October 3rd was the official day of Mean Girls (Mark Waters, 2004). Today is Wednesday and October, so we must wear pink. The film is partially based on the non-fiction book Queen Bees and Wannabes written by American psychologist Rosalind Wiseman. The other part was imagined by a reputed comedian who also co-stars in the film: Tina Fey. Mean Girls tells the story of Cady (Lindsay Lohan), a home-schooled girl who was raised in Africa by her zoologist parents. They move to the suburbs of Illinois, and Cady faces High School. Its wild environment with cliques of many kinds resonates with audiences from different backgrounds who are united by this teenage experience
Unconsciously, Mean Girls left a unique mark on its viewers, impacting their lives in distinct ways. This impact is evident not only through memorable film lines and quotable catchphrases like 'fetch,' or the rules such as wearing pink on Wednesdays but also by becoming a cultural phenomenon at such a young age (17 years). It defined the millennial generation, especially its teenage girls, gave them identity and influenced other films, such as Easy A (Will Gluck, 2010), and television series like Gossip Girl (2007-2012) and Pretty Little Liars (2009-2015). Its legacy extends beyond cinema and the entertainment industry; it permeates social media and is referenced in the music world. For example, Ariana Grande's music video 'Thank U, Next' with visual references and Mariah Carey's lyrics in the single 'Obsessed' contain quotes reminiscent of Regina George. The film even leaves its mark in the gaming world, as seen in the mobile game released by Pocket Games in 2015. Additionally, the clothing industry and greeting cards feature countless recognizable film lines. Jonathan Bennett, who plays Aaron Samuels in the film, authored a cookbook titled 'The Burn Cookbook: Real Recipes to Feed Your Inner Plastic' (2018) and, the following year, released a limited edition rosé wine, both inspired by the film. In 2017, a musical adaptation of Mean Girls premiered on Broadway. In 2024 with the film's 20th anniversary the musical is going to the big screen.
However, the film may not age as gracefully as wine; some issues are important to address, such as the diet and appearance obsession and fatphobia. The portrayal of Africa in the film is generic and reductionist, filled with generalizations and misconceptions about African people. The movie focuses solely on wildlife, further perpetuating the misrepresentation of Africa as lacking human civilization, despite being the second-largest continent and the second most populated in the world. The representation of "otherness" is evident through secondary characters, stereotyped black student cliques, hypersexualized Asian girls and lack of diversity. The main characters belong to the hegemonic group. Additionally, this film contributes to the demonization of hyper-femininity, primarily through its villain, Regina George (Rachel McAdams). The second wave of feminism aimed to liberate women from the constraints of the gender binary and challenge the gender roles of its time, which enforced domesticity and submission. Unfortunately, in this process, they often had to renounce hyper-femininity to be taken seriously and to free themselves from patriarchy, exemplified by events like the Bra Burning protests in the 1960s. These achievements, along with lingering misogyny, have led to the vilification of hyper-femininity in the media. The film also perpetuates misogyny using the "dumb blondie" with Karen Smith (Amanda Seyfried).
On the other hand, Mean Girls addresses relevant and recurring discussions about bullying, slut-shaming, homophobia, and hypersexualization from girlhood onwards. It imparts essential lessons that can resonate across generations, such as the idea that the flaws we perceive in ourselves are often invisible to others. We must resist our inner Regina George and prevent her from crushing our confidence. Moreover, it reminds us that we have the power to create the change we want to see. Notably, towards the end of the film, there is an iconic scene featuring Ms. Norbury's (Tina Fey) speech to the students about the essence of feminism as sorority. By the way, we are in October, globally recognized as the pink month in honour of the fight against breast cancer. Worldwide, there are nearly 1.7 million new cases per year. In tribute to the countless fighters and unfortunate victims, I invite you not only to wear pink on Wednesdays but also to prioritize your health and participate in supporting campaigns.
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