Would you be surprised if I told you that there’s an article on how Gen Z really admire and long for the Gal Mind BUT NOT THE APPEARANCE OF GYARU? I feel like we shouldn’t even be shocked at this point but here’s the lowdown on why the new generation is technically causing yet another Gyaru resurgence.
Buckle up, gals and gal-os: you read that right. It turns out that items that are well-known in Gyaru are crazy easy to obtain, and now of course if you go to your all-time favorite app, TikTok and look up the hashtag #平成ギャル, you’ll see posts by gals who put false eyelashes on, bangs up with scrunchies and beak clips, and cardigans on their waists… BUT they don’t actually LOOK gal; instead, you can see that it completely gets treated as cosplay.
“Recent high school girls imitate the appearance of Heisei gals, and it seems that the play of just walking around the city is popular. When I look at TikTok, I started seeing such posts.”
I’ve talked about this already but basically what Gen Z is reported to be looking for is a way to really let their mind be Gal. By this, I mean that they want have good feelings and bright tension peculiar to actual gals, and expressing their opinions clearly without being swayed around. In other words, and this is mentioned in the report: They want to say crap and get excited about situations again.
Seems harsh right? But actually there’s a really interesting reason behind this and we can all thank the pandemic for it:
The current youth have had no choice but to isolate themselves in what’s “their golden years”, on lockdown from the pandemic. Because of this, it’s reported that youth don’t actually feel hopeful for the future… So that’s where the Gal Mind comes in: Gen Z want to desperately have the Gal Mind as a way to keep hoping for a brighter and more fun future.
“I can’t live without a bright mind like a gal because the world is too dark. I feel like I’ve never had good news since I was born, such as an earthquake or corona. I couldn’t go on a school trip… I think there is no generation who feels as obstructed as the current JK (high school girl).”
Now, this is the super important part that if you’re a vet, you’ll want to pay attention to this because I’m totally calling you out (in a good way!):
In this report, Gen Z mentions that social media/SNS culture has caused such a competition in their lives, that it’s the reason they will ‘cosplay’ Gyaru for the day – because they want to confirm their existence without comparing it too much with those around them.
What is important here is that Gen Z No matter how much you like an area or theme/topic, you will feel a close eye of being compared to other people, which makes it difficult for you to really live your life without concern. If it’s your favorite area, you should go to it without worrying about your surroundings. However, it is difficult for Generation Z, who is in an environment where they can always compare themselves with each other through SNS, to be absorbed in it without worrying about their surroundings, and it is difficult for them to get hooked on what they like.
“Even so, I want to avoid ending up without being able to do what I like or want to do. Therefore, what I long for is having a Gal Mind so that I can go through my path.
So here are my two cents, whether asked for or not:
I’ve heard X person gave up doing this. I’ve heard Y person stopped and deleted their account because of that. SNS culture has made it so impossible, especially for veterans, to really exist and live their life without being told it’s wrong or that they’re horrible people just because others don’t agree with what they do or who they hang out with. In that case I can see the same for Gen Z wanting to have a Gal Mind because honestly think about Gyaru back in the day! We’re talking about youth that were treated like the most disgusting thing to set foot into the world. Literally along the lines of “the AUDACITY to even BREATHE” type of hatred. Did they care? Did they disappear? Did they stay quiet? FUCK NO.
So my question to you is, why are you letting yourself be led to believe your existence, your thoughts, your feelings, and everything about you is not valid to be on Social Media? Just because there are some cruel people that hide behind a computer or phone screen and try to shut you up?
EXIST.
SHOW THE FUCK UP.
LIVE AS IF YOU HAVE NO CARE IN THE WORLD.
LAUGH. SMILE. YELL. CRY. GET ANGRY.
but for the love of all that is good in the world…
FUCKING EXIST AND SHOW THE HATERS WHAT GYARU REALLY FUCKING IS.