One day, I was driving a family member somewhere and I’m not sure how it came up, but during the conversation, she called me, “bougie.” But she didn’t just say the word as a normal adjective, like the small bird or the big truck. She emphasized the word, bougie, with a sour face, as if she were spitting out something that was sour and disgusting.
I didn’t give any kind of response to what was obviously meant to be a pejorative descriptor. Why would she use such a disparaging label, as if we weren’t family? And as if being bougie was such a bad thing?
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Fortunately, I have thick skin. Being one of five girls in the family, and being in the career that I’m in, you develop a thick skin. You guys probably know what I’m talking about—how mean women can be to each other, for no apparent reason. Women don’t beat the crap out of each other like men tend to do as they’re growing up. Instead, women use words as their weapons. Sharp like knives and heavy like hammers. Sometimes the words are worse than being physically assaulted.
As for my career, while you are taught to care for others, even more than yourself, there are some “colleagues” that make it there business to make your life as difficult as possible. I’m sure a lot of “normal” people would be surprised about this fact. People senior to you treat you badly because they can, and really, no one is going to do anything about it, because you should be learning and you should be tough. So needless to say, my skin is like a callous.
Here’s an illustration. There was that time when I went to a restaurant to meet a boyfriend’s friends, and as I sat down, another woman said, and I quote: “I hate skinny bitches.” I sat down and reached for the drink menu and then realized that everyone was looking at me. Even my (obviously, now ex-) boyfriend looked at me, waiting for my response. He, however, hadn’t said a word. “Oh, she was talking to me?” I ask. So, yeah, it takes a lot to offend me.
So, this got me thinking about the word, bougie, what makes someone bougie, and what makes someone refer to someone else as bougie.
What does Bougie mean?
Merriam Webster defines the word bougie:
adjective
bou·gie | \ ˈbü-ˌzhē \
variants: or less commonly bourgie \ ˈbu̇r-ˌzhē , ˈbü-ˌzhē \
informal, usually disparaging: marked by a concern for wealth, possessions, and respectability: BOURGEOIS
The word “bourgeois” is actually a term that was first used in the 1500s to refer to people who lived in a town. These people often made their livings in business and commercial pursuits. So bourgeois became a term associated with the middle class.
Bourgeois took on a more negative connotation with Karl Marx, the author of The Communist Manifesto. According to his writings, the bourgeois controlled the means of production during the industrialization period and were overly concerned with capitalism and the value of property. The goal of the bourgeois, then, was that their economic power in society would go on indefinitely.
These days, the term is used more as an adjective and suggests that the bourgeois are only concerned with money and status.
In my case, referring to me as bougie, was clearly meant to be an insult. And an unprovoked insult at that. I’m certain I wasn’t being referred to as a town dweller.
Why people don’t like you, AKA, Why are they haters?
I think it’s unnecessary to go down the list of reasons that I may or may not be bougie. Mostly because I know that some people see me as bougie, and I’m okay with that. I drink non-cow milk, I’ve been to Whole Foods more than once, I have an espresso maker and know how to use it. The list is long.
Sure, as lovely and brilliant and all-around fantastic you are, not everyone will see you that way. And the thing is, it has nothing to do with you and everything to do with the other person. Here are the top 10 reasons why someone would dislike you for no apparent reason (in no particular order).
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They need to feel good about themselves. Poor self-esteem can lead people to dislike you. Instead of using that energy to work on their own view of themselves, they choose to bring others down. Making you feel or look bad literally makes them feel better, even superior.
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They are reminded of their shortcomings. They may feel like a failure next to you. Instead of being energized and motivated by your success, they feel small. You might be a walking, talking reminder of their failures. You may remind them that they made bad choices, but when faced with the same choices, you chose differently.
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They think you don’t deserve it. One thought may be that you just “got lucky.” Or that you did something questionable to get that win or accomplish that goal.
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They want to be like you. You might just be so fabulous that they can’t take it. But there can only be one you, right?
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They want the attention you are getting. Don’t dim your sparkle for anyone.
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They think your life is great. It quite possibly is! And they would likely trade their problems for yours. They may think that you have better problems than they have.
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They are scared and helpless. Some people lash out when they don’t know what to do. They get angry instead of asking for help or guidance.
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They are reminded of their own flaws. Maybe your work ethic is a lot stronger. Maybe you’re better with math or have a way with people.
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They want to be like you. And why wouldn’t they? You’re fabulous.
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They are jealous. They don’t think about how much you have worked to get where you are–they just see the result. They don’t understand that if they put in the same work, they can also be successful. Perhaps they don’t want to do the work, they just want the rewards. But hey, that’s not possible. Everyone has to pay his or her dues.
