Mo News Interview - Spice Girls, Teen Comedies, & Girlbosses: How 2000s Pop Culture Shaped Millennial Women
Sep 19, 2025
Sophie Gilbert, a staff writer at The Atlantic and author of *Girl on Girl*, delves into how 2000s pop culture shaped millennial women. She discusses the rise of the 'cool girl' and the commercialization of 'girl power' through bands like the Spice Girls and films like *American Pie*. Gilbert critiques the impact of teen sex comedies on attitudes toward relationships, linking them to issues of entitlement and objectification. She also examines the influence of social media, particularly Instagram, on self-image and the ongoing legacy of the #MeToo movement.
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Post-Feminism As A Vibe
- Post-feminism became a vibe that replaced collective feminist aims with individualistic freedom and consumer choices.
- Sophie Gilbert argues this shift hollowed political power and redefined empowerment as buying products.
Commodified Girl Power
- The Spice Girls commercialized 'girl power' and turned feminist rhetoric into a massive consumer opportunity.
- Gilbert links that commercialization to a broader replacement of powerful women artists with younger, more marketable stars.
Riot Grrrls To Lilith Fair
- Sophie recalls 1990s scenes where women in music organized collectively, like Riot Grrrl and Lilith Fair.
- She contrasts that activist energy with the later pop-driven landscape dominated by younger stars.
