# What is meant by a "Basic Woman"? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 20, 2014, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-meant-by-a-basic-woman/699011 "2014-09-20T13:12:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2014, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-meant-by-a-basic-woman/699011/1 "2014-09-20T13:12:06Z")
I’ve been accused of being a “basic woman.” I have no idea what this means, except that it was clearly meant as an insult. I did some googling around and found a lot of contradictory or just too obviously inappropriate stuff: [Too old a reference, and just doesn’t fit me in the least.](http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=BW%20A%20basic%20woman) [Very obviously not calling me a porcelain doll.](http://iplehouse.com/home/shop/list.php?ca_id=503020&nhn1=en) [This seems to be in line with what they meant, but I still have no clue whatsoever. And who the heck is Lauren Conrad?!?](http://www.bustle.com/articles/32673-lauren-conrad-is-not-basic-because-a-basic-woman-could-not-diss-justin-bobby-like-that) Help me out here, Dopers! What is meant by this? ---
**Author:** ![Katriona](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/katriona/32/113_2.png) [@Katriona](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Katriona)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2014, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-meant-by-a-basic-woman/699011/2 "2014-09-20T13:21:28Z")
My first assumption would be low-maintenance, or no frills. And this is Lauren Conrad: [Lauren Conrad - Wikipedia](http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lauren_Conrad) ---
**Author:** ![Omega\_Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7c8e57/32.png) [@Omega\_Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omega_Glory)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2014, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-meant-by-a-basic-woman/699011/3 "2014-09-20T13:22:02Z")
> **[Urban Dictionary: Basic](https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Basic)** > > only interested in things mainstream, popular, and trending (Note that this link is going to a different definition than your urban dictionary link). ---
**Author:** ![actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/actualliberalnotoneofthose)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2014, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-meant-by-a-basic-woman/699011/4 "2014-09-20T13:25:02Z")
> **[Urban Dictionary: Basic Bitch](https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Basic%20Bitch)** > > Someone who is unflinchingly upholding of the status quo and stereotypes of their gender without even realizing it. She engages in typical, unoriginal behaviors, modes of dress, speech, and likes. She is tragically/laughably unaware of her utter lack... ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2014, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-meant-by-a-basic-woman/699011/5 "2014-09-20T13:25:05Z")
Can you give us some context? Depending on who says it and how it is intended, I could see it being an insult, a compliment, or a neutral remark. ---
**Author:** ![Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bad_News_Baboon)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2014, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-meant-by-a-basic-woman/699011/6 "2014-09-20T13:57:58Z")
My initial reaction is that a basic person is one that doesn’t really have anything extraordinary about them. Their lives are: wake up, go to work, come home, watch TV. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2014, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-meant-by-a-basic-woman/699011/7 "2014-09-20T14:13:20Z")
😕 My initial reaction is that whoever said that doesn’t speak English as their native language, or at least not US English, because that phrase has no clearcut meaning. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2014, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-meant-by-a-basic-woman/699011/8 "2014-09-20T14:27:24Z")
> [@Omega\_Glory](#): > > [Urban Dictionary: Basic](http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Basic) > (Note that this link is going to a different definition than your urban dictionary link). That just has no realtionhip to my life at all. I can’t hang a speck of possible meaning on it. > [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](#): > > [Urban Dictionary: Basic Bitch](http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=basic%20bitch) I read the whole list, and the only tiny piece that applies is the granny panties. I do prefer cotton. These ladies have no way of knowing that about me though. I suppose it could be assumed by my otherwise comfort-oriented style. > [@monstro](#): > > Can you give us some context? > > Depending on who says it and how it is intended, I could see it being an insult, a compliment, or a neutral remark. Two ladies gossiping in that close-up evil manner who said this about me and then gasped and stopped talking when they saw me in the doorway. “That TruCelt is just a _BASIC_ woman.” ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2014, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-meant-by-a-basic-woman/699011/9 "2014-09-20T14:51:32Z")
I’ve heard it in context of “basic bitch.” From what I can gather, it’s a woman who’s basically incredibly, almost gleefully ordinary. Drab, bland, dull. From this [link](http://www.vice.com/read/in-defense-of-the-basic-bitch): > [@](#): > > What specifically makes one Basic? Not understanding irony or sarcasm, constantly needing to be cloying and sincere, enjoying xoJane articles, reading books about feng shui, checking horoscopes, French-tip fingernails, gladiator sandals, John Mayer, Glee reruns, and Michael Buble are all pretty Basic. ---
