by Danielle

The internet has once again seen another round of misogyny being dished out to women and young girls. According to TikTok, ‘pretty girl humour’ takes a jab at the conventionally attractive women and girls that are far too shallow to hold real interests. This trend is the crown jewel of modern misogyny, with comments on videos wrapping old-fashioned sexism in a shiny, harmless bow of self-deprecating jokes. How ingenious!

Online spaces have always been fertile ground for social policing and, now, stereotypically ‘nerdy’ topics are now being thrown under the spotlight. Those who dare to engage must be tested viciously if they are to pass this so-called ‘initiation’. What feels like online hazing has, in reality, targeted a specific group – conventionally attractive women.

Recently, the ‘nerd out’ trend on TikTok has gained significant traction as people are able to share their interests and passions in a fun way online. However, once again, when there is a will there is a way and people will find a way to ruin something. Terms like ‘normies’ and ‘pretty girl humour’ have polluted the very concept of having a hobby.

It’s staggering how the internet continues to produce fresh ways to shame women and girls, often under the guise of humour or ‘just joking.’ The ‘pretty girl humour’ trend is the latest culprit, turning what should be genuine self-expression into a battleground of misogyny. If a girl looks good and dares to show interest in anything remotely ‘nerdy’ or niche, she immediately becomes a target for mockery and online policing. Because what could be more threatening than a girl who manages to look good while also having a brain? Obviously, the natural order demands that attractive girls be empty vessels, admired but never taken seriously. The implication is loud and clear: pretty girls should stick to looking pretty and not scare anyone with their hobbies. Heaven forbid we let them enjoy anything outside the shallow pool of ‘conventional’ interests.
Is this form of policing necessary?

Putting down other girls to make yourself feel special and validated isn’t something to be proud of, and it definitely isn’t something to brag about. It’s ridiculous that the idea of sharing their interest with someone who is conventionally attractive disgusts some people. Comments on social media have resorted to grilling girls on facts and insulting their interests and hobbies to put them down.

It takes less than one second to scroll past a video, yet it takes at least thirty seconds to comment on one. The fact that people take time out of their day to leave misogynistic remarks on women’s posts frankly is immature and it seems as though the problem is right in front of the mirror.
This form of policing is not just limited to social media. It reflects broader societal attitudes that have long dictated how women should behave, what they should be interested in, and how they should present themselves. The expectation that attractive women should simply be an ornament to look at is a relic of patriarchal norms that have no place in the modern world. Yet, these norms persist, reinforced by online trends that masquerade as humour but are, in reality, thinly veiled misogyny.

Furthermore, the gendered double standard is glaringly obvious in these trends. With the primary target being women, there is little target towards men or male stereotypes with half of the severity. In schools, workplaces, and even in everyday interactions, women are frequently expected to downplay their achievements and interests to avoid being labelled as ‘too ambitious’ or ‘too intellectual.’ The notion encourages the culture of girls having to downplay and hide their interests and passions to conform and avoid mockery. Ultimately, Gen Z is reinforcing sexists attitudes that should have been long abandoned. It’s the same sexist stereotype, just filmed in better lighting and edited to a trending sound.

What makes this worse is how some women have internalised this behaviour, turning mockery into a means of survival. Belittling other girls for being ‘too feminine,’ ‘too mainstream,’ or ‘too confident’ becomes a twisted strategy for respectability. It reinforces the idea that womanhood is a competition, where validation comes from being unlike other women rather than standing with them. The stark truth is that there is no ’correct’ way to be a woman. A girl is allowed to like makeup and maths, fashion and football, poetry and comics. Belittling others doesn’t make the world a more enlightened place, rather it makes it much meaner.

To the “pretty girl humour” crowd: your incessant need to put down girls who break the mould isn’t clever or empowering. Frankly, it’s a perpetuation of the misogyny we’re desperately trying to unlearn. Girls should never have to choose between being themselves and fitting into a narrow crowd-pleasing stereotype. It is high time we call out these trends for what they really are: a lazy excuse to degrade and belittle, disguised as entertainment. If true feminism means anything, it must mean standing against this kind of social policing – not laughing along with it.

So next time you come across a ‘pretty girl humour’ post, remember this: you’re witnessing the internet’s latest attempt to police girlhood, enforce outdated misogyny, and shame girls simply for existing fully and authentically. Let’s refuse to applaud that.