Unpacking Girlhood: How Pop Culture Shaped a Generation of Women
If you’ve scrolled through TikTok or Instagram lately, you might have stumbled upon hashtags like girl math or girl dinner. But hold on—this isn’t just teen girl slang. These trends are built on the whims of grown women, where realistic meals morph into absurd combinations like “pickles and a handful of crackers.” It’s all part of a broader cultural phenomenon that writer Sophie Gilbert tackles in her incisive debut, Girl on Girl: How Pop Culture Turned a Generation of Women Against Themselves.
The Evolution of "Girl Power"
Gone are the days when girl power meant fierce independence. Gilbert, a culture critic at The Atlantic, takes us on a nostalgic yet sobering journey of how women have been both celebrated and sidelined in pop culture from the late ’80s to the 2010s. Think of it as a blueprint and a mirror that reveals how media shapes societal norms. In short, it’s a thrilling read that’s just a tad discomforting.
Sexism in Pop Culture: A Deep Dive
In Girl on Girl, Gilbert connects the dots across decades of entertainment, from the sexed-up stylings of Madonna to the absurdities in Girls by Lena Dunham. She contemplates how mainstream culture infantilized women and presented a heavily curated version of femininity, one that can feel more like a trap than an empowerment movement. Picture “empowerment” as a well-dressed wolf in sheep’s clothing.
- Key Highlights:
- Gilbert critiques the hyper-sexualization of pop stars like Britney Spears.
- She navigates the shift from classic romantic comedies to the ultra-raunchy flicks like American Pie.
The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly
While the book meticulously chronicles the misogyny of yesteryears, it doesn’t shy away from the moments that ignite anger or laughter. Gilbert takes us through cringe-worthy depictions of women in a string of films that glorified their degradation. Ever seen Shallow Hal? The film’s premise relies on the notion that men need a magical spell to see beauty in women of larger sizes—a concept so bizarre it’s hard to believe it came from Hollywood.
Gilbert acknowledges the brilliance of female voices willing to challenge these cultural norms—like Tina Fey breaking barriers on Saturday Night Live—but curiously omits some key players in her narrative. In a chat, she showed some humility, admitting she could probably pen an entire sequel focusing on women pushing back against misogyny.
Why It Matters Now
For millennials, Gilbert’s work resonates deeply as it sheds light on the oppressive cultural baggage we carry. Her insights strike a chord with anyone who has felt the weight of unrealistic standards. She didn’t conduct interviews but relied on a wealth of existing media to support her claims—making this book a compelling ensemble of cultural critique.
Ultimately, Girl on Girl offers a not-so-happy reflection on the cruelty woven into the fabric of entertainment culture. While it may not offer a full circle back to empowerment, it certainly lays bare the truth of how pop culture has shaped and sometimes manipulated our identities.
Gilbert captures the essence of understanding our past: “Now, I get why this happened. I get why we all felt this way.” With a mix of humor and introspection, she invites us to not just reflect but also to rise above the manufactured chaos.
So whether you’re a seasoned cinephile or someone navigating these absurd “girl” trends, this book is a rollercoaster of revelations that’ll keep you entertained—and thinking long after the last page. Grab your besties, sip on your girl dinner, and dive into this essential read!
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Bio: Jamie has a sharp eye for what’s buzzing online, tracking social media trends and entertainment headlines around the clock.