It’s that time of year again, folks. The time when everyone brings out their tired, clichéd jokes about basic white girls drinking pumpkin spice lattes in their Lulu’s and Uggs, taking selfies on their smart phones. Hilarious! What could be funnier than the same joke repeated ad nauseam on all social media channels? Amirite?
So I couldn't even and *poof* I turned into a white girl with a pumpkin spice Latte and now I'm crying because I don't have enough shoes.
— Schnizzy (@TheSchnizzy) October 7, 2014
For something as seemingly benign as espresso, milk, and a spice blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves, it sure hefts a strong gender and racial implication, with a dash of classism thrown in. Perhaps white women can afford their pumpkin spice latte whereas their non-white counterparts must settle for a plain cup of joe because of the wage gap for women of color. But that doesn’t make for a funny tweet.
https://twitter.com/itsbeargrillz/status/647520891832700928/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Not to mention that there is a historical colonial implication to the use of these spices. Black Girl Dangerous explains:
“It’s not pumpkin or pumpkin spice that’s the problem; it’s the commodification of our resources as somehow exotic when used in non-white foods and comfort when used in white foods. And when we mock certain foods as “white foods,” particularly in America, we’re capitulating to a lie— […] the ahistorical denial of the complexities of the role of colonialism, slavery, and genocide in the spice trade.
We all know that these spices that white folks celebrate as being typical of North America in fall have come to us from generations of slave blood, sweat, and labor since the colonial ages (and if you don’t know, check it out).
Not only are disparaging comments about basic white girls ignoring a vibrant, diverse and often ugly cultural heritage, they flatten the experience of white women into a single stereotypical narrative. Observers –often men– feel that they can populate the rest of my life (in their minds) based on my choice of beverage.
White folks were gasping so loudly, I assumed there was a pumpkin spice latte shortage but no, it’s about Real Housewives.
— Saeed Jones (@theferocity) October 2, 2014
Also, since PSL is a “white girl’s drink,” women of color and men are excluded from enjoying it, at least not without expecting some social pushback. No one can enjoy this drink in comfort! Caucasian females get stereotyped; males and non-caucasian females get flack for being outside the stereotype.
First time I've been at a real Starbucks and I ordered a pumpkin spice latte. 3 white girls laughed at me. Never coming back again
— JayBayBay (@Jordan_Lorah_) September 26, 2015
Everybody loses!
So, can we just stop already with the politicizing, gendering, whitewashing and stereotyping of a hot beverage?
How about these rules to avoid being basic (which used to be a synonym for “uncool” or “unoriginal”)?: Do what you want. Drink what you like. Like the season, that is the most special to you. Try to be open to new ideas and perspectives.
Featured Image by Ed Gregory Via Flickr available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial license.
