Gen Y females grew up with Britney Spears imploring, “Hit me baby, one more time.” We had Christina Aguilera teaching us about sexuality and getting “Dirrty.” Sex and the City showed us we could be smart and have a good job, great friends and lots of sex, all without the stress of marriage.
And then there’s GaGa – constantly reinventing herself and taking the world by storm, she uses her music (and especially her performances) to complicate the general persona the media gives to the twenty-something female pop star.
She’s sexual for sure, but also so over-the-top that she begs a question: is she the one with the power, or is she simply objectifying herself in the same way as Britney and Christina, but hiding behind her crazy costumes and personality?
Nancy Bauer’s New York Times article “Lady Power” ponders the idea of the Millennial generation and our feminist/anti-feminist tendencies, using Lady GaGa as a main example of the feminist (or not-so-feminist) ways of the Millennial woman.
I can’t help but feel targeted and defensive – mostly because I know Bauer is probably right.
So I guess the question is, have we, as Millennials – or more specifically, as Millennial women – dropped the ball when it comes to feminism and the womens’ movement? Or are we simply redefining it on our terms and throwing the label away?
Another New York Times writer, Jon Caramanica, seems to think the latter. “This new feminism is more about the opportunity to make choices than about any specific choice itself,” he says.
There’s no arguing that. Millennial women have the world at our fingertips. We are able to get excellent educations at prestigious universities where we make up a higher percentage of students than men do. We are making gains professionally, and a woman is no longer looked down on if she puts her career before having children.
But we still make 19% less than a man who does the same job. We have not yet had a female president, and the sex trade is still alive and kicking. It doesn’t seem fair to say we have nothing left to fight for.
“If there’s anything that feminism has bequeathed to young women of means, it’s that power is their birthright,” says Bauer. “Visit an American college campus on a Monday morning, and you’ll find any number of amazingly ambitious and talented young women wielding their brain power, determined not to let anything — including a relationship with some needy, dependent man — get in their way.
“[But] come back on a party night,” she continues, “and you’ll find many of these same girls (they stopped calling themselves “women” years ago) wielding their sexual power, dressed as provocatively as they dare, matching the guys drink for drink — and then hook-up for hook-up.”
Most of us can attest that Bauer’s right on the mark. There is a split somewhere that many Millennial women make – whether consciously or not – between being on equal footing with men during the daytime and dressing scantily and acting provocatively to get their attention at night.
So sound off: Is feminism dead, or are we, along with Lady GaGa, just defining it as we choose – maybe with no definition at all?
Photo by SpreePIX – Berlin
I would like to argue that the sex trade being “alive and kicking” does not warrant the same concern as wage differences between men and women or the lack of a female president. Many women who work in the sex industry in America choose to do so. I would challenge you to go into a Gentleman’s Club and ask the women why they work there, many will tell you it’s because they want to. This goes for legal and illegal prostitution as well. I would also argue that many women would even tell you that working in the sex industry empowers them as women, validating the same points you made above. Women objectifying their bodies for money in a Gentleman’s Club is no more ridiculous than what the teen pop stars are doing. The only difference between pop stars and exotic dancers is that exotic dancers don’t pretend they’re not objectifying themselves. They aren’t ashamed to use their body for money, where the teen pop star acts as though she’s not doing the very same thing. Though some women “have to” work in the industry to support children or the oh-so-stereotypical drug addiction, no one has forced them into the sex trade but themselves. Furthermore, many men choose higher paying jobs in questionably immoral trades (ie: tobacco exec, advertising, etc) to better support their families or personal habits and we aren’t bringing shame upon them.
Moral of the story, it’s unfair to lump the adult industry in with the lack of a female president. Women choose to work in the “sex trade” Women don’t, however, get a choice when it comes to wage differences in the “business world” (which trust me, when it comes down to it, isn’t that much different from the “sex world”).
(side note: I am very well aware that child prostitution and the underground sex-slave trade exists, but it’s hardly valid to lump them in the same category as women who work in the “sex trade”.)
Kaitlin –
I see where you’re coming from, and I definitely need to clarify what I meant by sex trade. That was poorly worded. I know that some women definitely would say they find being part of the adult industry – the exotic dancers at the Gentlemen’s Clubs, etc. – empowering, and that’s fine. I was trying to refer more to the issues of human trafficking, child prostitution and the sex slave trade. I will be sure to focus on the wording of that next time I refer to it.
That said, you mention the “oh-so-stereotypical” reasons prostitutes give for being in the business, but I don’t think it’s fair to say that all prostitutes (in fact, I doubt many of them at all) are doing it by complete choice. You mentioned child prostitution in your side note. Do you think that if minors are brain washed and manipulated at 13 or 14 years old they are more likely to stay in the business, by “choice”? (http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2010-06-14/underage-girls-in-the-sex-trade-and-their-pimps/ – This woman escaped, but there are plenty who don’t.) The issues surrounding prostitution – those children you mentioned, likely fathered by the perverted men paying for the sex, or their pimps – or the drugs, which I’m sure many of them use to forget about their circumstances – are, I believe, definitely still an issue for feminists and feminism.
