E-kid explained

E-kids,[1] split by binary gender as e-girls and e-boys, are a youth subculture of Gen Z that emerged in the late 2010s,[2] notably popularized by the video-sharing application TikTok.[3] It is an evolution of emo, scene and mall goth fashion combined with Japanese and Korean street fashion.

Videos by e-girls and e-boys tend to be flirtatious and, many times, overtly sexual.[4] Eye-rolling and protruding tongues (a facial expression known as Japanese: [[ahegao]], imitating climaxing) are common.

According to Business Insider, the terms are not gender-specific, instead referring to two separate styles of fashion, stating that "While the e-boy is a vulnerable 'softboi' and embraces skate culture, the e-girl is cute and seemingly innocent".

Origins

The terms "e-girl" and "e-boy" are derived from "electronic boy" and "electronic girl" due to their association with the internet. "E-girl" was first used in the late-2000s as a pejorative against women perceived to be seeking out male attention online. According to an article by Business Insider, the earliest example of e-girls were found on Tumblr, with Vice Media stating the subculture evolved out of the earlier emo and scene cultures.[5] Vox writer Rebecca Jennings instead referred to the Tumblr aesthetic as a precursor of the subculture, as it lacked the cutesy aspect that would come to define e-girl hair and makeup.

Ruby Barry of Heatworld traces the origins of e-girl fashion to 2000s Japanese street fashion, including anime, kawaii and lolita fashion styles.[6] Kayla Marci of Edited described it as an evolution of emo, scene and mall goth fashion that was heavily influenced by Asian fashion styles such as anime, cosplay and K-pop. i-D referred to Avril Lavigne as "the original e-girl" due to her polished take on alternative fashion, contrast to mainstream norms of the time and affinity for Japanese kawaii culture.[7] Additionally, fictional characters such as Ramona Flowers, Harley Quinn and Sailor Moon were influential on the development of the subculture.[8] [9]

By the late-2010s, e-boys had split from this original all female culture, embracing elements of emo, mallgoth, and scene culture.[10] The popularity and eventual death of emo rapper Lil Peep also influenced the beginnings of the subculture,[11] with the New York Post describing him as "the patron musical saint of e-land".[12] E-boys also make use of "soft-boy aesthetics" through presenting themselves as sensitive and vulnerable. According to the Brown Daily Herald this is due to a transformation of ideal male attractiveness from being traditionally masculine to embracing introvertedness, shyness, emotional vulnerability and androgyny.[13]

Mainstream popularity

The subculture gained mainstream attention in 2018, following the worldwide release of TikTok. According to an article in i-D, the subculture's emergence on the app challenged the polished and edited photos of influencers and VSCO girls common on Instagram, due to TikTok lacking the features to do so.[14] An article by CNN stated that "If VSCO girls are the sunshine-basking hippies of 2020, e-girls are the opposite".[15] The subculture first began to gain mainstream attention in 2019. MEL Magazine attributed the subculture's popularity to the increased interest of K-Pop groups like BTS, Exo and Got7 in the Western mainstream, due to the two's similar style of dress and hair.[16] A trend soon began on TikTok and other social media platforms, where people would upload videos "transforming" into an e-boy or e-girl, according to Vox Media, this is how the culture "entered the mainstream lexicon".[17] [18] In the summer of 2019, Belle Delphine's emerging online prominence helped bring attention to the e-girl subculture; Business Insider described Delphine as "a symbol of the first wave of e-girl".[19] The July 2019 murder of Bianca Devins also brought attention to e-girls due to Devins' participation in the subculture.[20]

The subculture continued to grow in prominence through 2020, with Vogue publishing an article featuring Doja Cat discussing e-girl makeup,[21] and "e-girl style" being in the top 10 trending fashion terms on Google in the year.[22] Additionally, a number of mainstream celebrities began to adopt the bleached stripes hairstyle associated with e-girls, including American socialite Kylie Jenner[23] and Kosovar-English singer Dua Lipa.[24] In July, high fashion designer Hedi Slimane released a preview of a collection called "the Dancing Kid" for Celine, influenced by the fashion of e-boys. In a July 29 article from GQ, fashion critic Rachel Tashjian referenced this as a sign that "TikTok is now driving fashion".[25] Corpse Husband's song "E-Girls Are Ruining My Life!", which was released in September, gained large amounts of attention on TikTok,[26] eventually charting in the UK Singles Chart for three weeks.[27] In late 2020 and early 2021, a number of high fashion designers, namely Ludovic de Saint Sernin and Celine, began designing collections inspired by e-boy fashion.[28] [29] [30] Both InStyle and Paper magazine credited e-boys and e-girls as important to the rise in popularity and resurgence of pop punk in the 2020s.[31] [32]

