This is one of the more unique assignments I’ve gotten (which is why I think it deserves a bit of an explanation). A graphic design client of mine decided she wanted something to give her portfolio an “edge.” So, instead of using the usual “lorem ipsum” placeholder text, she hired me to write completely original copy for her. The story is fictional, but I really enjoyed being given such an unusual assignment, so I wanted to share the results here!
Transcript:
WHY GIRLS EVERYWHERE ARE EMBRACING COMPLIMENT CULTURE
It’s something many of us do without even thinking about it. If we think a girl has a cute outfit, we tell her. If her eyeliner is looking particularly “fierce,” we let her know. It doesn’t matter if it’s our best friend, our sister, or a total stranger – we just like complimenting each other.
But for some girls, like Jane Doe, 17, complimenting other women is a conscious act. “I try and compliment at least one girl a day,” she said, “It makes my day brighter – and hers, too!”
Jane isn’t alone in her efforts. Countless girls – from teens to adults – are participating in this “compliment culture,” actively seeking each other out and making sure no girl is left feeling unloved.
In today’s era of cyber-bullying and hyper criticism, it might be surprising to many that there’s such a kind movement happening behind the scenes. But, according to Jane, that’s what makes it so important.
“There’s so much hate in the world today,” she said. “If I can do something to make it a little better, why don’t I?”
Her blog, complimentculture.xxx, has over 1,000 followers from all over the world. She regularly gets comments from other women who have started to actively compliment other women, and how it’s affected their lives.
It’s a lot for a teenager to handle, and it wasn’t something Jane was expecting. “I just started the blog thinking it would be me and my friends talking about stuff,” she said. “But it’s grown to mean so much to a lot of people.”
Despite that, Jane claims that she has no intention of profiting off of this. “Kindness should always be free,” she said.
When asked why she thought her philosophy resonated so strongly with people, she had an insightful answer that seemed wise beyond her years. “At the end of the day, I just think that compliment culture is really empowering to women,” she said. “I think a lot of women feel like they need to dress a certain way, act a certain way, to appeal to men. By complimenting other women, we remind each other – and ourselves – that we’re worth more than that. And we’re all beautiful.”
It’s a powerful message. While society often pits women against each other, Jane reminds us that we can be each other’s strongest allies – all it takes is a little kindness.