KERA's Think The sexualization of girl power
May 6, 2025
Sophie Gilbert, a staff writer at The Atlantic and author of "Girl on Girl," dives into the complexities of early 2000s girl power. She discusses how the era’s empowerment messages were often wrapped in sexualization and consumerism, impacting young women's self-image. The conversation explores the cultural fallout of pornography, the commercialization of feminist ideals in pop, and the influences of music icons like Madonna and Fiona Apple. Gilbert critiques how media narratives shaped female identities, revealing the tension between empowerment and objectification.
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Sexual Appeal Equals Power
- The early 2000s culture taught girls that sexual appeal was their primary source of power.
- This sexual power was crafted to meet the tastes of adult heterosexual men.
Post-Feminism's Consumer Spin
- Post-feminism emerged in the 80s and 90s as young women distanced from feminism while enjoying its gains.
- It promoted freedom as consumerism and sexual expression shaped to selling products and fun media.
Porn's Culture-Shaping Impact
- Pornography's ubiquity shaped cultural ideas about female beauty and sexuality deeply.
- Trends like pubic hair removal tied to porn emerged only in recent decades with new media.
