WP2

Part 1

Berger, Michele Tracy. “I Do Practice Yoga! Controlling Images and Recovering the Black Female Body in ‘Skinny White Girl’ Yoga Culture.” Race and Yoga, vol. 3, no. 1, 2018, https://doi.org/10.5070/R331034199. 

This scholarly article analyzes how Black women’s perceived lack of involvement in yoga is born from stereotypes that situate Black women as the other, deviant, and people who take up too much space. It argues that the lie that Black women don’t do yoga upholds racial stereotypes and makes the practice less inclusive. Since yoga is a valued activity in the soft life trend, this is very relevant to the discussion. 

Boffone, Trevor, editor. TikTok Cultures in the United States. Routledge, 2022, https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003280705.

Chapter three of this book focuses on how black girls have “used tiktok as a site to express and find joy online.” Martinez explores Black girl joy being an act of “resistance to capitalist narratives that require them to be productive.” This chapter starts off exploring how videos of killings of Ma’Khia Bryant by policemen surface the internet, prompting black women to counter this with positive videos before her death. Martinez suggests that this is a form of self care for Black women, and Black joy is a form of resistance to the traumatic videos that surface of black women during the pandemic, while simultaneously being resistance to the productive requirement that surfaced during the pandemic. She also suggests Tik Tok is a homespace where Black girls’ spirits can be nurtured by other black girls. Notably, she says that “Capitalism denies bodily autonomy to Black girls, self care becomes resistance. Young black girls resist productivity by doing pleasurable things and taking care of their bodies.” Chapter nine of this book argues how the #ThatGirl trend on Wellness Tik Tok “ascribes to white supremacist views of beauty and productivity by idealizing the “look” of wellness as that of a woman who is laboring at all times–for her job and for her body…” Sweeny-Romero is suggesting that TikTok pushes a “white, cis-hetero-patriarchal beauty ideal” while pushing productivity at work and at home with the #ThatGirl trend. The core of issues with this trend the author suggests is that by upholding a diet, body type, wardrobe, and lifestyle of a white woman, this trend makes girls and women ``perceive of their online self as incomplete without adhering to this aesthetic.” Both of these chapters contribute relevant topics and ideas to the discourse of the Soft Life trend since Black women value you the term for specific reasons and since #ThatGirl trend is very similar to the Soft Life trend in the way it centers white femininity and contradicts itself with centering productivity to obtain softer living. The ideas of this source are very well articulated and easy to follow. 

Brown, Madisyn. “the “soft life” requires hard work.” Youtube, uploaded by Madisyn Brown, 10 Jan. 2023, https://youtu.be/eggMvy28gZE?si=eauo15xODtPQBrn0 

Désolá. “Pitfalls of the soft life.” Africa is a Country, 2 May 2023, https://africasacountry.com/2023/05/pitfalls-of-the-soft-life. Accessed 29 Sep. 2023.

This article from Africa’s a Country explores the origins and pitfalls of the soft life trend in the Black women’s sphere. It argues many things including the idea that the soft life is promoting the very thing that it claims to resist (capitalism) by centering consumerism as the “solution to the social challenges endured by black women.” It also argues that it is an exclusive trend only accessible to “financially privileged black women.” This is a great perspective that challenges and exposes the reality of the soft life trend. It is an effective and influential article that taints the soft life image. The ideas of this source are articulated very well and easy to read. 

D., Ese. “Soft Life: What it is and Why it Needs to be Canceled.” Houston Mom, 12 Aug. 2022, https://houstonmom.com/soft-life/. 

The author of this article expresses her strong dislike of the soft life trend. She argues that living a life of luxury without hard work is unrealistic and dangerous to believe otherwise. She claims that people should instead strive for a peaceful life and realize that adversity builds character. This article is helpful because it engages with alternate views of the soft life trend, allowing for a better understanding of diverse opinions. It lacks supportive information however for some of her claims. 

Harris-Bowser, Javacia. “IS LIVING A SOFT LIFE THE SECRET TO SUCCESS?” Her Money, 7 Sep. 2023, https://hermoney.com/enjoy/is-living-a-soft-life-the-secret-to-success/#:~:text=The%20soft%20life%20trend%20may,life%20without%20struggle%20and%20stress. Accessed 26 Sep. 2023

This article explores the author’s personal transition from hustle culture to the soft life. After discussing the origins of the trend, she assesses what soft life means to three other Black, successful women. This article works when considering surface-level conversations of the soft life trend. However, it does not offer any innovative or surprising information other than the idea that for Black women, the soft life is a thing today because of the Black mothers who worked so hard to give their children the opportunity to consider living a soft life. 

justUS podcast. "The Soft Life: Predatory, Liberating, or Both?" Youtube, uploaded by justUS podcast, 23 Feb. 2023, https://youtu.be/-9RNeGi5CFY?si=nhtZ42RYATYzOUYm. 

This podcast discusses the racial differences behind the soft life era. More specifically, it explores how the soft life is expressed differently by black and white women. Notably, they touch on the lack of resources that have been historically denied to Black women and how this indirectly influences Black women’s approach to the soft life. 

