Serious or Unserious, the "How I Love Being a Woman" TikTok Trend Highlights the Realities of Womanhood

Whether we're talking about catcalling, hot girl walks, enduring mansplaining and insensitive PMS jokes, the universal affinity for winged eyeliner, getting ready for a night out as a clan, the gender wage gap, or the wondrous built-in sense of community, womanhood comes with a slew of pluses and minuses. And what better place to highlight the various elements of femininity and womanhood than TikTok?

An audio featuring a female voice enthusiastically uttering the words "How I love being a woman!" layered over a somber tune has made its rounds on the clock app. Thousands of ladies across TikTok have paired the viral audio with personal videos detailing their blissful, melancholy, relatable, and unique experiences as women. While some are heartfelt, others are hilariously tongue-in-cheek. But first, let's delve into the origins of the aforementioned audio.

The original audio — which has been used more than 71,000 times — was created by TikTok user @starlingblue. It combines a scene from Netflix's Anne With an E — which is based on L. M. Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables book series — with Hozier's song "Would That I" from his 2019 album "Wasteland, Baby!"

Said TikTok user created the audio to highlight her favorite female characters in film. Now, women are putting their own spin on the audio.

In a video that has been played more than 920,000 times, TikTok user Annie Silkaitis used the audio to show off her nightstand sprinkled with "girly" things. From a floral planner to a Chamberlain Coffee mason jar to Drunk Elephant skincare, Annie seems to fill her life with little treats that spark a sense of feminine joy.

While some saw the TikTok as an advertisement for consumerism, others were delighted by Annie's array of trinkets and self-care items. Let women enjoy things!

Other TikTok videos, like the one created by @brennalina, take a darker, more satirical approach. Played more than 28 million times, her video puts a microscope on the inherent dangers of womanhood. "Ever since a girl on TikTok said she leaves her hair and fingerprints in all her Ubers, I leave hair and fingerprints in all my Ubers," she captioned the video. We have chills.

Though stranger danger applies to everyone, potential threats are perhaps amplified when you boast a feminine appearance. Clutching a set of keys shouldn't be an instinct, but it very much is.

And when it comes to pure comedy, well, Wessli-Ann Singleton's creation takes the cake. "When you can actually drive like (poop emoji) because it's expected," the caption reads.

In her pink sherpa jacket, with a smile on her face, the creator is pictured zooming down the highway. Though we don't condone TikToking and driving, we have to hand it to Wessli-Ann for giving us a genuine chuckle. Boo to gender stereotyping, slay to poking fun at gender stereotyping.

All in all, can we get a round of applause for women?