the girl next door

The girl next door dates to the 1920s or earlier, when it was used to describe the type of friendly, pleasant woman who would make an excellent girlfriend or wife.

It is not clear if one specific person coined the phrase, but Doris Day is one woman who brought widespread attention to what it represents now, referred to by some as the original girl next door. Day, who was active in the film and entertainment industries largely from 1939 to 1973, has remarked that she 鈥渨as called 鈥榯he girl next door鈥� by people in this industry鈥� despite the fact that she believed her actual personality resembled anything but the mythic girl next door. The classic Hollywood actress is still often among the first women referred to in relation to the feminine archetype, even today. In an interview, David Kaufman, author of Doris Day: The Untold Story of the Girl Next Door, suggests that Day鈥檚 immortal girl next door image and the archetype itself hold a permanent place in the cultural myth of America out of a need to maintain the notion that normalcy can coexist with fantasy.

The term the girl next door, when used in reference to actresses like Day or characters she and others might play, often connotes a certain ordinary quality that usually transforms from unremarkable to idealistic. The girl next door is a major character in the classic male fantasy, which plays out in any number of film or literary narratives. The girl next door character is usually one who is neither glamorous nor plain and possibly a past or present close friend of the male protagonist.

A distinct lack of flashiness is key to identifying girls next door in contemporary culture, as well as honesty and a sense of humor. An element of realness is implied in the girl next door character, distinguishing her from other girls who might be seen as fake or trying too hard.

There is some confusion over the distinction between a good girl and the girl next door, as both tend to have a virginal connotation among other similar qualities. However, the girl next door is generally known for her sweetness and modesty and, while these traits are not exclusive to the girl next door, the good girl is more likely to be known as one who does her homework and stays out of trouble.

Someone鈥檚 sense of style might be described as very girl next door if she wears natural-looking makeup and dresses in clothes that make her appear wholesome or conservative. The girl next door look is often defined as cute and not necessarily sexy.