Lee, Andrea. Sarah Philips. Northeastern University Press, 1993.

This book is one of the first books that challenges the “angry Black woman” stereotype. This book is relevant because it centers a Black middle class woman who enjoys the perks of financial stability, traveling in Europe, and having a Harvard University education. This alternate depiction of Black women in literature can be seen as a precursor to the “soft life” trend on TikTok. This source is relevant because the discourse around this book shows how it was uncommon for Black characters to live lives of luxury and without struggle and racial trauma attached to it.

LeJeune, Elizza. “The Soft Life: How Black Women are Fighting Back Against Stress, Trauma, & Depression.” Pinerest, https://www.pinerest.org/newsroom/articles/the-soft-life-how-black-woman-are-fighting-back-against-stress-trauma-depression/#:~:text=The%20soft%20life%20means%3A%20a,and%20rough%20around%20the%20edges.

Lin Grensing-Pophal. “Motivating Generation Z: What Drives the Post-Millennial Workforce.” Northern Exposure [BLOG], Newstex, 2023.

This blog post from HR Daily Advisor discusses the changing attitudes of Gen Z as they are the youngest cohort now at the frontlines of the workforce. Notably, it mentions how Gen Z values flexible work schedules, accessible technology, strong diversity and inclusion values in the workplace, and purpose as well as their paycheck. This post is weak because there is no engagement with intellectual or statistical data. While it does offer key ideas that contribute to the discourse of the soft life trend, it lacks credibility. Fortunately, it falls in line with other studies of generational shifts in the workplace. 

MacCallum, Fiona, and Heather Widdows. “Altered Images: Understanding the Influence of Unrealistic Images and Beauty Aspirations.” Health Care Analysis, vol. 26, no. 3, 2018, pp. 235–45, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10728-016-0327-1.

Mahmoud, Ali B., et al. “‘We Aren’t Your Reincarnation!’ Workplace Motivation Across X, Y and Z Generations.” International Journal of Manpower, vol. 42, no. 1, 2021, pp. 193–209, https://doi.org/10.1108/IJM-09-2019-0448. 

This is a study conducted on Generation X, Y, and Zers to discover sources of motivation in the workplace. It found that Gen Z is more sensitive and reactive to off-putting situations in the workplace than X and Y; Gen Z’s amotivation levels are escalating while overall work motivation is plummeting compared to Gen X and Y; Gen Z tends to value extrinsic regulation-material like increased pay or nonmonetary benefits, while Gen X is more motivated by social rewards; and lastly Gen Zers are more motivated to work on activities “that are out of inherent satisfaction.” This study is relevant because it correlates with the rise of the soft life trend. This study was conducted between 2017 and 2020 in Canada. Extending this study beyond 2020 and adding another country would have made this study stronger. It is a strong study however that shows how work motivation is changing overtime. 

McCoy, Thomas A., C.L.U. "DEVELOPING A STRATEGY FOR WORK-LIFE BALANCE."Rough Notes, vol. 165, no. 10, 2022, pp. 60-60,62. ProQuest, http://libproxy.usc.edu/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/trade-journals/developing-strategy-work-life-balance/docview/2719505638/se-2.

Mowat, Rasul A., Bryanna French, and Dominique Malebranche. “Black/Female/Body Hypervisibility and Invisibility: A Black Feminist Augmentation of Leisure Research.” 2013. Journal of Leisure Research 45: 644-660.

NIA [@ismenini626]. “Whats better than a soft life as a black woman ?” TikTok, 19 Sep 2023, https://www.tiktok.com/@ismenini626/video/7280756656328183086?_r=1&u_code=e0d6bdj543g8ee&preview_pb=0&sharer_language=en&_d=ea7d5he6l04k3g&share_item_id=7280756656328183086&source=h5_m&timestamp=1696448719&utm_source=sms&tt_from=sms&utm_medium=ios&share_link_id=2583875E-75D8-4F3C-98F1-5466DC914AC7&user_id=7069165049211438126&sec_user_id=MS4wLjABAAAAH4GDhz-EEHBjLOGRM_ZuwU5_Fb1aeuEA6T5938oXbQrgOYmuA30OewA93ZG94kar&social_share_type=0&ug_btm=b6880,b2878&utm_campaign=client_share&enable_clips=1&clips_cover_ab=v4&share_app_id=1233tok. 

This Tik Tok is an example of the soft life trend. This video promotes beauty, self care, name brand products, afternoon brunch at instagrammable cafes, and vibrant femininity. Treating oneself with luxury is the epitome of this video rather than relaxation. 

Peralta, Paola. "Boomers, Millennials and Gen Z all Disagree on the Best Work Arrangements — can Employers Find Middle Ground?" Employee Benefit News (Online), 2023. ProQuest, http://libproxy.usc.edu/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/trade-journals/boomers-millennials-gen-z-all-disagree-on-best/docview/2866092544/se-2.

