‘Girl math’: Decoding the viral social media trend

It’s a manifestation of the ‘girlification’ of various aspects of our lives, from “girl dinners” to “lazy girl jobs,” and it involves women sharing jokes about the intricate calculations they make to rationalise their seemingly frivolous expenditures.

The origin of ‘girl math’ can be traced back to TikToker Samantha Jane, who shared a video explaining the concept. She humorously illustrated how some women justify purchases with a unique logic that may only make sense to them. For example, she jokingly mentioned phrases like “Anything under $5 feels free” or “If you return an item for $50 and then spend $100 on another item, it’s like only spending $50.”

Girl math.

If i pay for it using actual cash, i basically didn’t spend anything or it was free because there’s no proof of spending.

— SpuraMaluda (@sthebee) August 8, 2023

girl math is avoiding shipping costs by buying more

— em (@DI0RSBABY) October 9, 2023

Interestingly, experts suggest that ‘girl math’ has always existed, but it has only recently acquired a name. For instance, some individuals find it easier to buy luxury or high-ticket items in cash because it leaves no paper trail or credit card bill, as highlighted in a paper published by Stanford Graduate School of Business.

Other examples of ‘girl math’ include timing your hair washing so it aligns with weekend plans, spending extra to qualify for free shipping, and feeling like you didn’t truly wear a cute outfit if you didn’t get a picture of it because no one important saw it.

“Girl math” essentially recognises that time, convenience, and money can be interchangeable currencies, as disability rights influencer Imani Barbarin wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

Critics of the trend argue that it reinforces the age-old stereotype that women are not skilled in financial matters, unintentionally perpetuating regressive beliefs from pop culture.

As ‘girl math’ gained traction on social media, some men also embraced it and introduced ‘boy math.’ However, ‘boy math’ often focused on challenging misogynistic and patriarchal stereotypes rather than peculiar spending habits.

Boy math is expecting your girl to do 100% of the household chores and you pay 50% of the rent.

— niccoya ⭐️ (@niccoyat) September 26, 2023

boy math is being scared of women using u for money u dont have

— Alison | Aristalea (@iamaristalea) October 6, 2023

The trend expanded further with the emergence of ‘brown math,’ where individuals from South Asian backgrounds shared their interpretations, adding a witty commentary on culture.

Brown parents math is if you have fun today you can’t have fun tomorrow. No two consecutive fun days are allowed.

— Urwa (@Causeofurhighbp) October 5, 2023

brown math is telling your parents you like a certain fruit and they get 3 dozen of it the next day

— $umr!t (@thundrfrmjalndr) September 30, 2023

Mary Louise Adam, a sociology expert and associate professor, suggested that ‘girl math’ could be seen as a humorous reclamation of stereotypes. It serves as a form of natural bonding and can create a shared identity.

“Through this lens, jokes about spending money to save it, or how to manage time while trying to fulfill different social roles, serve as a subversion of these “girl”-coded expectations rather than a reiteration,” she told CNN.

In the end, ‘girl math’ may be viewed in various ways — as a way of life, a questionable illusion, or just another passing trend. It could promote stereotypes among those who believe in them or bring awareness to the often-trivial financial decisions we make on autopilot. Nevertheless, ‘girl math’ opens up a conversation that many shy away from, especially women — the topic of money.

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