What’s wrong with being bougie?
Urban dictionary defines bougie as
Anything that is perceived as “upscale” from a blue-collar point of view. ‘Bougie’ (pronounced boo’-she) is a hacked truncation of the word Bourgeoisie, which refers to the middle-class in Europe, but refers to a more affluent class level in the United States.
Adjective meaning extravagant, often to the point of snobbery. Usually used in relation to the conspicuous consumption of the urban upper-middle class. Derived from “bourgeoisie”
Concern with wealth
The amount of debt Americans are going into has been on the rise.
According to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, “ total household debt increased by $124 billion (0.9%) to $13.67 trillion in the first quarter of 2019. It was the 19th consecutive quarter with an increase, and the total is now $993 billion higher than the previous peak of $12.68 trillion in the third quarter of 2008.”
Mortgages, student loans, and auto loans top the list of the biggest contributors to this debt.
How could anyone not be concerned with money? It’s the reason for many fights within a marriage or even the cause of some divorces. Lack of money is the root of all evil. Criminals are out to take what others have while bypassing the work to get there.
So, actually having a 401K is a bad thing? Having investments, or money saved in a bank account, is selling out? Saving for your children’s college tuition is acting like you are superior in some way?
Conspicuous consumption
I believe it’s often an inaccurate assessment that some people are “flaunting their wealth.” What some people see as flaunting is just normal life. You wear your dress, you drive your car. By just existing, somehow you are offending someone. It’s not like you’re posting on social media every day telling everyone how great you are. Nevertheless, in some people’s minds, you are doing just that.
I hear terms like, “status car,” and so forth thrown around. If you’ve ever had a car of any kind, you know that it’s a huge waste of money. You have to keep putting gas in it to get anywhere. You have to wash it and change the oil or pay for repairs. When you want or need a new one, the process starts over. Since you’re going to be out the money anyway, you may as well get what you want, right? If you can afford it, what’s wrong with that?
Furthermore, aren’t we all taught as children that if we work hard, we will be successful? Generally, the result of this success is extra money that allows you to do things like buy quality goods like clothing or accessories, go on trips, and save some for later. A lot of religious people also site passages in the Bible (I won’t do that here) that suggest that God wants us to live a life of abundance. How does it follow that once someone attains a life that is considered to be one of “abundance,” that they are then vilified for leading that life? It doesn’t make any sense.
Extravagant, possibly to the point of snobbery
This also ties into the idea of abundance. But who decides what is extravagant versus reasonable? What may seem overpriced to one person is justifiable for another. It’s like beauty–in the eye of the beholder.
Just because you wouldn’t pay more than $50 for a dress, how does that automatically make you smarter? Just because you wouldn’t be caught dead eating a $50 steak, how does that give you cause impose your values on anyone else?
Final thoughts on being bougie
Clearly, bougie is in the eye of the beholder. Because of that, using this label probably says a lot more about the person using the term than the person that is being referred to. Sure, not everyone is going to like you, and certainly, not everyone is going to support you. That’s why you have to live your own life, on your own terms. What makes you happy, do it. If it’s working for you, do it. As long as it doesn’t hurt anyone, do what you like. Because ultimately, what other people think of you is none of your business. Let it be their problem. And there are worse things to be than bougie. So call me Bougie and Proud. I might just get t-shirts made.
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5 Responses
This is really well written. I like how you broke down the whole concept of bougie-ness.
As for the ones who called you bougie and who referred to you as a skinny bitch, haters just love to hate, don’t they?
You are so right! But like I’ve been told, haters are just doing their jobs.
Girl I love your blog ! Well written and for a young bossy lady like myself this was the perfect engagement to remind myself frfr “What is wrong with being bougie??”
I’m glad I came across this bc up until this point I always felt guilty for being bougie bc everyone else around me just wasn’t on my wave length, they just don’t see life the way I see life & don’t have the mentality that I have therefore I experienced ALL 10 reasons you listed as to why the haters really REALLY MAD !
Jeez I feel like I just found my tribe! … Thanks for speaking on this and creating a space for women like us especially women of colour bc God knows how our community can be…. forever on a mission to tear down the ones who choose to create a better life for themselves & enjoy the finer things that life has to offer and refuses settle like dust just bc we share the same background or come from the same humble beginnings smh! I haven’t folded on myself yet and I definitely won’t after this .. this just gave me MORE power ! .. so for that more power to you XoXo …I had to subscribe girl & Im so excited to read more of your blogs in the future!
YOU ROCK !
That means so much to me! Thank you!
I’m so thankful you Annita Nikole,I was reading so many meanings about “BOUGIE” but you’re the only ONE person who showed a real meaning of this beautiful word “BOUGIE”