular into the western culture by Gwen Stephani, theirs was an imitation of girls from Japanese anime All of this subculture is a result of a medium of influence where the punks had a political rebellion, the emos and goths, music and the Harajuku girls had anime The E-girl is an evolution of all this subculture medium of influence being the internet

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1.2 The meaning and definition of the term "E-girl"

The term E-girl has been around since the late 2000s, but has evolved to have a different meaning over the years While it was originally a derogatory label for girls who engage in online activities, it now describes an entire subculture E-girl, an abbreviation of

"electronic girl", is a subculture and stereotype of young women who are "online," meaning they are entrenched in internet culture, specifically the anime, gaming, K-Pop, cosplay, Discord, TikTok, and Twitch communities, although enjoying all of them is not necessary The E-Girl aesthetic is expressed by assuming a persona on a social media platform, with memes and video formulas

The definition of E-Girl described young girls in unfavorable ways from 2013 through 2016.For now, e-girl might just be a synonym for being young, female, and very online, and therefore tied to whatever connotations those things hold But as long as there

is an internet and people who use it, there will be e-girls - those who walk around masquerading as an average cool teen, yet whose digital selves reveal that they’re part of something much more complicated

1.3 The characteristics and traits commonly associated with E-girls

What does an e-girl look like? An e-girl is commonly sporting: Dyed hair, heavy black eyeliner, pink blush on the nose and cheeks, and maybe some intense highlighter, jewelry, part anime-, part goth-inspired clothing, To draw from the most visible stereotypes, she will almost never be wearing her natural hair color (lime green, pink, or half-black, half-white hair are popular shades) and will almost certainly be wearing winged eyeliner Her clothes are either thrifted (probably from Depop, the app where Instagram influencers make money selling their stuff) or come from alternative-ish online fast fashion retailers like Dolls Kill, which describes itself as an “online boutique for misfits.” E-girl staples include mesh T-shirts, colorful hair clips, Sailor Moon skirts and O-ring collars There will be little bits of skate culture, hip-hop, anime, cosplay, BDSM, and goth that will jump out, if you can spot them In short, e-girls are what would happen if you shot a teenager through the internet and they came out the other side

CHAPTER 2: TYPES OF E-GIRLS

2.1 Game e-girls

A gamer girl is just like a male gamer or nerd, but female She enjoys spending time

at home playing video games or watching movies or series Although there is no need to conform to any particular appearance, male gamers sometimes expect her to wear big glasses, short clothes, knee socks, and have a perfect face This is why they often treat her like a goddess when encountering her in the online gaming world Some girls, known as e-girls, take advantage of this stereotype by trying to fit this image in order to get more attention Unfortunately, this perpetuates the false idea of a gamer girl

2.2 Tik Tok e-girls

TikTok brought about the rise of a new kind of e-girl in 2019 This teenager tries to

be edgy and become TikTok-famous by posting videos on the app The e-girl's makeup is bold and colorful, with a lot of eyeliner, eyeshadow, and blush, and she may add fake freckles or draw cute shapes under her eyes Her hair can be dyed in bright colors, and she wears cute, girly outfits or something more revealing The e-girl might also take inspiration from anime characters, and there are two subtypes the VSCO girl and the soft girl

2.2.1 VSCO girl

There are two subtypes of e-girls that have a specific visual and “aesthetic” differentiation: the VSCO girl and the soft girl A VSCO girl is defined as the girl you used

to find on Tumblr She is named after the social media app, which is known for providing photo editing and a social media experience that is not based on likes and comments but also offers a space for hobby photography.When it comes to makeup, a VSCO girl prefers

a fresh and dewy aesthetic over traditional makeup, like eyeliner, mascara, foundation, and lipstick, by using hydrating creams and facial sprays or neutral lip balms She prefers spending more money on skincare and less on makeup; sometimes she might claim to not wear any makeup at all Her nails are usually pastel-colored This girl likes to wear oversized t-shirts or sweatshirts combined with shorts When it comes to footwear she prefers Vans, Crocs, Birkenstocks, and other beach-related clothes

