The Tik Tok Ancestors Trend, and a celebration of women who came first | by Andressa França | Mar, 2023

The Ancestors Trend on Tik Tok has accumulated 30 million views already.

If your algorithm hasn’t brought it to you yet, it consists (mostly) of women comparing their “easier” realities to the lives of the ones who came before them, but not exclusively: there are examples that includes dogs, generational trauma, work and plenty of interesting variations.

In one of the videos, the user @whereyouneedtobe acts as a woman from 1800 questioning another one in 2013: “What are you doing?” she asks, “I’m moving from my parents house” answers the other. “Are you married?”, the woman from the 18th century then looks surprised at first when the other, dressed casually, replies no, and immediately joyful right after.

In another video, @auntyskates acts in 2023 being questioned by a past South Asian aunt: “You have to stay home and sacrifice for your family” to which she replies: ” No I don’t have to sacrifice for anyone”. The conversation continues, and she goes on about skateboarding in sari.

“Where are you headed?” @jamitagill asks as one of her own ancestors. “I have a trial today” she answers in the present day. It suffices to say she’s not in any trouble, she’s a POC attorney, which makes her ancestor proud.

This trend reflects a desire to connect with our ancestors, while also validating the progress we’ve made as a society in terms of gender and racial equality.

Some of these situations are also incomprehensible for those who lived in the 20th century, as they too would not have been able to understand them.

For instance, in one of the trend videos, the user @chloewbenton shows her and her husband being “publicly, happily, married with a beautiful baby girl”. Interracial marriage in the United States has been fully legal in all U.S. states since the 1967, but 1967 was only 54 years ago.

These conversations between modern-day women and their ancestors are so powerful, that are capable of making anyone reflect on their own thoughts and feelings about their own relationship with their past.

Growing up, my mother would often remind me of the sacrifices and struggles that the women who came before us endured so that we could have the rights and opportunities that we still fight for today.

Many commenters express admiration for the strength and resilience of these women, who faced many challenges and obstacles. However, there is also a sense of sadness and frustration about their difficulties.

Overall, the trend seems to be a way of paying tribute to these women and acknowledging their important place in history, while also highlighting the ongoing work that needs to be done.