Bebe Rexha the hitmaker with her singles like “Meant to Be,” has created controversy on gender roles and relationships with her recent comments. While talking about the shifting roles in relationships today, Rexha wondered whether she has to be “boyfriend and girlfriend,” referring to the blending of conventional gender roles. Her comments have resonated with many, for the “Soft Girl Era” trend has been taking over TikTok since late 2023.
The trend of the “Soft Girl Era” is one that has embraced a softer, more empathetic look and attitude, one that is characterized by emotional vulnerability, self-care, and a refusal to adhere to rigid gender stereotyping. The trend has encouraged women and men to embrace their vulnerable and empathetic natures, and to move away from traditional ideas of masculinity and femininity.
Rexha’s comments, however, pose a potential problem—if both partners in a relationship adopt the “soft” persona, does that create an imbalance?
Her remark polarized opinion online. Some users on X accused her of promoting traditional gender roles, but others saw her remarks as indicative of broader discussion of “toxic femininity.” The ideology, at least as far back as 2019, criticizes the expectation for women to adhere to hyper-feminine standards at the cost of personal agency and relationship equality.
“Love her but this why she irrelevant”
“Y’all not ready to talk about toxic feminity yet…”
The advocates of Rexha’s camp argue that while breaking the rigid gender roles is a necessity, balance is also needed in relationships with both partners sacrificing in their own way. Rexha, never one to beat around the bush, has always been a strong advocate for self-expression and being yourself. She has told interviewers in the past that she would love to defy the conventions of society.
saying, “I love that for you, but it’s hard to be in your Soft Girl era… when all the guys are in their Soft Girl eras — like, do I gotta be the boyfriend and the girlfriend?”
Her new comments are consistent with this mindset, wondering whether gender role reversal might have unexpected consequences for romantic relationships.