Overall, e-girls have become a popular subculture among younger generations due

to their unique style and digital persona They have gained a large following on social media platforms and continue to influence popular culture

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Even though VSCO girls are named after the app, nowadays they’re mostly known for the traits mentioned above

2.2.2 Soft girl

A soft girl is a fashion trend inspired by the aesthetics of the 80s and 90s, particularly grunge Key traits are cuteness and a soft demeanor Pastel colors are a must-have in makeup or clothing Makeup includes pink or peach blush, white, pink, or peach highlighter and rouge, and lip gloss Accessories include colorful hair clips, barrettes and scrunchies, bandanas, headbands, and cute necklaces with clouds, angels, hearts, or fruits Plushies and emojis are also typically pastel-colored

2.3 Cosplayer & Anime E-girl

Cosplay is the practice of dressing up and impersonating a fictional character, originating in Japan and now popular in the USA, Europe and all over Asia Characters are

chosen from various media including anime, manga, video games, and books

Cosplay is a portmanteau of "costume" and "play" It was coined by Nobuyuki Takahashi, founder of Studio Hard, a Japanese publishing house, after visiting a convention

in Los Angeles in the 1980s A person who does cosplay is called a “cosplayer”

Cosplay is a form of dressing up that involves enacting a character's role It requires detailed, unique costumes created from scratch, and takes planning and investment Cosplayers meet up at conventions to share their hard work and bring their favorite fictional characters to life Cosplaying can be turned into a career through sponsorships from social media platforms like YouTube and Instagram, or deals with gaming companies or textile manufacturers Cosplayers can also sell pictures or products E-girls may use cosplay to gain attention and show skin, with costumes ranging from cute to sexy to cool

Anime e-girls is a fascinating and distinctive subgroup of the larger e-girl community These unique individuals draw inspiration from Japanese anime and manga culture, but they take it to the next level by fully embodying the style and philosophy of this dynamic art form They are addicted to watching anime and often say viral lines like

“Ara ara”, “niconiconi”, “waku waku”, “na ni”, “kawaii” One of the defining features of anime e-girls is their striking and unconventional appearance, which often includes bright, colorful hair, bold makeup, and unique clothing and accessories These elements are all carefully chosen to create a look that is both visually stunning and highly individualistic

In addition to their striking appearance, anime e-girls are also known for their strong presence on social media and streaming platforms They use these channels not only to connect with like-minded fans, but also to express themselves creatively and to build their digital personas This has allowed them to connect with a global audience and to influence popular culture in new and exciting ways

Despite their relatively niche status, anime e-girls have managed to gain a large and devoted following among younger generations This is due in part to their unique style and digital persona, but also to the sense of community and empowerment that they provide to their fans Whether they are sharing their latest artistic creations online or connecting with fans in person, anime e-girls are an important and vibrant part of contemporary culture

2.4 Asian e-girl

This type of e-girl is of Asian descent and can present herself in various ways Asian and especially Asian-American e-girls have gained popularity on the internet due to the rise of Asian cultures in the Western world Many Korean streamers have become particularly popular on Twitch People may watch them out of curiosity or for a change This is not about racism but rather about different tastes and experiences Growing up between two cultures adds a deeper and more interesting layer to a girl For example, a girl

of Japanese origin who grew up with Japanese parents and speaks Japanese fluently may appear more authentic Some Asian girls may even fulfill certain stereotypes, making them more attractive to certain people Some e-girls may use their ethnicity to gain attention from a specific target group

CHAPTER 3: THE IMPACT OF E-GIRL

3.1 The impact of E-girl on fashion and beauty trends

3.1.1 The positive impact

E-girl wearing the e-look: hypersexual attire, bright coloured pigtails, pink blush on the nose and cheeks, tiny hearts under the eyes E-girls style gives everyone new choices

in fashion instead of traditional clothing Everyone will have a variety of choices when choosing to clothe Since the late 2000s, e-girls have been a part of online gaming communities But, during the past two years, particularly following the pandemic, the aesthetic influenced by K-pop and skate culture has grown in popularity among young people, including musicians like Billie Eilish and Doja Cat, as a method to defy social

