As part of Lyrical Muse’s debut zine ‘First Light’ we broke down the viral social media trend “first in my bloodline,” a movement rooted in confidence and breaking generational patterns entrenched in judgement and societal norms.
Big changes can often come from one small, seemingly unassuming step rooted in changing public perception – and the trend is proof of exactly this.
The “first in my bloodline,” trend is one that gained popularity on TikTok and Instagram as an empowering step in celebrating personal accomplishments in a world that hasn’t necessarily supported it.
“The trend can be a powerful first step because it helps name the pattern. It gives language to something that often felt isolating or unspoken” – Shelly Dar, Therapist
The trend which involves women and women of colour sharing their achievements from being the first to pursue higher education to being the first woman from a family to make strides professionally and more is aimed at uplifting the efforts of women in breaking generational curses and patriarchal norms by putting attention on their milestones beyond the struggles to get there.
BACP therapist Shelly Dar breaks down the viral trend highlighting the empowerment and nuances hidden in it. She says, “What I see now is that while the “first in my bloodline” trend celebrates independence, it often leaves out the emotional cost. Many women are navigating criticism, shame, and a sense of disconnection from their own community while trying to build something different. It can look like confidence on the outside, but internally there’s pressure to succeed, to justify choices, and to not lose connection to where they come from.”
Dar also explains, “The trend can be a powerful first step because it helps name the pattern. It gives language to something that often felt isolating or unspoken. While it can absolutely help in acknowledging toxic cycles and creating that first moment of clarity, the real work, and the real confidence, comes in what they do next. The trend can’t do the work. Confidence is built in the uncomfortable moments that follow, not in the label itself.”
Undoubtedly an uplifting celebration of women’s achievements and their confidence, the “first in my bloodline” trend takes up a powerful space in the current pop culture landscape, but as Dar’s expertise and the real stories of many women who have emerged from the confines of expectations in their own lives showcase, the trend is only a beginning, shining with a quiet strength that’s meant to carry women forward in their journeys ahead.
You can read the full piece in our debut zine available on Calameo.
Visit Lyrical Muse for more viral trends and pop culture coverage.
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