Feminism And Pop Culture

It is to say with certainty that in today’s society, pop culture has a pronounced influence on our everyday lives and the decisions that we make. Although we may not like to admit it, pop culture largely assists in shaping the type of men/women we grow up to be. With young children being the primary target of pop culture, it is clearly evident how it can significantly impact the way in which we respond to different stimuli. While pop culture is commonly accepted worldwide it is uncertain if the feminist movement should embrace it or not. It is important to acknowledge that pop culture has a manipulation factor that most people don’t take into account. Pop culture has the ability to manipulate society into believing and following the norms …show more content…
In the article “Lady Power” author Nancy Bauer provides us with a feminist analysis of a popular music icon, lady Gaga. Bauer quotes in her article ““I’m not a feminist. I hail men! I love men!”” (qtd. In Bauer). This is idyllic evidence as to the fact that feminism should not embrace pop culture. Lady Gaga clearly exhibited in an interview that she is not educated as to what feminism actually is. Identifying oneself as a feminist is not to say that you do not love men or that you are a “man hater”. Feminism is the equality between men and women politically, socially and economically. Lady Gaga is not the only celebrity who is confused as to what feminism means. In an interview Evangeline Lilly stated “I’m very proud of being a woman, and as a woman, I don’t even like the word feminism because when I hear that word, I associate it with women trying to pretend to be men and I’m not interest in trying to pretend to be a man. I don’t want to embrace manhood, I want to embrace my womanhood.” (qtd. In Thorpe). Since when did calling yourself a feminist meant that you wanted to be a man? It is these types of messages that are distributed via mass media and read by millions of children and adults. Pop culture is spreading the wrong information about feminism and as a result making feminism …show more content…
There is no doubt that stereotypes have and will forever be present in our everyday lives. No matter what we do as a society to eliminate them, they always seem to come right back. Before technology became mainstream feminism already had a negative stereotype, which included angry, man-hating, unattractive woman with hairy armpits. Throughout the years the feminist movement has gone to great lengths to ultimately eliminate this stereotype and has successfully done so. As a result of feminism embracing pop culture, though new stereotypes have been created and people, specifically young children are following them to the extreme. In “Lady Power” Nancy Bauer states “Gaga’s gonzo wigs, her outrageous costumes, and her fondness for dousing herself in what looks like blood, are supposed to complicate what are otherwise conventional sexualized performances.” (Bauer). Though you do not see girls walking around in outrageous wigs and covered in blood it is important to note the many people look up to and follow Lady Gaga. Pop culture is not going to help the feminism movement, but rather hinder it by creating these rash stereotypes. The feminism movement is about bringing people together and uniting them, not breaking them up into small groups. Celebrities, specifically those who identify themselves as a feminist have a big impact on the