Is There a "Swag Gap" in Your Relationship?

A new tragedy is being mourned over on TikTok when it comes to modern love. It’s a sense of power dynamics known as the “ swag gap .”

This specifically refers to a subtle but undeniable imbalance felt in “ coolness ” between two partners. When one person just seems to have it, and the other simply doesn’t. Maybe one partner, the seemingly “cooler one,” walks into every room like they own it, perfectly styled and effortlessly confident, while the other hovers awkwardly behind and is dressed fine but not “swagged out.”

What started as a lighthearted meme has now sparked real conversations about self-image , attraction and the idea of power in relationships. At the very core of this trend lies a hidden sense of social comparison.

Here are three ways this power dynamic can be harm