Her Therapy is Baking
Baking is making a comeback. How has this come to happen, and what are the deeper societal implications and connections? Is it really that profound, or is baking simply that fun?
The girl world is never quiet, with constant talk about ‘Girl Therapy’, ‘Girl Dinner’, ‘I’m Just a Girl’, and more flooding social media. The ‘IT Girl’ is no exception. Who is she, what does she wear, what does her schedule look like, and what is that secret component that makes her IT? This raises an obvious question: what are her hobbies? The IT girl embodies the idea of being the best version of oneself. This concept encourages individual journeys of self-discovery and improvement, with the goal of becoming one's own personal IT girl. Notably, the IT girl is not a mere collection of desired qualities but rather a unique individual with a touch of originality.
Try to Be Happy Cake, Pinterest
These desired qualities are influenced by broader social and cultural contexts. For instance, the Scandinavian perception of this persona differs significantly from that of an IT girl from the valley. While the term ‘IT Girl’ serves as an umbrella term, it encompasses various specific and niche variations. What they share is the crucial aspect: the IT factor. She is a symbol rather than a person. Unless we refer to individuals who, almost objectively, are recognized as IT girls. Dubbed the latest IT girls on social media, names like Sofia Richie and Sabrina Carpenter come to mind. Then there’s Mrs. Nara Smith. These inspirational girls bring their own personality and uniqueness, adding a touch of originality. Nara Smith has been under the media’s spotlight for some time now. As a hugely successful content creator, she features cooking and baking in her elegant outfits, curating beautiful videos and dishes with a calm, down-to-earth attitude. She is notably interesting because her influence has kickstarted a new movement and inspired a new hobby for the IT girl. However, these seemingly inspirational videos have sparked debate. Some argue that she promotes the idea of a traditional wife, choosing homemaking over pursuing a career, while others simply find her aesthetic and cooking videos inspirational.
Nara Smith, Pinterest
With the rising popularity of baking, both paved the way and driven by some of the most popular and influential IT girls, it is no surprise that the production of baking videos on platforms like TikTok and Instagram is skyrocketing. This trend has led to the circulation of new captions and taglines such as ‘Girl Therapy’, ‘Her Therapy is Baking’, and ‘Pretty Girls Bake When They Are Stressed’. These captions connect this hobby with the ‘I’m Just a Girl’ movement. Pictures of fawns, ducklings, and other objectively cute animals are captioned with phrases like ‘I’m Just a Girl’, ‘This is me’, and ‘This is who you are being mean to’. This movement is uniquely expressed through creative content to convey messages about gender equality, allowing women to highlight gender-related challenges in an unconventional way. However, this method has also sparked controversy. Some argue it reinforces stereotypes by limiting girls to their gender while suggesting lesser capabilities and expectations. Additionally, it excuses responsibility and allows girls to avoid overcoming difficulties, perpetuating a victim mentality.
I’m Just a Girl Meme, Pinterest
Following the idea that girls use this movement to excuse themselves from responsibility, baking can be seen as a means of relief. With a desire to be alleviated of responsibilities, many have sought out de-stressing hobbies. Baking, in a sense, can be considered a form of art where one can express creativity through their creations. And I can’t think of anything more therapeutic than that. With the immense pressure of today's world, it is no surprise that people seek ways to lessen this burden. Engaging in a hobby such as baking provides many benefits, acting as a break from the seriousness of everyday life. It allows the baker to switch off their mind, focus on the activity, and for a while, simply relieve themselves of the great responsibilities of our modern world. Rather than active confrontation, it is the act of partaking in a therapeutic activity that one can enjoy—something that seems to resonate profoundly with the ‘I’m Just a Girl’ movement.
In many ways, girls’ hobbies are undergoing a revolution. With these movements, there has been a heightened focus on the activities of girls. Not surprisingly, there is an increasing awareness that girls’ hobbies often revolve around expenses. Makeup, clothing, pilates, and even a simple coffee outing have all become costly, highlighting the commercialization of these activities. Girls and women, in particular, fall victim to phenomena such as targeted marketing, emphasizing appearance and fashion. This greatly benefits a huge industry. In contrast, men's hobbies are typically portrayed as centered around physical activities. This contrast has sparked a desire to reform the hobbies traditionally associated with girls and women. Baking is far from the only hobby that has regained popularity. Other creative crafts such as knitting, crocheting, and making beaded necklaces have also made a groundbreaking comeback, prompting us to question whether they represent a pushback against this commercialization.
As the world becomes increasingly global and interconnected, there has been a noticeable rise in gender divisions, with both genders seemingly returning to more traditional ideas and roles. In the realm of men, figures like Andrew Tate have become influential, while in the female realm, stars like Nara Smith—though in no way comparable—have also played a significant role in the reshaping of perceptions. Online echo chambers play a role in reinforcing these trends, where individuals only consume content aligned with their interests and worldviews. This divide is reflected in girls' hobbies, where traditional ideals and hobbies are increasingly being embraced. Circling back to Nara Smith, she not only participates in traditional activities like cooking and baking but also embodies the archetype of the traditional wife. Her elegant attire and aesthetic mirror the classic 1950s American wife, adorned in vintage dresses and grand jewelry. Importantly, baking possesses a communal aspect. It fosters social interaction as people come together to bake and share culinary creations. Chatting over coffee and cake has long been an important communal activity, especially among women.
With all this in mind, one thing is clear: baking is a multifaceted hobby with deeper layers. A plurality of reasons can coexist for the skyrocketing popularity of this hobby. The commercialization of girls’ hobbies often reinforces traditional gender roles centered on caregiving and beauty, from cooking utensils to baby dolls aimed at young girls. Interestingly, these dolls emphasize both beautification and caretaking. It is no wonder that girls feel confliced, as expressed through these increasingly popular movements. Individuals may choose to engage in baking for a variety of reasons, whether related to those discussed here or not; it's a personal choice. And let's be honest, for some, it's simply about enjoying a delicious sweet treat. So next time you grab your spatula, give this food for thought some extra thought.
