While the text of Matlin describes timeless rejection and neglect when including the female sex in popular culture, a seemingly recent respect, interest, and admiration has emaerged. When looking at the sights and sounds on television, radio, and the big screen, one encounters images of strong, willful, and even magical women. These women have taken on the roles of main characters, as admirable lesbian women such as "Ellen" or even as "Warrior Princesses" and "Vampire Slayers" who do not fear kicking "bad-guy" butt. These women do not cook, clean, raise children, and they certainly do not know what the word submissive means. Could a problem arise from such seemingly positive portrayals? While some believe the essence of Girl Culture is a marketing scheme which could damage girls of today by giving them a false sense of power, I hope to present an alternate to this, and shed light on what may be a more positive "marketing ploy" than ever intended.
All over the radio, women are dominating the music scene. Whether it be neo-folk Shawn Colvin, country queens like Leann Rimes or Trisha Yearwood, dance/pop sensations the Spice Girls, or rap divas like Missy "Midsdemeanor" Elliot or L'il Kim, the normally male-dominated Top 40 has suddenly become the place for a woman with a message. What are the messages? "Girl Power!" is the battle cry of the Spice Girls, who flamboyantly celebrate happy and healthy desires of womanhood while expressing the jubilation of individuality. Singers such as Tori Amos and Sarah McLachlan often look at relationships and the values they were installed with as children; they encourage acknowledging doubt and questioning love and religion. Ani DiFranco, P.J. Harvey, and Kathleen Hanna (of Bikini Kill) blatantly voice their apathy toward how society oppresses the female sex. Foxy Brown and L'il Kim tell stories of the men who they have "played" right back in terms of relationships, for they have come to view "sex is their handiest weapon," (Spin Magazine, 80). Gwen Stefani, lead singer of new-wave punk-ska sensation No Doubt, pouts, whines, and growls as she begs society to realize she can handle her life in the song "Just a Girl." While the messages all differ, most women singers display the main idea that they are women who can handle what society throws at them. Much of the listeners, who are pre-teen and teenage girls, can already identify with these feelings and have come to embrace them.
In one of the most publicized and successful tours of the summer, Sarah McLachlan took "Lillith Fair" to the road. Popular performers such as Suzanne Vega, Paula Cole, Jewel, and Fiona Apple headlined this celebration of feminity and strength while newer performers such as Abra Moore took to the stage to show the female world what they have to offer. While some feminists critiqued women gathering to sing about struggles with and hopes for men, the festival was primarily seen as women coming together to share testimony. Other women's festivals including Michigan Womyn's Music Festival and Yoyo A Go Go played music with a harder edge, embracing womanhood while "defying" manhood.
Like these different types of festivals, Girl Culture provides something for every girl. It acknowledges that not all girls are into music or tiny tee-shirts that read "Girls Kick Butt" but also embraces and glorifies women atheletes, actresses, and ideals. Truly strong women athletes are names like Gabrielle Reese, Mia Hamm, Tina Dixon, and Missy Glove. It idolizes individual strength, acknowledges weaknesses, but still attempts to push past the limits.
One idea that marketers have embraced is that of "pushing the limits." Marketers give the appealing idea that for a girl of today there do not have to be any limits. By being oneself - being simple and beautiful, being in love or being angry, girls can show true power. Girl Culture marketing claims that every woman is beautiful, every girl can kick butt, and every girl has odds in her favor. As positive as the first ideas are, critics wonder if the last claim is a relevant idea? While the mindset is a positive one, women still face discrimination in the workplace and in many other ways. Is the idea of Girl Culture more positive than negative, or is it the other way around?
Ann Powers, author of "Everything and the Girl" (Spin, November 1997), believes that though Girl Culture has a positive, empowering glow, it is simply a marketing technique with strong emotional appeal. She claims that being a girl now means "taking pride in the very qualities denigrated by both sexists and doctrinaire femenists," particularly "pretiness, bratiness and sexual flamboyance." While her idea holds some truth, I ask, is it not healthier to have reachable goals that make one happy and comfortable with themselves? Is it better to be an exceedingly bitter, angry, and vengeful male-basher? Likewise, is it healthy to be a meek, submissive, and unheard flower petal? A good balance seems to be found in the midst of this phenomenon known as Girl Culture. Powers claims that marketers make Girl Culture something for everyone, and it urges them to "enjoy what they have - muscels, guile, sex appeal." Though that may not be a traditional feminist stand point ("men and women are equals"); it emphasizes the differences that both sexes can utilize. Powers also maintains that Girl Culture does not help girls in finding ways to obtain power or realizing what to do with it once they "get there." Perhaps not. Girls may initally feel empowered by slogans such as "Girl Power!" and therefore attempt to push down any barriers standing in their way. Perhaps when they do reach positions of power or goals in their lives, these girls will take it upon themselves to learn about the realm of mastery they posses. Not every woman is a natural leader, but men have been leaders for years, and marketing ploys were never resposnible for telling them "how" to do so. Powers should come to realize that strong women would do the same as the opportunity arises.
What is wrong with encouragement, or willful mindsets? In my opinion, there is not much wrong with these ideals at all. It is what our society needs. Images of wonder women such as Xena, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Sabrina the Teenage Witch, spark wonderment, empowerment, and even "what-ifs." While some may question what good a "what-if" can do, I believe it can strike interest and curiosity. Though a girl will come to realize it may not be realistic to be a vampire slayer, Girl Culture urges a girl to discover the real power she has within herself.
Originally penned: October 25, 1997 Reworked: January 15, 1998