Snowflake is aderogatoryslang term for a person, implying that they have an inflated sense ofuniqueness, an unwarranted sense ofentitlement, or are overly emotional,easily offended, and unable to deal with opposing opinions. The term gained prominence in the 2010s, and was declared byThe Guardian in Britain to be the "defining insult of 2016", a term "thrown around with abandon in thewake of Brexit debate in the United Kingdom and the2016 US election".
Common usages include the terms "special snowflake", "Generation Snowflake", "Snowflake Generation" and "snowflake" as a politicized insult. In the past, it helddifferent meanings in reference towhite people.
It is popularly believed that everysnowflake has a unique structure.[1][2] Most usages of "snowflake" make reference to the physical qualities of snowflakes, such as their unique structure or fragility, while a minority of usages make reference to the white color of snow.[3][4]
In the 1860s, "snowflake" was used byabolitionists inMissouri to refer to those who opposed the abolition of slavery. The term referred to the color of snow, referring to valuing white people over black people. This usage was not believed to have extended beyond the state of Missouri in the 1800s.[4][3]
In the 1970s, according toGreen's Dictionary of Slang, snowflake has been used to describe "a white person or a black person who was perceived as acting too much like a white person".[5][3]
Chuck Palahniuk has often been credited with originating the modern pejorative use of "snowflake" in his 1996 novelFight Club, which contains the quote: "you are not special, you are not a beautiful and unique snowflake".[4][3]The 1999 film adaptation also includes this line.[4] In January 2017, Palahniuk directly claimed credit, adding that young adults of the 2010s exhibit "a kind of newVictorianism".[6] In a short essay forEntertainment Weekly, Palahniuk later clarified that while writing the novel in 1994, he did not intend "snowflake" to be an insult, and said it had nothing to do with fragility or sensitivity. Rather he was consciously reacting against the constant praise he had encountered in the education system, which he said had rendered him an "idiot" and poorly equipped him for the world. He said "A lifetime of disingenuous, one-size-fits-all praise had kept most of my peers from pushing hard to achieve any actual triumphs, and therefore we had no internal sense of ability or potential."[7] The metaphor has been used positively with students to celebrate their individuality (and teamwork).[8]
FollowingFight Club, the terms "special snowflake" and "special snowflake syndrome" were applied to individuals with a negative connotation.[9][10] Such terminology refers to people who believe their status as a unique individuals means they are destined for great success, or deserve a special career, with abundant praise and admiration.[11][12] According toMerriam-Webster, in the 2000s snowflake referred "mostly tomillennials who were allegedly too convinced of their own status as special and unique people to be able (or bothered) to handle the normal trials and travails of regular adult life".[4]
The term "Generation Snowflake" or "Snowflake Generation" was popularized byClaire Fox's 2016 bookI Find That Offensive!. The book discussed a 2015 student/faculty confrontation atYale University between university students and faculty head of college,Nicholas A. Christakis that was recorded and uploaded toYouTube.[citation needed] The video captured a disagreement regardingHalloween costumes and the degree to which Yale University should intervene over costumes which may be perceived ascultural appropriation. Fox described the video as showing a: "screaming, almost hysterical mob of students" and that the backlash to the viral video led to the disparaging moniker "generation snowflake" for the students.[13][non-primary source needed]
The term "snowflake generation" was one ofCollins English Dictionary's 2016 words of the year. Collins defines the term as "the young adults of the 2010s, viewed as being less resilient and more prone to taking offence than previous generations".[14]
The terms "generation snowflake" and "snowflake generation" are frequently used in reference to use oftrigger warnings andsafe spaces, or to describe young adults as anti-free speech, specifically in reference to a practice referred to asdeplatforming.[15][16][17] It has also been used to refer to a reported increase inmental health issues among young adults.[18]
Following the referendum result in favour ofBrexit in the UK and the election ofDonald Trump as 45th President of the U.S., "generation snowflake" was often shortened to simply "snowflake" and became a politicized insult. A November 2016 article fromThe Guardian commented: "Until very recently, to call someone a snowflake would have involved the word 'generation'."[9]
Snowflake as a politicized insult is typically used by those on thepolitical right to insult those on thepolitical left.[9] In an article from theLos Angeles Times, Jessica Roy says thealt-right in the United States pejoratively describes most liberals and those protesting against Donald Trump as "snowflakes".[19] A 2017 article fromThink Progress commented: "The insult expanded to encompass not just the young, but liberals of all ages; it became the epithet of choice for right-wingers to fling at anyone who could be accused of being too easily offended, too in need of 'safe spaces, too fragile'".[5]Jonathon Green, editor ofGreen's Dictionary of Slang, points out snowflake is an unusual insult in that it calls someone weak and fragile without usingmisogynistic orhomophobic references.[20]
ActorGeorge Takei extended the metaphor to emphasize the power of snowflakes, saying: "The thing about 'snowflakes' is this: They are beautiful and unique, but in large numbers become an unstoppable avalanche that will bury you."[20] Others have returned the insult back at those with right-wing politics, arguing "oversensitive whiners can be found all over the political spectrum" including President Trump. ComedianNeal Brennan referred to Donald Trump as "the biggest snowflake in America",[20] while a January 2017 opinion piece fromThe Guardian refers to President Trump as "Snowflake-in-Chief"[21] and CNN commentatorAnthony Kapel "Van" Jones called Trump "President Snowflake" based on his response to theFBI's Russia probe in May 2017.[22]
Shelly Haslam-Ormerod, senior lecturer in mental health and wellbeing atEdge Hill University, strongly criticised the use of the term, arguing inThe Conversation that it stigmatises the mental health challenges faced by today's young people in an uncertain world and noting that even children aged under 10 have been unfairly labelled "snowflakes" in tabloid articles.[23]
In 2017, a U.S.marketing company created a "snowflake test" to be used in its hiring process to "weed out overly sensitive,liberal candidates who are too easily offended". Many questions were designed to assess a candidate's stance on America, police, and guns.[24] However,psychologist andacademic from theManchester Business School at theUniversity of Manchester,Cary Cooper suggests it is a poor strategy for attracting talented younger workers.[25]
"Broflake" (from "bro" and "snowflake") is a related derogatory term which theOxford Dictionaries define as "a man who is readily upset or offended by progressive attitudes that conflict with his more conventional or conservative views".[26] It has also been applied to women, in the more general sense of someone who claims to not be easily offended, yet often is.[27]
In March 2017, the American live sketch comedy showSaturday Night Live aired a skit about a Trump-lovingdog that, through the aid of technology, was able to berate the anti-Trump humans in the room as "liberal snowflakes".[28][29]
While "generation snowflake" has beencalqued into other languages, the phrase "tofu mentality" has been used inJapanese culture,[30] while "heart of glass" has been used inCantonese to describe theLittle Pink generation.[31]
Palahniuk was hardly the first person to use the metaphor. It's the stuff ofself-help books and inspirational posters and elementary school assurances. The imagery before negation is lovely; we are each unique snowflakes, each worth treasuring because each is uniquely beautiful. Palahniuk's denial of the individual's snowflake status struck a chord.
It's easy to ridiculemillennials but while 'snowflake' bashing remains popular it may eventually prove to be a very stupid business move.