Go Tokyo Your Experience
The Rise and Fall of the “Girlboss” Phenomenon
More than a decade ago, the term ‘Girlboss’ became a popular label for urban women. This word not only represents the image of modern women with strong work abilities and a focus on both internal and external aspects, but also has become popular on social media and popular culture. In 2017, the TV series “Girlboss” adapted from the real entrepreneurial story of Sophia Amoruso, the founder of well-known clothing e-commerce Nasty Gal, attracted widespread attention worldwide. In addition, with the continuous improvement of China’s feminist awareness in recent years, becoming a versatile “Girlboss” seems to have become a symbol of contemporary women’s success.
However, after years of development, many women who pursue the ideal of Girlboss have found that they have not achieved the expected sense of happiness. Although autonomy has been improved, happiness seems to be gradually distancing itself from “success”, and more and more women are questioning whether this lifestyle is really suitable for themselves.
The cost of becoming a ‘Girlboss’
Being a ‘Girlboss’ seems to imply viewing economic independence as the ultimate goal, taking control of one’s own life and choices. Under this concept, women no longer rely on others and do not have to compromise for a living. However, life is not just about “supporting the family”. Many women gradually lose themselves in their pursuit of career success.
Just like some of my friends around me who were deeply influenced by the concept of ‘independent women’, they became workaholics and devoted all their energy to their careers, tightly linking their self-worth with salary and job titles. In the end, not only did their health suffer, but they also lost the joy of life. In their early thirties, they frequently sought medical attention due to overwork. This makes people reflect: what exactly is moderate effort? We need to constantly re-examine this balance point and avoid pursuing it excessively while neglecting life itself.
Changes in lifestyle and ‘quiet resignation’
In the highly competitive modern society, anxiety has become the norm, and more and more people feel uneasy and stressed. Therefore, concepts of life such as “Quiet Quitting” have gradually entered the public eye. This concept advocates that people should only do what they deserve in their work, no longer sacrifice their quality of life for excessive fatigue, and emphasizes passive recuperation in the workplace.
At the same time, another emerging lifestyle that is completely different from Girlboss is also emerging in European and American communities, which is “Girl Moss”.
Girl Moss: A Philosophy of Returning to Nature in Life
The term ‘Girl Moss’ became popular around 2022, advocating for people to lie down in moderation, return to nature, and slow down their pace of life like’ moss’. This lifestyle emphasizes reconnecting with nature and learning to enjoy a simple quality of life in modern high-pressure environments.
The practice of “girl mossing” is simple: for example, going hiking with friends on holidays, reading and chatting by the stream, or lying under a big tree in the afternoon to feel the tranquility of nature, all of which can be regarded as a form of girl mossing. It advocates us to detach from the pursuit of efficiency and output in our way of life, draw on the wisdom of nature, and recalibrate the direction of our lives.
The Ultimate Reflection on Life
In the discussion of Girl Mosing, many people compare it to the “big break” in yoga. In the great rest of yoga, people seem to imitate the posture of death and feel the cycle of life. And Girl Mossing also makes us realize that as a part of nature, we will eventually experience birth, aging, sickness, and death, ultimately returning to dust and providing nutrients for new life.
This philosophy of life reminds us not to be bound by excessive anxiety and the pursuit of fame and fortune. Many people spend half their lives pursuing career achievements, only to find that in the latter half of their lives, they have little time and energy left, and even realize that they do not truly care about the things they once pursued.
Girl Boss and Girl Moss: Lifestyle Choices
There is no right or wrong to become a Girl Boss or Girl Moss. They are just different choices in lifestyle, not the ultimate answer to life. Everyone can find the most suitable way of life at different stages of their life, without being bound by any particular label.
The key to life lies in how we balance our pursuits with our inner needs, reflect and adjust in a timely manner, and find our own way of life.