**Author:** ![Space\_Vegetable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6de8d8/32.png) [@Space\_Vegetable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Space_Vegetable)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2014, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-meant-by-a-basic-woman/699011/10 "2014-09-20T14:55:26Z")
They’re just jealous of your high pH. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2014, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-meant-by-a-basic-woman/699011/11 "2014-09-20T15:04:22Z")
> [@Space\_Vegetable](#): > > They’re just jealous of your high pH. I like your answer better. 🙂 [More signs of a basic bitch.](http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/jackalope/2014/04/basic_bitch_dating_signs.php) ---
**Author:** ![zweisamkeit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zweisamkeit/32/4360_2.png) [@zweisamkeit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zweisamkeit)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2014, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-meant-by-a-basic-woman/699011/12 "2014-09-20T15:58:24Z")
> [@Hello\_Again](#): > > 😕 My initial reaction is that whoever said that doesn’t speak English as their native language, or at least not US English, because that phrase has no clearcut meaning. 😕 But … that’s essentially what slang _is_. We have tons of phrases that mean something completely different than what the words (individually or all together) indicate. - Pushing the envelope - Going postal - Going/quitting cold turkey. And so on. Of course they usually have their origins connected to some societal aspect or concept that makes sense upon explanation but isn’t immediately apparent based on the words themselves (like “going postal” based on the post office employee who shot up his workplace). ---
**Author:** ![Stringbean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Stringbean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stringbean)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2014, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-meant-by-a-basic-woman/699011/13 "2014-09-20T16:04:04Z")
Are you boring and droll? ---
**Author:** ![LC\_Strawhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e19adc/32.png) [@LC\_Strawhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LC_Strawhouse)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2014, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-meant-by-a-basic-woman/699011/14 "2014-09-20T16:33:47Z")
Interesting. I guess it’s like the female equivalent of a male Average Joe who’s obsessed with gadgets and sports talk radio and has a “man cave” (blech). I’m a straight guy and when I was dating, I used to get frustrated about basically meeting the same woman over and over. They would freak out about the idea of stepping outside of their comfort bubble … which always seemed to revolve around some combination of Harry Potter, Doctor Who, Lord of the Rings, Renaissance “Faires”, Rocky Horror Show, David Bowie, Robert Downey Jr., gay male culture, internet memes, etc. Thought it was just my weird luck - never realized there was actually a term for it! ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2014, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-meant-by-a-basic-woman/699011/15 "2014-09-20T16:40:04Z")
It kinda helps if you think of it in the context of comparison. “I’m fabulous! I’m exciting! I’m all that! I’m hot stuff! You’re basic.” I think it’s more of a put down than a hard-lined descriptor. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2014, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-meant-by-a-basic-woman/699011/16 "2014-09-20T16:40:17Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > Two ladies gossiping in that close-up evil manner who said this about me and then gasped and stopped talking when they saw me in the doorway. “That TruCelt is just a _BASIC_ woman.” Don’t let it bother you, most Java programers think they are God’s gift to the world. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2014, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-meant-by-a-basic-woman/699011/17 "2014-09-20T16:45:36Z")
> [@zweisamkeit](#): > > 😕 But … that’s essentially what slang _is_. We have tons of phrases that mean something completely different than what the words (individually or all together) indicate. > . Sorry, too much shorthand in my post. “This is not a common slang term; in fact I have never heard it said; it sounds like something a nonnative speaker would say because they got the slang half-wrong.” The slang term is “basic bitch” not “basic woman”; they’re rude enough to insult her in earshot but too polite to insult her correctly? To be clear, “going postal” is a slang phrase with a clearly understood meaning (“flipping out violently at work”) that arose in a certain context and is generally recognized within the culture of the US. Random shit people just made up on the spot is not slang. Until other people use the term its just some shit they said. If someone wants to refer to someone flipping out at work and they say “he went completely grocery store” it has no meaning. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2014, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-meant-by-a-basic-woman/699011/18 "2014-09-20T17:00:58Z")
I’ve heard it in the context of low maintenance, like a neighbor woman everyone likes. ---
**Author:** ![Becky2844](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Becky2844](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Becky2844)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2014, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-meant-by-a-basic-woman/699011/19 "2014-09-20T17:18:15Z")
Whatever it means, it’s a step above what _they_ are. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2014, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-meant-by-a-basic-woman/699011/20 "2014-09-20T22:58:01Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > What is meant by a “Basic Woman”? It means you’re just a standard Woman version 1.0. You don’t have any of the upgrades, accessories or downloadable content. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-meant-by-a-basic-woman/699011.md?page=2)