Fake Boys and Mean Girls: Comedies of Social Acceptance in the 17th Century and Now Anonymous College

Wake up, have a cup of coffee, and put on some makeup before walking out the door for the first time in twelve hours. The day ends with a phone call from a loved one as the makeup comes off and the sweatpants go on before sleeping in preparation to repeat this whole scenario. The question is not about going to work or going to sleep, but it is why do people feel the need to cake their face in makeup and pretend to have certain feelings just to please others on a day to day basis? According to experts in this area of study, it is quite simple. There are several theories including the social identity theory, the self-discrimination theory, and the regulatory focus theory. In a play by George Etheredge, The Man of Mode, several of his characters appear to wear a type of mask. Sir Fopling and Young Belair both try to come across as liking one kind of lifestyle when they truly despise it. This idea runs almost parallel to the main character from Mean Girls. Cady is asked to be someone she is not and says yes which leads her to put on a kind of mask for nearly the whole film. All of these characters serve as perfect examples of why people choose to use fake identity structure in their daily lives. In addition, these roles prove that...