Fashion

The subculture's fashion is inspired by a number of prior subcultures, fashion trends and forms of entertainment, including mall goth,[33] [34] 1990s–2000s fashion, skater culture, anime,[35] Japanese street fashion,[6] cosplay,[36] K-pop,[37] BDSM,[4] emo, scene,[38] hip hop,[39] and rave.[40] Dazed described the aesthetic as "A little bit bondage, a little bit baby".[9] Outfits commonly consist of baggy, thrifted clothes.[4] In particular, some e-girls wear mesh shirts,[4] plaid skirts, oversized t-shirts, crop tops, platform shoes, chokers and beanies, while e-boys wear oversized sweaters[41] or monochrome clothes and band merchandise[42] layered over long sleeve striped shirts,[43] and polo necks.[44] Chain necklaces, wallet chains[39] [42] and dangle earrings[45] [46] are also frequently worn. E-boys often wear curtained hair,[47] [48] whereas e-girls hair is dyed neon colors,[4] [49] often pink or blue,[38] or is bleached blonde in the front.[50] Some tie their hair into pigtails.[38] Hair dyed two different colours down the centre (known as "split-dye hair") is common amongst both sexes.[51]

Both boys and girls may wear heavy makeup, in particular pink blush on the cheeks and nose, imitating anime.[52] [53] Fake freckles[52] unkempt nail polish,[54] and winged eye liner[4] are common. YouTuber Jenna Marbles made a video imitating an e-girl's makeup style, calling it a mix between "Harajuku, emo, and igari makeup",[49] the latter of which is a Japanese makeup style imitative of a hangover.[55] Some e-girls draw over their philtrum using lipstick to make their lips look rounder.[56] One notable element of e-girl makeup is under-eye stamps, often in a heart shape,[40] [57] a trend that has been influenced by Marina Diamandis.[58] Discussion of mental health is also common.[9]

Music

E-boys and e-girls are associated with "Sad Boy" music,[59] [60] a broadly defined grouping of musicians, who similarly write music influenced by sadness and mental illness, that often overlaps with emo rap.[61] The term has been criticized by artists such as James Blake, due to its portrayal of mental illness, which he considers "unhealthy and problematic".[62]

