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Adriana Mamou

Mrs. Storer

English 3 Honors American Literature

January 23, 2020

The Making of a Plastic

Something seen on a daily basis a current society is referred to as normative social

influence. This is defined as the desire for approval of others. The labels and standards of society

are often harsh and unusually cruel. Women, in particular, allow society to mold their lives and

make changes that define who they are as a person in order to “fit in.” The main character of the

film ​Mean Girls​, Cady Heron, moves from Africa to the suburbs of Illinois. She experiences

public school for the first time after being homeschooled her entire life and enters highschool not

knowing what to expect. As she spends more time at her school, she soon learns the reality of

high school and all of the cliques that surround her. The most popular girls at her school, also

known as, “The Plastics,” invite Cady to have lunch with them and sit at their table. Completely

unaware of what popularity is, these new friends take her under their wing as she transforms into

the most popular girl at her highschool. During this process she completely loses her personality

and becomes an entirely different girl. ​Mean Girls​ shows that women lose sight of what is most

important about their own identities by obsessing and conforming to societal standards.

Females have an impact on one another, and when one attempts to fit in that person is

willing to change to receive acceptance or approval from those who she sees as superior. For

example, once Cady is invited to sit with her new group Karen explains to her, “On Wednesdays

we wear pink”(Mark Waters 00:11:52-00:11:55). Cady explains to her other friends that she does
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not own one piece of clothing in her wardrobe that is pink. So, she arrives to school on

Wednesday wearing a men’s, large, pink polo given to her by her friend Damain. She decides to

go out of her way to wear a pink shirt just to please and be able to sit with, “The Plastics.” By

hoping to be accepted by them, these girls had the power to change Cady’s style. Rather than

wearing the normal clothes she would wear, Cady plans on altering her appearance so that she

will gain approval from Regina, Karen, and Gretchen. In addition, after seeing her choice of pink

Regina and the girls pull their car up to Cady and Regina says, “Get In Loser, We're Going

Shopping” (Mark Waters 00:16:21-00:16:24). Of course, in an attempt to find a place to belong,

Cady gets hops the car, ready to look for a new wardrobe with the girls. She even allows the girls

in later scenes to give her an entire makeover from head to toe. Cady is open to modifying her

fashion sense so that she can become one of the plastics. If she had opposed this idea, she likely

would have been denied from joining them as she continued dressing as she had before.

However, she is aware of the actions she is taking and knows that they will lead her to becoming

embraced by who she thinks are her new friends.

The Plastics often put down others, which is a trait Cady soon adopts. For instance, as

Cady is the hall speaking to her friends that are not popular she spots Regina and says, “Uh oh.

Go,” Regina approaches Cady and asks,

“​Why were you talking to Janis Ian?

“​I don't know, I mean, she's so weird, she just came up to me and started talking to me about

crack.

She's so pathetic. Let me tell you something about Janis Ian. We were best friends in middle

school. I know, right? It's so embarrassing. I don't even... whatever.” (Mark Waters
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00:32:48-00:33:08). Cady allows Regina to talk poorly about her friend and even takes part in

the behavior. She does not stick up for her friend and gives Regina the power to feel superior

over Janis. In fact, she partakes in the rumor spreading and gossiping, solely because she knows

that Regina would love to hear this from her. Prior to being friends with The Plastics she was a

sweet girl who would not even harm a fly. However, as her friendship grows with the girls she

comes to the conclusion that in order to fit in with them she has to talk bad about others. It seems

to be that talking behind others backs and spreading rumors about them is a way to gain more

popularity and Cady soon learns to do the same. To add, as the movie progresses and Cady

becomes more blinded by actions and even talks badly about her own friends, she is talking to a

boy she has a crush on and says, “Hey. I'm having a small get-together at my house tomorrow

night.

- Is Regina going?

- No. Do you think I'm an idiot? No, it's just gonna be a few cool people, and you better be

one of them, byotch.

- Fine, I'll go.” (Mark Waters 00:55:23-00:55:35). Cady, who was once too shy to speak and

allowed Regina to take charge, decides to take charge herself. As she talks to Aaron her facial

expressions say it all. She clearly does not want Regina anywhere near her party and even

mentions that, “just gonna be a few cool people”. By mentioning this she refers to her own friend

as a loser who is not worthy enough to attend her party. Not only does she have the intentions on

talking bad behind Regina’s back but she intends to take her spot and show others that Regina is

no longer “cool” and does not fit in with the girls she once ruled. Cady completely changes from
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the sweet innocent girl she had once been and demands that all should accommodate to her

because she is now, “The New Queen Bee”.

Within the Plastics the girls all manutiplate one another and those around them by

exploiting each other’s insecurities. To illustrate, when Regina tells the girls she is trying to lose

weight Cady takes advantage of Regina and responds, “They're these weird nutrition bars

my mom uses to lose weight" (Mark Waters 00:42:38-00:42:41). Cady, who is fully aware that

Regina is vulnerable to believing anything she says involving losing weight manipulates her into

thinking that she is doing her a favor. In fact, in the following scenes she even recommends more

of the Kalteen Bars to Regina. In reality, these bars were the same bars Cady’s mom used to give

to the children in Africa to ensure that they would gain weight. Knowing the Regina is very

insecure about her weight and would like to drop a few pounds, she completely manipulates her

into thinking that these bars will give her the benefit of the doubt. Additionally, Cady calls

Regina to hear what she has to say about Gtrechen running for Spring Fling Queen and even

makes up a lie to see what Regina says, explaining,” Gretchen thinks you’re mad at her because

she’s running for Spring Fling Queen.

Oh my God, I’m not mad at her, I’m worried about her. I think somebody nominated her as a

joke or something, I mean nobody votes for her, she’s gunna have a total meltdown, and who’s

gunna have to take care of her, me!

So, you don’t think anyone will vote for her?

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Cady, she’s not pretty, i mean, that sounds bad but whatever. The Spring Fling Queen is always

pretty. And the crazy thing is, is that it should be Karen, but people forget about her because

she’s such a slut. Anyway, i gotta go, i’m going to bed” (Mark Waters 00:51:44-00:52:19). After

ending the phone call with Regina she calls Karen to tell her what she had to say about

Gretchen.The girls all end up on a four way call and of course Cady changes the conversation

entirely with Karen and causes all of the girls to end up upset with Regina. She manipulates each

and everyone of them by informing them that Regina had said something about them that clearly

makes the girls very insecure. She touches the sensitive spots the Karen and Gretchen have

knowing that she will have them wrapped around her finger because Regina will become the bad

guy. My manipulating the girls Cady gains what she wants and becomes a clone of Regina and

even continues the behavior she had once observed.

Females and their desire to fit in and appeal to society often change their outlook on life

and can cause a drastic change in the person they had once been. In the film, ​Mean Girls​, it is

evident that many females obsess and conform to the standards society holds them to, thus

becoming blinded from what has true importance, therefore losing themselves in the process.

Women should empower one another rather than expecting one another to change. If one is

changes in an unhealthy manner and leaves those behind who were nothing but true to them, who

or what really mattered? In the end, they all become Plastic.

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Works Cited

​ orne Micheals Productions, 2004.

Mark Waters. ​Mean Girls. L