Perry, Stephanie. “Black Women and the Soft Life Lie w/ Ivana Robinson.” YouTube, uploaded by Stephanie Perry, 1 April 2023, https://www.youtube.com/live/AwBcFX9D0TQ?si=uzJUxAPBqpOdKC8k. 

This YouTube seminar between Stephanie Perry and Ivana Robinson discusses how the soft life trend is a lie for Black women. Most importantly, they discuss why it’s problematic for the soft life to be equated with luxury not only in the Black community, but all communities. They delve into the false idea that “luxury equals softer living” while expressing their disdain for the trend that is rooted in capitalism. Another topic that adds quality to this source is the tendency for women to display a soft life on social media without actually living a soft life, which totally contradicts the idea of a soft life and pushes false images in the media. This source is a recording of a live chat, so the discussion can veer off topic and technological issues do occur. 

Thompson-Payton, L’oreal. “It’s time to leave the Strong Black Woman trope in the past. Meet the Soft Black Girl.” Fortune, 12 Jan. 2023, https://fortune.com/well/2023/01/15/black-women-soft-life/. Accessed 28 Sep. 2023. 

Williams, Trey. “Millennials want to live a ‘soft life,’ and it’s changing how they work.” Fortune, 11 Sept. 2022, https://fortune.com/2022/09/11/the-soft-life-of-dar/. Accessed 24 Sep. 2023.

This article explains how the sift life trend is changing how Black women perceive work. More specifically, it discusses how the pandemic marks a distinct shift in people’s feelings about living to work. The article engages with the ideas of tenured NYU professor Royster who says, “In the ’80s people asked: ‘How do we maximize?’ But now people are asking, ‘What’s the minimal amount I need to live a sustainable life?” The article fails to provide any information that other magazine articles do not already have.

Part 2

My knowledge about the the #softlife trend started on Tik Tok as an influenced audience member. As I would scroll through my For You Page and see pretty black women engage in luxurious behaviors and practices, I became inspired. After watching so many softlife videos, I eventually wanted the softlife aesthetic to be my reality. I glamorized shopping at Target more, spending unusual amounts of time in the shower exfoliating with scrubs and gloves, and dining at cute restaurants with nasty food. I also felt encouraged to say “no” to certain responsibilities that I did not want to do because it caused me stress. But as black women on Tik Tok began to contest the softlife influencers who pressured women to indulge in fake softness that required loads of physical and financial energy, the nonsense about the softlife that I subconsciously ignored came to the forefront, and my interest in the trend slowly decreased. 

As I revisit this discussion for class, I am approaching the softlife trend in an analytical way. In addition to discussing how the softlife was rebranded by black women as a means of resistance, my sources discussed racial and capitalistic components of the trend. I was able to explore ways the trend upgraded the lives of black women, and I was also able to explore the ways the softlife trend promoted productivity as an extension of racist and capitalist regimes—which are the very things the trend seeks to resist. I was able to notice the evolution of the trend—how it began as a movement for black women to claim agency over their body via self care and prioritization of peace (rather than society’s exploitive ideas of work); then how it transitioned into an aesthetic and performance for Tik Tok content; and lastly how it was/is strategized as a branding tool for consumerism. My sources also led me to see how the softlife trend, as implied by influencers, is only accessible to financially privileged black women who can afford routines that include pilates, leisure Target runs, frequent vacations, daily Starbucks drinks, and consistent brunch dates. Meaning that if black women want to live a softlife, they have to put in overtime at work to be able to indulge in this luxury which promotes bodily exploitation—the very thing softlife claims to resist. The softlife is one big contradiction that is quite impossible for the average black woman, or any person. So while I do believe that black women deserve a softer life because they have been denied one historically in America, I do also believe that the softlife trend is a shitty way to pursue softer living. While some aspects of the softlife are necessary (like exercise, treating oneself, and rest days), the more popular activities of the trend are unnecessary and counterproductive. 

Therefore, for WP3 I am leaning towards writing an opinion editorial. I am inspired to discuss the contradictions of the softlife trend and how it can be redefined for the actual benefit of average black women and not for companies who are looking to push their products and services via Tik Tok videos. While it is great for black women to see themselves in luxury on social media, the value of softer living gets lost in materialism. So rather than dismissing the idea altogether, the trend needs to be altered with different women of many incomes and interests expressing their version of a soft life. 

Even though it was hard finding academic sources about this trend, I was able to find one interesting book that is a collection of academic articles discussing Tik Tok and its subcultures. I was also able to find a lot of magazine articles and blog posts related to the discourse. To expand the discourse, I searched for relevant topics like work life balance, generational changes in feelings about employment, black women in yoga, and more. I included the book Sarah Phillips by Andrea Lee because it is an accidental precursor to the softlife trend. The main character, Sarah, is a black woman in the 60s who grew up in a privileged neighborhood, studied at Harvard, and travels to Europe to find herself. Those are rare, softlife activities for black women especially in the 60’s. I intend to incorporate relevant information from multiple sources to write a creative opinion editorial.