Ladies, We Need To Talk How pop culture f*cked us up, with Sophie Gilbert
Jan 19, 2026
In this lively discussion, Sophie Gilbert, a staff writer for The Atlantic and author of *Girl on Girl*, delves into how 90s and 2000s pop culture has warped perceptions of womanhood. She examines the impact of icons like Britney Spears, Kate Moss, and reality TV on self-objectification, critiquing how 'girl power' was commercialized. Sophie connects teen comedies to serious issues like sexual entitlement and backlash against women who dare to critique misogyny. This engaging talk reveals how cultural narratives shaped a generation’s self-image.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Britney Marked A Cultural Turning Point
- Sophie remembers 1999 Britney's schoolgirl video as a moment girls realised sexiness was currency.
- Many listeners described that Baby One More Time marked the end of their childhood.
Culture Builds Female Selfhood
- Popular culture shapes how women understand desire, ambition and selfhood from adolescence onward.
- Sophie Gilbert traced modern gender expectations back to 1990s–2000s media and celebrity influence.
Movies Normalised Male Entitlement
- Films like American Pie normalised male sexual entitlement and treated girls as gatekeepers.
- That messaging influenced teen male behaviour and pressured girls in relationships.
