It’s no secret that TikTok has taken over the internet. It’s the first app I use in the morning and normally the last one I go on at night. No longer a basic form of social media, its influence has infiltrated regular life, with millions of people constantly referencing the latest trends or trying to follow them.
One particular trend that has interested me is the ‘Roman Empire’, with women asking their male family members or partners how often they think about the legacy of Rome. Surprisingly, it seems that countless men are obsessed with this specific period of history, with many responding that they think about it as often as two or three times a day. For most women on TikTok, including myself, this trend has left us both fascinated and confused. At first, it felt like some strange inside joke between men. It just seemed incomprehensible to me that men think about a period of history so regularly that I hadn’t even considered until this trend began. As celebrities, such as Ryan Reynolds, began hopping on the trend and its impact expanded beyond TikTok, I quickly realised that this wasn’t some obscure inside joke; a lot of men are genuinely enthralled by the legacy of the Roman Empire and its impacts that still permeate our society today.
In response to this trend, many female and LGBTQ+ creators have invented their own versions of ‘The Roman Empire’, referring to events in history or media that they think about. This is because it is often straight men that are seen to be contemplating the ancient civilisation of Rome. Some examples have been humorous, including iconic moments from reality shows, such as Big Brother and Love Island that viewers find themselves thinking about frequently. As an unashamed fan of trashy reality TV, I’ve found myself relating heavily to plenty of these. Others have created their own unique takes on this trend, with many posting about historical events that they think about just as much as the Roman Empire. For women, this seems to be about periods or events in history that involve and centre around women. A few examples include: the wives of Henry VIII, the Tudor dynasty, the Salem Witch Trials, Marie Antoinette, Greek mythology and the tragic death of Princess Diana. Since childhood, I have always been a bit of a Tudors fanatic. So, seeing that multitudes of women also obsess about this historical period has been comforting.
The main thing that I love about this trend is that it has become a fun and quirky way of showing off our interests and fixations, no matter how eccentric or niche they may be. Though if this trend has proven anything, it is the polarity between the interests of men and women (particularly when it comes to history) – and that’s okay!
Another popular trend is the concept of ‘girl math’; a strategy to explain unnecessary expenses and how women may have certain attitudes towards buying things. For example, buying a ticket for an event months in advance so that when the event comes around, it feels like it is free. Therefore, you’re able to buy as many drinks or frivolities as you would like during the event. Another example is paying for something in cash makes it feel like it’s free. I’ll admit that I often pay for an unnecessary iced coffee with cash instead of breaking into my student finance so it feels like I have more money than I actually do.
I’ve absolutely loved seeing different versions of this trend; it’s given me some sort of comfort in knowing that I’m not the only one who has made questionable financial decisions and purchases. Now I feel like I can defend these without judgement. However, some people online have opposed the trend, stating that it feeds into patriarchal views about women being financially inept and unable to handle money correctly. Content creators have been criticised for failing to mention the prevalence of the ‘pink tax’ in today’s society, as well as reinforcing stereotypes that women do not understand how money actually works. While I can see how these criticisms are valid, I personally don’t see the trend as malicious or misogynistic in any way, rather it is just a silly, humorous way to poke fun at and somewhat justify pointless purchases. I know how money works, I just think we should be able to splurge on something stupid from time to time!
Regardless of the speculation, confusion and controversy surrounding these particular trends, both of them have certainly kept me entertained over the past few weeks – I’m excited to see what new trends Tik Tok has to offer in the future!
