The concept of “Brat Summer” took the world by storm soon after British singer Charli XCX‘s hit album “Brat,” released on June 7 and debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard charts. Suddenly we saw the album’s distinctive yet minimalistic cover art: “brat” written in low-res font on a lime green background everywhere and it didn’t take long for summer 2024 to become the official era of the brat.
Historically, the word “brat” brings up feelings of childhood or teenage angst, being used in a somewhat derogatory way to describe an ill-mannered adolescent. But, modern pop culture has reclaimed that title, now referring to the word brat refers as someone who is confidently rebellious, unapologetically bold, and playfully defiant.
In an Instagram post on June 8, Charli XCX described her album as “me, my flaws, my f— ups, my ego all rolled into one.” It’s no surprise that this new definition of “brat” has given the younger generation the courage to embrace their individuality and a carefree attitude, often with spunky tendencies and a love for living life on the unhinged side. In a lot of ways, “Brat Summer” is an updated version of Meg thee Stallion’s “Hot Girl Summer”, inspiring women all over the world to be their most authentic selves, even if that means rejecting traditional societal expectations and norms.
But summer has ended and fall is has begun, so where do we go from here?
Luckily, we can (and should) still bring the concept of brat summer and its values with us into the new season, the rest of the year, and the rest of our lives. One of the ingredients to living a fulfilling life is by building confidence in who we are at our core. And part of what makes us who we are as human beings is through our sexuality.
For women especially, conversations and narratives about sexuality typically place us in a passive role — which totally goes against the essence of brat. In a world where our society teaches women to shrink themselves, the concept of brat tells us to be bold and take up space. When it comes to sex and relationships, the concept of brat can look like a lot of things. It could mean intentionally discovering what feels pleasurable for you, bringing your sexual fantasies to life, starting a sex podcast, or making sure you orgasm too when having sex (especially with a male partner, considering how scary the orgasm gap is for heterosexual women).
Here are other, more specific ways to incorporate the ideas and values of brat summer in your relationships and sex lives:
- Visit a resource center for sexual health. Nothing is sexier than knowledge, so check out sex-positive organizations around the world that offer educational resources, workshops, research opportunities, and more! Two personal favorites are the Center for Positive Sexuality and The Pleasure Chest
- Get tested for infections. Part of taking ownership of your sexual health requires staying up to date with your status by getting tested regularly for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) or other annoying yet equally manageable infections like urinary tract infections (UTIs) and yeast infections. Sometimes our bodies have inconvenient reactions, but that’s nothing to be ashamed of, and getting tested is a right of passage.
- Try a new toy. Nothing screams “brat” quite like experimentation. So, why not add a new toy to place on your nightstand?
- Admire your body in front of the mirror. Above all else, confidence is key. So, do yourself a favor by grabbing a mirror and admiring the way you look. Bonus points if you give yourself endless compliments while doing so!
Tatyannah King
Tatyannah King is a graduate student at Widener University studying sex therapy, and a sex blogger for digital platforms such as tabú, a comprehensive website that advocates sexual and mental health. She recently started a sex advice column for millennials on Sexpert.com, America’s leading sex ed online platform for adults. She has also been featured in various print and digital publications, including Forbes, Cosmopolitan, xoNecole, BUSTLE, HelloGiggles, Well + Good, and The Irish Independent.
