Pock me girl full#

A victim of revenge porn, sexual coercion, not to mention someone who is recovering from an abortion, Cassie is coping with deep wounds by masking her pain with pin-straight hair and Barbie doll clothing.

Juxtaposed with Rue’s crippling addiction or Maddy’s abusive past, her issues pale in comparison, but it is still trauma nonetheless. While she is not entirely the victim in this situation, it’s hard not to empathize with her given her traumatic past. Hyper-sexualized at a young age, sexually coerced by past boyfriends and abandoned by an absent and sporadically affectionate father, Cassie is perfect bait for a master manipulator like Nate. Cassie’s trusting nature is not to blame, but it is her constant need to escape from herself, using love as a means of distraction. Although Euphoria’s content is mature, many viewers tend to forget how young Cassie is, so it’s no wonder that she continues to place her worth in the men around her as she develops. Given the nature of our patriarchal society, it is hard not to internalize the rampant messages that place a supremacy on romantic love and archaic gender roles that put women in the role of the object. While we may not like to admit it, we’ve all done things in the name of the male gaze. Bestowed with this newfound external approval, I stopped at nothing to seek it out, as the desire to feel wanted is universal. Witnessing Cassie’s elaborate routine, I’m reminded of the overwhelming male attention and pretty privilege I gained after a “glow-up” in college, suddenly inside of a conventionally attractive body. Raised in a society that tells women our value is based on the way we look, Cassie has learned that she can gain that coveted and elusive affection she craves, in large part due to her figure. Not caring if people “look down on her,” as Nate warns her may happen, she places the warmth of his gaze above all else, even her long-standing female friendships.

Pock me girl full#

Sweeney’s superb acting skills show us how much this small acknowledgement means to her, as a fictionalized version of herself in Lexi’s play later shows Cassie giving Nate full control of her clothing, food, even who she speaks to, all in the name of love. Although Cassie furiously scrubs her face each morning, diligently perfecting her appearance to catch Nate’s eye, the only time he notices her is when she’s dressed exactly like Maddy, his ideal version of femininity. She didn’t like to be alone.” We’re reminded of her deep yearning for male validation and approval as we watch her manic 4 a.m. Whether they were smart or stupid or sweet or cruel, it didn’t matter. As Rue says in the first season, the older Howard sister “fell in love with every guy she ever dated. Hearing Maddy mock Nate for his past faults, not “treating her like a goddess” yet wanting kids with her, Cassie is overwhelmed, throwing up on herself and everyone in the hot tub, unable to use her “womanly charms” to command Nate’s attention the way Maddy has.Ĭassie’s best and worst trait is that she just loves love. Despite getting his attention in a racy swimsuit, she’s by herself, dancing amongst pink balloons, while Nate and Maddy watch on, filled with second-hand embarrassment and semi-disgust. necklace for her birthday, she’s distraught, drowning her sorrows in Smirnoff Ice. While Cassie defines herself through her unabashed femininity, her unrelenting hunger for external male acceptance is achingly the two types of “pick me” girls #pov #comedy #pickmegirl ♬ original sound – hannah montoyaĪs Cassie witnesses Nate’s complicated yet enduring love for Maddy as he gifts her a Tiffany & Co.

For those unfamiliar with the term, Urban Dictionary defines the TikTok-coined expression as “a girl who seeks male validation by indirectly or directly insinuating that she is ‘not like the other girls.’” (It’s worth nothing this social media trend essentially devolved into women making fun of women for their internalized misogyny). Cassie is the perfect example of the “pick me girl” who we love to hate, but upon closer inspection, is just like many of us. While it’s easy to dislike Cassie for obvious reasons (sleeping with a friend’s ex is bad, an abusive and psychopathic one is much worse), it’s hard not to sympathize with her too. Editor’s Note: This article contains spoilers for Euphoria.Īs Cassie tries to comfort a furious Nate after watching that scene during Lexie’s brutally honest play, he pushes her away, leaving her staring frighteningly wide-eyed through the theater doors, looking like a modern-day Carrie, presumably plotting her revenge on her younger sibling.