In the 2020s, it became common for participants of the subculture to listen to artists associated with the 2020s pop punk revival.[32]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Madsen. Anders Christian. Dolce & Gabbana: Fall 2021 Ready-To-Wear. Vogue. March 2021. 21 March 2021.
  2. Uh . Kyung Jin . 2020-10-30 . Digital persona in E-girl and E-boy fashion images . The Research Journal of the Costume Culture . 28 . 5 . 692–704 . 10.29049/rjcc.2020.28.5.692 . 229207298 . 1226-0401.
  3. Web site: Bassil. Ryan. Introducing: The E-Boy. 4 April 2020. Vice. July 26, 2019 .
  4. Web site: Jennings. Rebecca. August 1, 2019. E-girls and e-boys, the irony-laced subculture that doesn't exist in real life. February 7, 2020. Vox.
  5. Web site: Bassil. Ryan. Introducing: The E-Boy. Vice Media. July 26, 2019 . 21 December 2020.
  6. News: Barry . Ruby . How to dress like an E-girl in 2021: your definitive guide . 15 December 2021 . . 27 May 2021.
  7. Web site: Kheraj. Alim. avril lavigne was the original e-girl. i-D. August 2, 2019. 21 December 2020.
  8. Web site: McIntosch. Cody. E-Girls: 10 Pop Culture Characters Who Definitely Inspired The Trend. Screen Rant. December 14, 2019. 21 December 2020.
  9. Web site: Peters. Alex. A Little Bit Bondage, A Little Bit Baby: E-Girl Make-Up and Hair Explained. Dazed. September 16, 2020. 21 December 2020. March 1, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210301070339/https://www.dazeddigital.com/beauty/head/article/50474/1/a-little-bit-bondage-a-little-bit-baby-e-girl-make-up-and-hair-explained. dead.
  10. Web site: Singh. Shubham . How to dress up like an eboy— 'E' stands for embracing emotions. September 23, 2020 . 24 December 2020.
  11. Web site: Feng. Victoria . What to Buy to Look Like: An E-Girl. March 3, 2020. 24 December 2020.
  12. Web site: Weiss. Suzy. Fashion E-boys and e-girls: The moody new trend spawned by Gen Z. New York Post. December 13, 2019. 21 December 2020.
  13. Web site: Gupta. Gaya. the era of e-boys. The Brown Daily Herald. February 14, 2020. 24 December 2020. April 8, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200408204136/http://post.browndailyherald.com/2020/02/14/the-era-of-e-boys/. dead.
  14. Web site: Lanigan. Roisin. How TikTok is changing beauty standards for Gen Z. i-D. July 23, 2019. 21 December 2020.
  15. News: Thompson. Courtney. What is an e-girl? The latest teen trend, explained. CNN. February 18, 2020. 21 December 2020.
  16. Longo. Joseph. Teens Are Bringing Back the Butt Cut. It's the EBoy Haircut Now.. MEL Magazine. July 10, 2019.
  17. Web site: Jennings. Rebecca. E-girls and e-boys, explained. Vox Media. August 2019. 24 December 2020.
  18. Web site: Strapagiel. Lauren. TikTok Has Created A Whole New Kind Of Cool Girl. BuzzFeed News. February 19, 2019 . 24 December 2020.
  19. Web site: Leskin . Paige . 9 March 2020 . Everything you need to know about e-girls and e-boys, teen gamers who have emerged as the antithesis of Instagram influencers . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200229053254/https://www.businessinsider.com/e-girls-definition-tiktok-e-boys-anti-influencer-teen-gamers-2019-9 . 29 February 2020 . 23 March 2020 . Business Insider.
  20. Dickson. EJ. A 17-Year-Old Girl Was Murdered. How Did Photos of Her Death Go Viral?. Rolling Stone. July 15, 2019.
  21. Web site: Massony. Theresa. 2020's Viral Internet Fashion Aesthetics & What They Reveal About You. December 16, 2020 . 21 December 2020.
  22. Yotka. Steff. Google's Yearly Data Proves People Are Dressing More Radically Than You Think. Vogue. December 10, 2020.
  23. Dixon. Emily. Kylie Jenner's Latest Hair Transformation Is 100 Percent E-Girl. Marie Claire. April 27, 2020.
  24. Web site: Baker. Scarlett. Lil Nas X Has Got a Festive New Hairstyle Just in Time for Christmas. Dazed. December 16, 2020. 21 December 2020. December 19, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201219070623/https://www.dazeddigital.com/beauty/head/article/51437/1/lil-nas-x-festive-christmas-holiday-hair-style-trend. dead.
  25. Web site: Tashjian. Rachel. Celine Nails the Way TikTok Is Now Driving Fashion. GQ. July 29, 2020. 26 December 2020.
  26. Web site: Salaun. Theo. Fans are giddy as Halsey asks Corpse Husband to "teach" her Among Us. December 21, 2020. 21 December 2020.
  27. Web site: Corpse & Savage Gasp. UK Singles Chart. 21 December 2020.
  28. Web site: Seward. Mahoro. Ludovic de Saint Sernin SS21 is a love letter to TikTok's e-boys . i-D. November 3, 2020. 20 April 2021.
  29. Abad. Mario. Ludovic de Saint Sernin on E-Boys, OnlyFans and His NSFW Finsta. Paper. March 29, 2021.
  30. Abad. Mario. TikTok Teens and E-Boys Have Taken Over Celine. Paper. July 29, 2020.
  31. Gillespie. Katherine. Mod Sun Is Gen-Z's Pop Punk Consultant. Paper. April 16, 2021. 20 April 2021.
