Oh, I can definitely relate to this. Spent so much time up until my early 20's chasing people like that, because we seek validation from "If I fit in with these people, I have made it to where I want to be in life." Tying our self-worth to others and their perception of us hanging out in pictures online when often leaving those fun events feeling alone and misunderstood. I think it was easier for Claire to be seen as cool and popular because it made people think she "made it" in OCD, despite the torment she would face from the group on the regular that people did not get to see.
First of all, LOVE the Layne love! I feel like she's an under-appreciated character, but she's a stark contrast to the PC which is definitely needed in the books. Claire always has this internal battle about enjoying spending time with Layne, but needing to take any opportunity that arises to hang with Massie, even if that means ditching her bestie. I think she does this because she figures Layne will always be there, but every precious moment she gets with Massie could be her last if she does something wrong. I think as I've grown older, I value the friendships where you just have to show up as yourself so much more because we don't have the time or energy to put towards stressing over going out with friends! But there still can be that pressure of wearing the right thing to an event, impressing others you haven't seen in years, etc. Middle school problems are still relevant!
We are who we are around. I believe Claire, like many of us, want to envision a world where acceptance for who we are is easy. Being friends with Layne is easy and natural. Friends with the pretty committee is desirable, yet forced. Claire becomes more insecure with the PC because she’s being told that she should be everything that they are. People in school deeming them the popular group, the desirables, the ones to be. Plus Claire further living with Massie underlines the external and internal factors that we are around daily that tell us we are not enough. Layne being that positive reminder, although refreshing to Claire, is not enough to contend against these negative factors for her. She has to assimilate or be deemed unworthy of interaction. Layne is and will always be a bad b*tch for embracing her differences. It’s an isolating position for Layne, but where would we be without those people in the world who know that they are “enough” and completely trailblaze against the logic and understanding of those who praise Pretty Committee culture.
It's definitely an image thing. Claire thinks if she hangs out with more rich, more socially acceptable girls than Layne that people will associate those things with her. Layne kind of embodies and embraces all of the things Claire is so insecure about. Although we learn Layne has some of those insecurities too, she is very sure of herself and comfortable with who she is. Claire isn't, so while it's something she admires, it also scares her a little. Claire is terrified of people (specifically the PC) thinking she is weird or awkward, things Layne fully embrace. In book 1, Claire would rather be associated with high fashion, money, and POWER. The Pretty Committee seems to have so much power at the beginning of the series, so it makes sense why Claire would ditch Layne for them, from a 12-year-old new girl's standpoint. We later learn that Layne finds that confidence and power within herself that she never needed complete social acceptance or validation to achieve. I love Layne<3
We can all be guilty of being so desperate for acceptance from someone we admire that instead we focus on the positive traits in people and ignore the negative. For example, being a young girl in a girl group friendship is fun! Claire had a girl group in Florida who she loved and felt comfortable around, then was introduced to a new girl group who she idolized because she was exposed to not only fabulous, but powerful young girls for the first time. In Claire’s case the good outweighed the bad, she knew the PC were mean girls but still thought their glamour and power were worth the hardships of getting in. I think we betray our values because we aren’t thinking about them in the moment, we just want to be accepted which is only human, especially at such young ages such as middle school! I’m almost sure that by the time Claire is twenty she wouldn’t put up with anyone’s BS the way she did with the PC! Oh, and who hasn’t stalked someone with a burner account, or in the bushes in front of Briarwood? Guilty!
I think it’s comes to image and also living with Massie makes things more complicated for her. I work with middle school students and some of them stay friends with toxic people because they don’t want to create more drama. I think people deep down want to be liked and “popular” especially in middle school. Claire even says in the movie something along the lines of “I don’t know what makes them so special” and Layne says “they believe they are, so everyone else will” I still don’t understand why we do this today. I think young people are still easily influenced by those around them, and I even spent most of my 20’s chasing the wrong people. I think as I’ve grown and healed, I have learned to go to people who see me for who I am, I can see them, and it doesn’t matter who else is around. I am happy in my womanhood with friends who make me feel like a girl again. I just wish the middle schoolers with friend troubles I see could see that too. It’s so hard being trapped “in” middle school drama like that.
