“B-b-b-bougie!”

This is how one of my coworkers greeted me one day. It wasn’t just meant to describe me; it became my nickname.

Well isn’t that nice?

It was’t the first time anyone ever called me that, and it most certainly wasn’t the last. Since my recent move and new job, I’ve been called bougie more in one month than I have in 10 years. Maybe it’s because I’m from Connecticut, maybe not. But with the way sooo many people have been using the term on me recently, it makes me wonder, what exactly counts as bougie?

So I asked. That’s right I asked.

Coworker D: “You don’t talk like the other girls.”
Me: “What does that mean? How do I speak?”
Coworker D: “You know, not ghetto. You’re nice.”
Me: “So ‘ghetto’ girls according to you aren’t nice?”
Coworker D: “No.”

He didn’t seem like a very credible source, so I moved on to the next.

Coworker C: “Bougie is when you go out with your friends and you know they can’t afford certain things, but you wanna go to the most expensive place and pop bottles knowin’ their asses can’t pay. That’s bougie.”

I guess that crosses me off the list. I’ve never been one to judge someone on their haves or have nots. That’s not my style. I don’t have everything or can afford everything, so why would I judge another person for the ish we both don’t have? It doesn’t make sense to me.

I spoke to more people, and it’s clear that there is no clear definition as to what bougie is.I honestly think people view someone who is bougie as someone who thinks they are better than everyone else or makes more money and flaunts it. No one knows my status. I don’t flash money around, especially because I don’t have it to flash (LOL). And honestly, to me, the people who don’t stunt like they have it all flaunt it WAY more than anyone else.

Am I bougie? Maybe a lil’ bit, but not as much as everyone thinks.