New Trend "Snail Girl Era" Encourages Women To Slow Down

In a society where “girl boss” was trending, with women constantly grappling with burnout and work stress, Gen Zers have now come up with a refreshing trend called "Snail Girl.”

Gone are the days when women, in order to be empowered, had to relentlessly work hard and succeed in life. Now women are choosing to prioritise their happiness and self-care.

What Is The Snail Girl Era?

This seismic shift in mindset is what is referred to as the "Snail Girl Era." This trend sees women prioritising themselves over the pressure to toil tirelessly in order to prove their worth in patriarchal societies.

The term "Snail Girl" was coined by Sienna Ludbey in an article for Fashion Journal in September titled, “Snail Girl Era: Why I’m slowing down and choosing to be happy rather than busy.”

Ludbey is a designer and founder of a shop called Hello Sisi that sells handcrafted bags and accessories. “Hot take for the week; my inner girlboss is dead and my 'snail girl' era has begun," wrote Ludbey.

Explaining the concept, she said that as a "girl boss," she constantly felt the pressure “to be successful, appear booked, and be busy.” However, she began to realise that a purposeful life wasn’t linked to success during the pandemic.

Ludbey elucidated that a snail girl “takes her time and creates to create.” She doesn’t care about the increasing speed at which everything is put out in the world. “She’s running her own race, and maybe that race isn't going anywhere but home and back to bed."

The "Snail Girl" trend is now taking off on TikTok and across other social media platforms after Fashion Journal shared Ludbey’s article on the platform in a video. It also featured the magazine’s editor, Maggie Zhou, saying, “The girl boss is rolling over in her grave; welcome to the snail girl era."

90s-Born Women Opine On Embracing Snail Girl Era

A 90s-born millennial who has strived extremely hard for the past seven years in the IT industry finally took a career break this year. “I began my career as soon as I graduated from college, and since then I have been working around the clock before finally experiencing severe burnout. I realised that all the tireless work and unhealthy lifestyle had taken a toll on both my physical and mental health. So finally, I quit my job and began writing, which has always been my passion. Trust me, I’m so glad that I took this decision,” she said.

A 90s-born Gen Z who aspires to have her own fashion label someday said she has been clear about taking it slow right from the beginning. “After gaining academic knowledge about designing, I’ve been running a small-scale business via social media and word-of-mouth. Although I don’t earn a huge sum, I’m happy that I’m prioritising my happiness and health over social pressure,” said the 24-year-old.

I left my highly demanding MNC job in the US earlier this year, said a 30-year-old single mother. “I began working incessantly to be successful and provide my child with an affluent life. But then I had to stay away from my child, barely see my friends, or even spend some me-time. At one point, I realised that although I was making money and considered successful, I was neither really happy nor healthy. So now I’m back home, pursuing a career in art, and this is a decision that I’ll never regret.

As a 90s-born millennial, I would completely agree with the concept of the "Snail Girl." In fact, I believe I’ve been embracing this lifestyle since the pandemic. In recent times, a happy, healthy, and peaceful life has taken precedence in my mind over wanting a successful and luxurious life. I’m witnessing the change that it has on my overall well-being and am glad I did this for myself.

Suggested Reading: Gen Z's Work Struggles: Battling Unhappiness Beyond Paychecks

Views expressed by the author are their own