Bougie stems from bourgeoisie, a French word that simply means “of middle class status.”

Karl Marx used two types of economic status to illustrate class struggle: the bourgeoisie and the proletariat.

In Marxist philosophy, the bourgeoisie were the owners and producers in industrialization and factory life. They valued property, profit, and maintaining their societal status. The proletariat was the working class.

Over time, the adjective form bourgeois became a more generic description of middle/upper-middle-class materialism.

Urban Dictionary defines bougie as aspiring to be of a higher class than one is.

So over time, the term and the meaning have morphed into an insult.

When did aspirations and goals become taboo, and when did having aspirations and goals make you a bad person?

I read an article titled How to Know if You Are Bougie. Some of the warning signs were: you like labels, you like extravagant events, you have discriminating tastes (as far as your potential partner is concerned), every day is a spa day, and you must always look good.

I remember when I was maybe in the second grade, I wanted a pair of platform sandals from Payless (don’t act like y’all weren’t shopping at Payless). They were $7, and rather than ask my parents for the money, I sold candy at school until I had my $7, and eventually, I had my shoes. That was an aspiration that I worked hard to obtain.

My tastes have developed now, and I had my sights set on a new purse that cost a few thousand dollars. I work hard, so I bought it, now I’m bougie.

When I was younger, it was so exciting when the family would go out to eat or get up with other family and go places. And don’t get me started on hanging out with friends at the mall or going to the movies. It was fun, and we always had a good time.

Now I like to go to events where you get a little dressed up and take trips just to eat and shop, now I’m bougie.

When I was younger, I had an idea of the type of life I wanted to live, the house, the cars, the clothes, and the man. It was encouraged to have goals and an idea of the type of life you wanted and who you wanted to live it with and work hard to achieve that one day.

Now I have some specific non-negotiables for the type of man I want in my life because I have a clear understanding of who I am and what I want out of life, now I’m bougie.

When I was younger, it was the ultimate fantasy to have a day with my girlfriends to pamper ourselves: manis, pedis, shopping, the works. Being able to treat myself every once in a while was big goals for younger Kim.

Now self maintenance is a must, and I will not sacrifice it for anything. I’m an adult and I take care of my responsibilities, and one of those responsibilities just happens to be me; now I’m bougie.

Am I bougie for wanting more, working hard, and obtaining more? Am I bougie for feeling entitled to my heart’s desires? Am I bougie for taking care of myself and expecting no less in other areas of my life? Or am I bougie because you can’t do what I do?

Using bougie as an insult is yet another way to make someone else feel small for enjoying a life you wish you had. The next time you feel compelled to use bougie as an insult, take a step back and examine just what’s so bad about being bougie?