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media's idealized beauty standards (Brown & Fiore, 2019) Such is the surge in popularity that mesh T-shirts sold 20% more last year, while searches for skirts modeled by the anime series Sailor Moon rose 16%

Dressing as an e-girl online feels more liberating than having long hair, flawless skin and perfect makeup For queer rights activist and YouTuber Nishtha Berry, 24, embracing the e-girl trend had more to do with “feeling connected” with herself She dresses in oversized sweaters, blazers, and shirts that she inspired by K-pop stars, accessorizing them with minimal makeup, spiky hair, and a single dangling earring “When

I was a child, my mother used to make me wear skirts and dresses, and I always felt like a different person in them,” says Berry “Being an e-girl helps me express myself.”

In addition, it has made her feel more at ease going outside She feels much safer in public, especially around guys, because people assume she is a boy, she claims E-girls wear accessories that are scaled-down versions of fetish gear, there is no other way

to phrase it

Leather harnesses and garters, which are frequently worn with miniskirts and knee-high stockings, are examples of this Choker necklaces worn by e-girls occasionally resemble dog collars like the one in the image above, albeit to a lesser extent Leather accessories used in the e-girl aesthetic and pastel goth fashion are influenced by lingerie and BDSM clothing (Spooner, 2004)

3.1.2 The negative impact

The E-girl style has grown in popularity in recent years While the movement has been chastised for having a negative influence on fashion and beauty trends, it has also been lauded for encouraging excessive beauty standards The E-girl look encourages heavy makeup, dyed hair, and sexualized apparel, which can reinforce negative beauty standards and objectify women

The E-girl fad can have a detrimental impact on self-esteem and body image by promoting unattainable beauty standards According to research, media portrayals of idealized beauty might contribute to poor body image and eating disorder symptoms (Perloff, 2014) The E-girl movement encourages the use of theatrical cosmetics, dyed hair, and sexualized apparel, which can reinforce damaging beauty standards and objectify women In young individuals, the pressure to comply with conventional beauty standards can lead to low self-esteem and a negative body image

The E-girl movement has been chastised for homogenizing personal style and lacking in inventiveness Sarah Thornton (1995) contends in her research of subcultural style and identity that subcultures are developed via the expression of individual identity and revolt against mainstream culture The E-girl fad, on the other hand, has become so popular that it has virtually become a uniform, with many young people wearing the same cosmetics, hair, and clothing styles As a result, personal style may lack variation and distinctiveness, restricting creativity and self-expression

Lastly, the E-girl trend's appropriation of alternative subcultures can be insulting to the original subcultures and weaken its significance and meaning According to a research conducted by Fenton in 2018, cultural appropriation can cause sentiments of anger and resentment among members of the appropriated culture E-girl fashion sometimes adopts features of gothic or punk subcultures, such as black apparel and studded belts, without recognizing its historical and cultural value This has the potential to dilute the meaning and relevance of these subcultures

3.2 The effects of the E-girl subculture on mental health

3.2.1 The positive effects

The E-girl subculture allows young people to express themselves artistically and truthfully, which helps improve self-esteem and body image According to a Mental Health Foundation research, creative hobbies such as fashion and cosmetics help enhance mood, reduce anxiety and despair, and boost self-esteem (Mental Health Foundation, 2018) With her vivid makeup, vibrant hair, and unusual dress choices, the E-girl style allows young people to show their creativity and originality This can result in higher self-esteem and a good self-image

The E-girl subculture also fosters a sense of belonging and community among young people According to research, social support and a sense of belonging might improve mental health (Baumeister & Leary, 1995) The E-girl subculture is well-represented online, with many young people communicating with one another on social media sites such as TikTok and Instagram This can give a sense of belonging and support, especially for young people who may feel excluded or alone in other aspects of their lives The E-girl subculture provides a secure area for young people to interact with others who share their interests and express themselves without fear of being judged