The Clarion

The Student News Site of Montclair High School

The Clarion

The Clarion

Clarion Podcast @MoHI
April 24, 2024
Girls JV soccer players Morgan and Angela
Girls JV Soccer
April 3, 2024

Keeping Up with the Joneses theory

Keeping+Up+with+the+Joneses+theory

Keeping Up with the Joneses theory.

Introduced in 1913 to the English language. A theory based on one doing something or showing off to other people in order to seem acceptable in a social standing or class and to not seem less than.

The initial phrase came from a comic strip created by Arthur R. “Pop” Momand.

Many of us, me definitely included have been privy of being apart of this theory. With social media at an all time high with Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, ect. We see something on one of these platforms that are either the new trend or slowly becoming the new trend, and all of  a sudden we need to be doing the same exact thing.

Why is this? Because if we don’t do it we feel we are running behind and aren’t “keeping up” which then we feel uncool or not on the same level as our other peers. We are so consumed by this culture that we will do anything we can go be seen as socially accepted.

Well we don’t. Cavs, sure it’s cool to keep up with the trends, I do it all the time. But not when it doesn’t feel right to you, not when you either feel uncomfortable and think to yourself I would never do this and the only reason I am is to please others.

Stop being a people pleaser, it won’t help you and will only deteriorate your well being. Focus on yourself and things you love to do or wear. Not what others do or wear. The sooner you see yourself being happier doing you and not following “Keeping Up with the Joneses theory” the quicker you can be your true self.

Leave a Comment
More to Discover
About the Contributor
Emily Peraza
Emily Peraza, Staff
Hi! My name is Emily Peraza, my hobbies are reading, writing, and listening to music. My favorite singer is Harry Styles. I love to go to concerts and in my spare time I go to book and coffee shops with my friends. My favorite TV shows are Gilmore Girls, and The Walking Dead. My dream is to one day live in London and to become an English teacher.

Comments (0)

All The Clarion Picks Reader Picks Sort: Newest

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *