Bands are a Girl’s Best Friend
Panhandling is defined as begging for money in a public place. The term is very broad but mainly refers to the homeless people of the world. The word, coined from either the way homeless people stick out their hand for money, like a pan’s handle, or how gold miners sift for gold in pans, is derogatory in nature. A disturbance to the public regardless of reason – that’s how asking for needed capital (or anything important) is perceived. Until the reason is tweaked, and the one who’s asking is a pretty girl.
Karolina Geits is a model and social media influencer. Quite accomplished, working with brands like ALDO and Maxim. She, like everyone, has a Tiktok, and she, like every middle/upper-class person, pretends to have a humble, small lifestyle. And by “humble”, I mean asking for money. In a video from late 2023, Geits announces that she desires a Hermès Birkin and requests one from the city of New York. In the video she is seen taping “Need Money for Birkin” Flyers with QR codes to a Cashapp on lamp posts and windshield wipers, with a sassy walk and a sly smile. People in the background are staring at such a sight, amazed by this daring move. At the end, Geits shows the financial results of her little social experiment, and a LOT of money came her way – $5734 to be exact. One sole person “donated” to the highest amount, $3,500. As I stared in shock at these numbers, a comment, one of the most liked under the video, stuck out to me: “Hold on, how do you get that much from strangers for wanting a Birkin, but homeless people never get anything?” Someone responds. “Because they are not as beautiful as she is. So easy.” So easy, indeed.
This simple exchange speaks volumes, as it is one of the biggest problems in US history: the perception of those who deserve money. People, as in persons with stable finances, don’t seem to like homeless panhandlers asking for their needs. They ignore, deeming themselves better than the low-lives. People don’t like differentiating wants and needs because the needs are too severe and limited. It’s too gruesome for the public, too politically incorrect. Until a pretty girl asks for such – and suddenly, people will help in any way they can. People like supporting minute and stupid things from attractive people because of the sheer fact that it’s stupid and unnecessary – it’s fun to them. Until someone actually needs money, the sake of their health and safety is evident. This whole video/social experiment was even filmed in New York, one of the biggest states of homelessness in the United States’ history. People just don’t care anymore.
Austin, Texas, two years ago, instated Proposition B, a legislation that makes it a criminal offense to exist as a homeless person. You cannot sit on sidewalks, as you are obstructing the path of the better class. You cannot make shelters and live in them because the better class would be displeased with seeing something like that every day. You cannot panhandle, as the better class has to save up money for more important things than you. Your very life and class is diminished to an offense, a crime, and an inconvenience that the good policemen will handle. If the homeless are seen doing these absolutely vile and atrocious acts, they will be fined $500, and if they cannot pay this, the courts will find “alternatives to the fine,” like community service. Still, however, no amount of alternatives or extensions will denote the fact that this law is creating a greater sense of apathy for homelessness.
The perceptions of America are morally wrong. Help the rich and pretty and curse the poor and ill-favored – that is the process of the average American. Money and bands are a girl’s best friend and the enemy of thousands to millions of others. People who cannot pay for necessities as basic as water are drowning because of the greed of capitalism. The system is cruel and unforgiving, and if you don’t fit their quota, you will be dealt with. There’s no escape except to ask the financially stable for any sort of help. But what do you do when that option is taken from you? What choices do you have?
Works Cited:
Geits, Karolina. Saving money for my #birkin bag. Tiktok. https://www.tiktok.com/@karolinageits/video/7318420270161661227
No Author. “Proposition B and Homeless in Austin”. AustinTexas.gov, 01 May 2021. https://www.austintexas.gov/propb-homeless#:~:text=On%20May%201%2C%202021%2C%20Austin,at%20specific%20hours%20and%20locations.
