"First woman in my bloodline" is the trend that makes us reflect on how far we have come. Even when we feel like we have been still for too long, movement is always present

"The trend 'The first in my bloodline' made me think of my grandmother, who didn’t even finish third grade, and my mother, who was the first to complete elementary school, middle school, high school, go to university, become a lawyer, and then an executive," reads a post on Twitter. This is a clear example (and Italianized version) of a trend that first spread among English-speaking users on Elon Musk’s media platform and later on TikTok. The concept is simple: girls post a photo of themselves with the caption "First woman in my bloodline to..." followed by personal, relational, professional goals, and more, things that were once unattainable for girls and women but are now possible. Thanks to those who went first in their family to achieve them. 

The "First in my bloodline" trend: what it means and why it’s going viral

Note that these are not necessarily grandiose achievements, revolutionary breakthroughs, historic milestones, or billion-euro earnings. Some girls share their level of education, as in the example above, others talk about career achievements, moving abroad on their own, or getting divorced. The trend, not coincidentally, started with non-white and racialized girls, and carries with it various reflections, some superficial, others deeper. First and foremost, it’s a beautiful example of female solidarity and celebrating one’s achievements, even when they seem small or ordinary. And this is already political, but the power of the trend doesn’t stop there. What do you have that your mother didn’t? Which achievements did she - in a life that might seem mundane - make possible for you? And which are you making possible for yourself?

Recent achievements and generational change: why this trend makes us reflect

From here, a surprisingly deep reflection emerges. At first glance, the trend might seem superficial, but the wave of posts makes us consider that these achievements are recent, actually very recent, from just a couple of generations ago, sometimes even only one. Achievements that once seemed impossible are now advancing and blooming, improving from generation to generation, slow enough to appear static, yet always in motion. In this sense, they defeat our cosmic pessimism, so easy to embrace, so easy to use as an excuse for our inertia. They remind us that we are still moving, even if it doesn’t always seem like it, that families evolve, and that patriarchy is not set in stone but can be gradually dismantled. This is what it’s really about: a system of power that has placed women in minority positions, even within their own lives, for centuries.

Mothers, daughters, and grandmothers: memory, rights, and freedoms gained over time

Finally, the trend "First woman in my bloodline to..." is a poignant and challenging reminder of the relationships between mothers and daughters, grandmothers and mothers, grandmothers and daughters. Immortal and inevitable bonds, for better or worse. Our mothers, their mothers, and their grandmothers - far from being the picture of serenity and happiness as conservative parties and trad wives would have us believe - lived constrained and sacrificial lives, without even the remotest possibility to work, have a bank account, get divorced, or abort, make decisions for themselves or their lives, without having to depend entirely on their family or husband. Acknowledging this and moving past it is not an act of defiance, but of growth and construction. It provides a powerful lens on the past and future, on our family, and ultimately on who we are and who we could become, living for ourselves a life that may have seemed to arrive by chance, but that we can fully build by our own will. And that is no small thing.