Since Donald Trump returned to office, I’ve noticed something at my high school that I call the “new chill girl.” A group of kids will be casually talking, and out of nowhere, one of the boys makes an offhand joke—maybe racist, sexist, or homophobic. Whatever it is, it changes the group dynamic just a little. Usually, the boys carry on as if nothing happened, while the girls—who tend to be more progressive—face a choice: speak up and risk being seen as annoying or unable to take a joke, or let it slide and be seen as a “chill girl” who isn’t angry or “woke.” Since November 2024, staying quiet has become much more common.
Nobody wants to be the one who ruins the mood, so nobody wants to become that person. And that’s how this kind of immature intolerance keeps going.
This kind of fearful silence is spreading beyond high schools, too. In December 2024, Disney removed a transgender character from a new series. This April, the New York Times reported that a new Trump administration rule prevents government employees from including pronouns in their email bios. Two days later, Gannett, one of the largest newspaper chains in the U.S., cited Trump’s opposition to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) as the reason it would stop publishing employee diversity statistics.
This cultural shift encourages nostalgia for an earlier time, before DEI, when women wore aprons and relied on their husbands to earn money. By August, “trad wife” influencer Hannah Neeleman, better known as Ballerina Farm, had gained 10 million followers on Instagram alone. Her videos of baking sourdough and raising her eight children promote a return to the ideal of women as homemakers. Last November, she was on the cover of Evie, a conservative magazine that openly supports Trump.
This trickles down to us. In the Trump era, left-leaning teenage girls feel less comfortable expressing political views that might be mocked as “woke.” It’s not because most are turning conservative—in November, 58% of women aged 18 to 30 voted for Kamala Harris. It’s because the political atmosphere has shifted, and progressive-minded girls now feel more afraid of the consequences of speaking up.
The girls I talked to say it’s riskier to be openly liberal. One high school girl said boys “are becoming more emboldened, more confident to make these [bigoted] jokes.” Another mentioned that since Trump took office, casual racism and sexism have become common: “We see it more, and it’s happening to us.” Young women feel social pressure to stay quiet when they hear offensive remarks. One girl explained that guy friends “will think you’re attacking them,” adding that it’s “not worth it” to challenge every incident. You have to “pick your battles.”
A third girl said the fear of being labeled “super woke” is enough to make someone stay silent, knowing that if she objects, “there is no chance [boys] will ever take you seriously again.” These opinions are harsh, but they’re real. According to Pew Research Center, as of March, 45% of girls aged 13 to 17 feel “a great deal” of pressure to fit in socially. As cultural conservatism grows, what it means to fit in changes. Even in relatively liberal places like my high school, girls who object to crude jokes risk being left out. Nobody wants to hang out with the strict one, so nobody wants to be her. And that’s how juvenile intolerance survives.
Trump has damaged our country in many obvious ways, but what I’m seeing is more subtle. Major shifts don’t always make it to CNN. The cultural effects of this openly racist and sexist…The government’s influence on young people could distort gender dynamics as we enter the workforce, making sexual assault and discrimination more likely and preventing women from reaching positions of power. The gap between young women and young men is widening dramatically, with no sign of stopping. Trump is warping American society, and I worry he is warping us, too.
Naomi Beinart is a high school student.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about the topic based on the article As boys move to the right the new chill girl is on the rise by Naomi Beinart
General Definition Questions
Q What is the new chill girl
A Its a term describing a modern trend where some young women feel pressured to adopt a laidback nonconfrontational and agreeable persona especially in their relationships with men
Q What does the article mean by boys moving to the right
A It refers to a trend where some young men are being influenced by and adopting more conservative and sometimes antifeminist viewpoints found in certain online communities
Q Is the chill girl the same as being a cool girl
A They are very similar concepts The new chill girl is an updated version for the current social and political climate often developed in response to the more rigid views some men now hold
Causes Motivations
Q Why would a woman feel the need to be a chill girl
A Often as a form of selfprotection It can feel easier and safer to appear agreeable and avoid conflict with partners who hold strong opposing views rather than risk an argument or rejection
Q Is this a conscious choice or a social pressure
A Its primarily a response to social pressure Many women may not even realize theyre modifying their behavior to fit this mold it becomes a strategy to navigate complicated modern dating dynamics
Problems Consequences
Q Whats the downside of being a chill girl
A The main downside is the suppression of ones true self opinions and needs It can lead to inauthentic relationships resentment and a loss of personal identity
Q How does this trend affect relationships
A It can create relationships built on a performance not genuine connection The woman may feel unseen and the man may never get to know or engage with her real thoughts and feelings
Q Does this set back gender equality
A Indirectly yes When women feel they must hide their intelligence ambitions or feminist beliefs to be accepted it reinforces the idea that those traits are undesirable slowing progress toward equality
Examples Scenarios