  32. Web site: Goldfine . Jael . The Internet Has a New Boyfriend. March 22, 2021 . InStyle. 20 April 2021.
  33. Web site: Luecke. Andrew . Donovan . Barnett . The Ten Most Influential Subcultures of the Decade. Highsnobiety . May 4, 2022 . 10 January 2021 . live . https://archive.today/20240101222304/https://www.highsnobiety.com/p/ten-influential-subcultures-2010s/ . 1 Jan 2024 .
  34. Web site: Ralph. Jessica. The five most fashion forward cult horror films. October 29, 2020. Shift London . 10 January 2021 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20220110000018/https://www.shiftlondon.org/features/the-5-most-fashion-forward-cult-horror-films/ . Jan 10, 2022 .
  35. Web site: Marci. Kayla. February 17, 2020. What is an E-Girl and E-Boy?. September 11, 2020. Edited. January 26, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210126183944/https://edited.com/resources/what-is-an-e-girl-and-e-boy/. dead.
  36. News: D'Anastasio . Cecilia . Welcome to Planet Egirl . 15 December 2021 . . limited . June 2, 2021.
  37. Web site: Dupere. Katie. January 6, 2020. E-boys are taking over TikTok and teen culture: Here's what that means. July 8, 2020. AOL.
  38. Web site: Ritschel. Chelsea. E-Girl: What is the Trend and How Do They Dress?. . November 25, 2019. 21 December 2020.
  39. Web site: Jennings. Rebecca. January 13, 2020. E-boys are the new teen heartthrobs — and they're poised to make serious money. February 7, 2020. Vox.
  40. Web site: Cortés. Michelle Santiago. October 29, 2019. Why E-Girls Are The Moodier VSCO Girls, & How To Be One For Halloween. February 7, 2020. Refinery29.
  41. Web site: GW. Charlotte. Please Can Someone Tell Us What eBoy Hair Is? (New Gen Z Style Alert!). October 10, 2019. 22 December 2020. February 3, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210203225037/https://www.hji.co.uk/latest/eboy-hair-gen-z-new-style-alert/. dead.
  42. Web site: Luecke. Andrew. What TikTok's EBoys & EGirls Tell us About Where Internet Style is At. November 19, 2019. 22 December 2020.
  43. Web site: Bain. Marc. The year's top-trending fashion styles in the US only existed online. February 7, 2020. Quartz. December 13, 2019 .
  44. Web site: Patin. Heloise. The wonderful world of TikTok fashion subcultures. 21 December 2020.
  45. Web site: 2020-01-07. E-boys are taking over TikTok and teen culture: Here's what that means. 2020-11-13. In The Know.
  46. Web site: September 10, 2019. What Are E-Boys, and Why Is TikTok Overrun With Them?. 2020-11-13. Study Breaks.
  47. Web site: Jennings. Rebecca. January 13, 2020. E-boys are the new teen heartthrobs — and they're poised to make serious money. February 7, 2020. Vox.
  48. Web site: Lindsay. Kathryn. January 14, 2020. E-Boys Are The Internet Boyfriends Of 2020. February 7, 2020. Refinery29.
  49. Web site: Spellings. Sarah. February 28, 2020 . What Is an E-Girl? . April 1, 2020. The Cut.
  50. Web site: Roden . Arabella . June 16, 2020 . 10 Cool E-Girl Hairstyles to Rock in 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201231075130/https://www.thetrendspotter.net/e-girl-hairstyles/ . 31 December 2020 . 21 December 2020.
  51. Web site: Leskin. Paige. Everything you need to know about e-girls and e-boys, teen gamers who have emerged as the antithesis of Instagram influencers. 21 December 2020. Business Insider.
  52. Web site: Cortés. Michelle Santiago. October 29, 2019. Why E-Girls Are The Moodier VSCO Girls, & How To Be One For Halloween. February 7, 2020. Refinery29.
  53. Web site: October 3, 2019. What's the Story Behind This Egirl Face? An Investigation. February 7, 2020. Jezebel.
  54. Web site: Lindsay. Kathryn. January 14, 2020 . E-Boys Are The Internet Boyfriends Of 2020. February 7, 2020. Refinery29.
  55. Web site: Abelman. Devon. December 13, 2017. Makeup Artists Are Applying Blush in the Shape of Hearts. May 29, 2020. Allure.
  56. Web site: Santiago CortÉs. Michelle. Why E-Girls Are The Moodier VSCO Girls, & How To Be One For Halloween. July 18, 2019 . 22 December 2020.
  57. Web site: TikTok Has Created A Whole New Kind Of Cool Girl. February 7, 2020. BuzzFeed News. February 19, 2019 .
  58. Web site: Weekman. Kelsey. That E-Girl Heart Stamp Trend Has a Dark Past. May 7, 2020. 21 December 2020.
  59. Web site: Dhatnubia. Ka'Dia. Dissecting the eBoy. September 12, 2019. 22 December 2020.
  60. Web site: Dupere. Katie. E-boys are taking over TikTok and teen culture: Here's what that means. 22 December 2020.
  61. Web site: Sommer. Liz. What is a Sad Boi/Sad Boy?. October 25, 2019. 22 December 2020.
  62. Web site: Singer James Blake slams 'sad boy' label amid 'epidemic of male depression and suicide'. Sky News. 22 December 2020.

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