Oh, I can definitely relate to this. Spent so much time up until my early 20's chasing people like that, because we seek validation from "If I fit in with these people, I have made it to where I want to be in life." Tying our self-worth to others and their perception of us hanging out in pictures online when often leaving those fun events feeling alone and misunderstood. I think it was easier for Claire to be seen as cool and popular because it made people think she "made it" in OCD, despite the torment she would face from the group on the regular that people did not get to see.
First of all, LOVE the Layne love! I feel like she's an under-appreciated character, but she's a stark contrast to the PC which is definitely needed in the books. Claire always has this internal battle about enjoying spending time with Layne, but needing to take any opportunity that arises to hang with Massie, even if that means ditching her bestie. I think she does this because she figures Layne will always be there, but every precious moment she gets with Massie could be her last if she does something wrong. I think as I've grown older, I value the friendships where you just have to show up as yourself so much more because we don't have the time or energy to put towards stressing over going out with friends! But there still can be that pressure of wearing the right thing to an event, impressing others you haven't seen in years, etc. Middle school problems are still relevant!
I completely agree. The panic I feel when I have to buy a dress for a wedding 😂💀
We are who we are around. I believe Claire, like many of us, want to envision a world where acceptance for who we are is easy. Being friends with Layne is easy and natural. Friends with the pretty committee is desirable, yet forced. Claire becomes more insecure with the PC because she’s being told that she should be everything that they are. People in school deeming them the popular group, the desirables, the ones to be. Plus Claire further living with Massie underlines the external and internal factors that we are around daily that tell us we are not enough. Layne being that positive reminder, although refreshing to Claire, is not enough to contend against these negative factors for her. She has to assimilate or be deemed unworthy of interaction. Layne is and will always be a bad b*tch for embracing her differences. It’s an isolating position for Layne, but where would we be without those people in the world who know that they are “enough” and completely trailblaze against the logic and understanding of those who praise Pretty Committee culture.
It's definitely an image thing. Claire thinks if she hangs out with more rich, more socially acceptable girls than Layne that people will associate those things with her. Layne kind of embodies and embraces all of the things Claire is so insecure about. Although we learn Layne has some of those insecurities too, she is very sure of herself and comfortable with who she is. Claire isn't, so while it's something she admires, it also scares her a little. Claire is terrified of people (specifically the PC) thinking she is weird or awkward, things Layne fully embrace. In book 1, Claire would rather be associated with high fashion, money, and POWER. The Pretty Committee seems to have so much power at the beginning of the series, so it makes sense why Claire would ditch Layne for them, from a 12-year-old new girl's standpoint. We later learn that Layne finds that confidence and power within herself that she never needed complete social acceptance or validation to achieve. I love Layne<3
We can all be guilty of being so desperate for acceptance from someone we admire that instead we focus on the positive traits in people and ignore the negative. For example, being a young girl in a girl group friendship is fun! Claire had a girl group in Florida who she loved and felt comfortable around, then was introduced to a new girl group who she idolized because she was exposed to not only fabulous, but powerful young girls for the first time. In Claire’s case the good outweighed the bad, she knew the PC were mean girls but still thought their glamour and power were worth the hardships of getting in. I think we betray our values because we aren’t thinking about them in the moment, we just want to be accepted which is only human, especially at such young ages such as middle school! I’m almost sure that by the time Claire is twenty she wouldn’t put up with anyone’s BS the way she did with the PC! Oh, and who hasn’t stalked someone with a burner account, or in the bushes in front of Briarwood? Guilty!
I think it’s comes to image and also living with Massie makes things more complicated for her. I work with middle school students and some of them stay friends with toxic people because they don’t want to create more drama. I think people deep down want to be liked and “popular” especially in middle school. Claire even says in the movie something along the lines of “I don’t know what makes them so special” and Layne says “they believe they are, so everyone else will” I still don’t understand why we do this today. I think young people are still easily influenced by those around them, and I even spent most of my 20’s chasing the wrong people. I think as I’ve grown and healed, I have learned to go to people who see me for who I am, I can see them, and it doesn’t matter who else is around. I am happy in my womanhood with friends who make me feel like a girl again. I just wish the middle schoolers with friend troubles I see could see that too. It’s so hard being trapped “in” middle school drama like that.