Numb girls & the humiliation of caring too much

With everything going on in the world, it makes sense that some of us want to check out. But at what cost? In this episode, host Brittany Luse is dissecting our current obsession with numbing ourselves to the moment and tuning out. This so-called “numb girl” attitude and aesthetic is defined by detachment, irony, and a world weary cynicism. Think the "Gen Z pout," "expressionless Botox chic,” a deadpan voice, or selfies with a vacant gaze. Of course, It appears effortless and nonchalant, but it’s highly curated and self-aware — it’s the perfect mask for avoiding humiliation in a world that is always there to judge you. But is avoiding the pain of the world good for us? Brittany is joined by writer Rayne Fisher-Quann aka Internet Princess and freelance cultural critic Sophie Lou Wilson to get into why all the cool girls are dissociating and what we lose when we numb ourselves to the world around us. (0:00) News fatigue, detachment, & irony are cooler than ever (5:02) Gucci runways to political nihilism: numbness went mainstream (10:15) Lobotomy Chic: an ironic joke turned beauty trend (14:57) The privilege of dissociating. Who can afford to disconnect? (18:08) Is numbness a form of feminist resistance? (20:15) How to un-numb and reconnect with humanity This episode contains mentions of suicide. If you or someone you know may be considering suicide or is in crisis, call or text 9 8 8 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline . Support Public Media. Join NPR Plus. Follow Brittany on Instagram: @bmluse For handpicked podcast recommendations every week,

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Numb girls & the humiliation of caring too much is an episode from It's Been a Minute by NPR.

This episode is 26:16 long.

This episode was published on Apr 10, 2026.

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