While it may have slipped under the radar of many, the social media trends and discourse of recent years reveal a cultural shift towards a significantly more conservative climate. Whether it be the trad-wife aesthetic, fascination with old money luxury, or the idealization of a Catholic Americana lifestyle, these trends share a common thread: an emphasis on conservative values. Women going viral for cooking lavish homemade meals in milkmaid dresses evoke traditional views of domesticity and gender roles – yet these ideals are now embraced by the very age groups that once dominated rebellious counter-culture movements.
Two notable examples that have rapidly risen to fame this year would be influencers Nara Smith and Ballerina Farms. Nara Smith, a 23 year old German model and mother of 3, has garnered over 10 million followers on TikTok by showcasing her feminine family-centric lifestyle. She posts daily recipes, often dressed in elaborate, vintage-inspired dresses, her ultra-soft voice adding a layer of nostalgic charm that brings traditional homemaking to life. Her posts reflected an appreciation of motherhood and domestic work – a shift away from the once popular “working-woman” content to a focus on family values.
Similarly, Ballerina Farms, a family-owned business and social media account, has found noteworthy success by showcasing their rustic lifestyle on their farm. In an aesthetic fashion, mother Hannah Neeleman and her eight children highlight their daily routines, organic homemade goods, and Mormon lifestyle through TikTok videos. In a conservative fashion, the Mrs. Neeleman and her daughters are often recorded inside the house cooking and cleaning, while her husband and sons handle the intensive labor outside. Furthermore, the emphasis on a slow and sustainable lifestyle highlights a commitment to traditional values.
This wave of conservatism was also predicted by the “Old-Money” aesthetic ravishing all social media platforms. Characterized by Ralph Lauren sweaters, tennis clubs, and embraced femininity, this style goes beyond just fashion. For one, the aesthetic emphasizes conformity and tradition, drawing inspiration from a history rooted in social hierarchies, elitism, and exclusivity. It draws attention to an era where image was important, and families presented themselves as refined, structured and wealthy. It strays from the avant-garde and experimental fashion stereotyped by liberals, and takes a more conservative approach to style.
Another trend that aligns with this shift is the growing aestheticization of Catholicism, popularized by indie music artist Ethel Cain. With a sound that blends gospel, indie, and atmospheric dream pop with themes of generational trauma and religion, Cain has accumulated a cult fanbase that draws style and cultural inspiration from her ethereal Catholic visuals. Both tangible through rosaries and bibles, or symbolic through values of purity and devotion, this trend signals the rise of conservatism in modern culture through its emphasis on religion and all the values that come alongside it.
All in all, the Republican presidency, control of the House, and Senate, seem like less of a surprise and more of a natural extension of the current cultural climate.
The Scribe Circle 
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