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[-] jonathan7luke@lemmy.zip 13 points 9 hours ago

It's a joke... It's a silly way of acknowledging that you're using math incorrectly to feel better about a purchase.

[-] Vibi 10 points 9 hours ago

Right? I feel like they think it's a serious thing. My girlfriends and I use the term ironically, as I imagine most people do. I don't really think any of us are too concerned if other people care if we look good, competent, whatever when we use it. Just something to giggle about.

Now if we want to go after gendered phrases - I think 'man up' should cause anyone being told that to stay far away from whoever is saying it.

[-] surewhynotlem@lemmy.world 1 points 4 hours ago

Girls can say "girl math" because they're girls. Black people can use the N word.

It's not derogatory if it's used by the group.

[-] Eric 1 points 2 hours ago

It does perpetuate negative attitudes about women though.

[-] Return_of_Chippy@lemmy.world 1 points 9 hours ago* (last edited 8 hours ago)

I agree with you on 'man up'. That said, I know it's a joke and I'm totally fine with jokes of any kind in the right context. What I'm talking about primarily is when someone is in a poor overall financial situation. Then uses the phrase as a justification for making their situation worse with terrible spending. Joking about a thing vs normalizing a detrimental behavior is kinda what I mean. Idk I don't think people shouldn't say it in general it's just something thats been on my mind recently. Mostly because one particularly annoying person in my life uses it a lot.

[-] Return_of_Chippy@lemmy.world 1 points 9 hours ago
[-] jonathan7luke@lemmy.zip 2 points 9 hours ago

How is that defeatist or a negative reflection on the speaker? My girlfriend says it from time to time and it's never made me think less of her. She's great at math and very financially responsible, she just says it to be funny sometimes.

[-] Return_of_Chippy@lemmy.world 2 points 9 hours ago* (last edited 7 hours ago)

I've experienced it used in a serious context to justify poor spending by people in terrible financial positions.

I'm thinking of a couple family members and friends. Here's a short of what I'm talking about in action.

https://youtube.com/shorts/LYFMMoExx-s

[-] stevestevesteve@lemmy.world 1 points 6 hours ago

The host literally hears "girl math" and replies "this is not a joke!" - showing that he, as well as the vast majority of people who have heard the phrase, knows that it's an inherently and intentionally unserious way of looking at financial decisions.

Nobody in that clip is SERIOUSLY thinking their "girl math" is correct. They're using it as humor to cope with feeling overwhelmed.

It's not being used in a serious context.

this post was submitted on 28 Apr 2026
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Showerthoughts

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