Peter pan collars and fashionable eyewear are some of the attributes associated with the hipster label. Defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary as “a person who is unusually aware of and interested in new and unconventional patterns,” either following the latest trends or wholeheartedly dismissing them seems to be synonymous with being a hipster in today's society. Despite my friends often jokingly accusing me of being one because of the way I dress or the interests that I am invested in, I've never fully understood where this term stemmed from or why partaking in certain activities warrants being grouped with what is often seen as a contemporary subculture. Regardless of whether you classify yourself as a hipster or are compelled to reject the notion in its entirety, these points will shed light on why you should not take the hipster label seriously.
When looking at the hipster label in a non-pejorative context, it will be hard for you to feel anything other than amused. This label has nothing to do with who you are as a person, and instead is a simple way for society to brand your interests. You shouldn't let this stop you from embracing your true self; after all, a name is a name is a name...
If anyone casts judgment due to my fashion sense (i.e. I believe that everyday is a good day to wear a dress) or the music I listen to, I simply shrug it off because I'm proud of my tastes and have nothing to hide. Never be embarrassed or ashamed of being yourself. If anything, you should be flattered that people recognize your eclectic tastes enough to want to find a way to make light of them in the first place! There's nothing wrong with being open-minded!
This next reason can be seen as more of an open letter to those who proclaim their disdain for people who are into 'XYZ.' Hating “hipsters” in turn makes you a “hipster.” In other words, this dislike that you share with (and for) others shows that you're following a trend.
Ladies, there are no scientific findings to back up this silly notion that liking certain things means that you fall under a particular “type.” Don't forget that this systematical representation is completely weightless!
If I had a dime for every time I heard someone call another person a hipster for denying that they are one, I would be retired and sipping gold-infused martinis in a diamond-encrusted jacuzzi. The point is that this false indicator leaves no room for argument; this type of logic dictates that you are a hipster simply because you are, in fact, not one.
It is no secret that media (both social and commercial) fuels the products that industries target to their consumers, thus feeding into this common stereotype. One of the reasons why people who are labeled as hipsters often dress in a similar fashion is because of the products being marketed to certain areas. Inadvertently following a trend does not mean that you cannot still manage to maintain your own sense of individuality.
In a few years, people will forget all about this label and move on to the next big thing, which is all the more reason for you to take this with a grain of salt. Try not to take this jab to heart and keep on trucking because the only opinion that matters is yours. Your tastes should always complement your personality!
Never be ashamed of the things you are interested in. Who cares if it falls under what would be considered a fad? As long as you like it, it doesn't make a difference! Do you believe that this label should exist?