Sex workers aside, I don’t believe that “feminism” exists for our generation… at least not in the same way that it did for our mothers and grandmothers and would argue that we need a new word for what we fight for in the second decade of the 21st century.
We get paid less – because we take time off for maternity leave. Those women who choose not to have children oftentimes actually make more money than their male counterparts. Yes, those women make less because they take time off work (a year per child) and men don’t. But that’s their choice. It’s not on part of the system. We passed that finish line a while ago. That was because of feminism.
We see Britney Spears as a sex object, but Christiane Amanpour as an intellectual with a better reputation than almost anyone else in her industry. That’s because of feminism.
But it’s feminism as a word and as a mindset that calls attention to Amanpour and labels her amazing *because* she’s a WOMAN. Not because she’s AMAZING.
I think girls my age don’t find it odd, or even a fancy, new development, for our peers to have stay-at-home husbands, or for our single mothers to be executives making six figures, or that more of us are enrolled in university than our brothers are. That’s what feminism did for us.
We live in a post-feminist world. And while we are proud and strong women, we won the fight. It’s time to sit back, relax and enjoy it. And instead of whining about “feminism” in America, where we no longer need it, let’s take the fight abroad to places that actually need our indignation (like where sex trafficking is an issue).
This article says women earn less by choice. As Alex pointed out, one factor is due to maternity leave. Women also tend to negotiate and ask for promotions less than men.
http://www.bnet.com/blog/penelope-trunk/a-salary-gap-between-men-and-women-oh-please/112
Brittany,
Very interesting article. Feminism by day and anti-feminism (maybe that’s not the most accurate word) by night is unfortunately a common practice by many Millennial women.
As a recent graduate of the University of Wisconsin Madison, I saw this paradox constantly. Badger women study hard, and they also like to party hard, which leads to an ambiguous state concerning feminism. Many are opinionated — even aggressive — in class (think Katherine Hepburn), but in social settings, ESPECIALLY when alcohol is involved, they are peppy, bubbly, and submissive (Marilyn Monroe).
Why?
Most Millennial women are feminists without even thinking about it, yet their hesistent to take on that label. Unfortunately, the term ‘Feminism’ still has a bad rap – most women associating it with burning bras, leg hair, and joining the Communist party. Of course, they are the living legacy of its achievements, but they don’t think of it as such.
I think much of the confusion is due to growing up in a culture in which physical appearance (ie sexualizing women) is many time a measure of success, which is why many Millennials play up their femininity, not their feminism.
Feminist here. Baby boomer, too. Lady GaGa doesn’t remind me of Brittany Spears or Christina Aguilera-she’s this generation’s Madonna, and ladies, let me tell you, that’s not a bad thing at all. What GaGa’s about and Madonna and Martha Graham and Josephine Baker and Billie Holiday was/is the ability to snap their fingers in the face of convention for what they love, for their art, for their singing, for their dancing. Your generation stands on the shoulders of these and countless women who defied the critics of their generation and knew that the only way to live life was on their terms. Madonna at the height of her fame married Hollywood’s biggest bad boy, Sean Penn, and left him a blubbering mess only to then bed and lead by the nose another famous Lothario, Warren Beatty, all after running a music empire by day that she created, after dropping out of high school, by the way. So, no, feminism is not dead….it’s just grown up and defies categorization. My generation wanted feminism to allow women choices and not be judged/slotted by one choice or the other. So, please, be brilliant by day, and wanton hussies by night. Just for God’s sake, use protection !!!! Love and peace, out.
Marybeth, I would love if today’s women acted that way on their OWN terms, but unfortunately, many do not. It’s still what they GUY wants, on the GUY’s terms. This isn’t every Millennial woman, of course, but it’s sad to say it’s a good chunk of them.
I love seeing the responses here. Very impressive. I myself support Women’s Equality in terms of not being Oppressed by men. I drove from Albany, NY to Washington, DC just for the day to attend the Stop Stupak Rally with NY Family Planning whom my younger sister works for (I am 42 btw). I agree with many of the posits written here. I think if men could make $1k a night dancing for women they would. If you have never seen the Short ‘Women are Hornier than Men’ on You Tube you should (Its PG-13 to R in Nature fyi).
Now to address the past generations to current issue since I grew up with a stay at home mom who then went to work when I entered college. I think women got tired of being indentured servants to men (50′s style family life). In my view as a mother in such a situation you perform a role that doesn’t change. But you are at the mercy of what the man earns. What if he becomes lazy and doesn’t do his role? What if he fails to excel and bring in enough money? Or leaves you and now you have kids and little income. So it was that feeling of lack of control that really surged the Feminist movement. And you all here are Feminists whether you realize it or not. A Chauvinist would say stay at home, don’t go to college, take care of my kids.
As for equal pay the maternity view is BS. Sorry. There is a cold blooded Value of output per hour. Women should get paid the same per hour of same output. Don’t settle for less. The other issue of maybe not asking for raises etc that could be valid. As a Business Owner its the value to my firm that is important and if a great employee who helps my firm excel is female and she wants to have a baby, I will work it out so she will want to come back.
Hi, I’m female. Just like sex and the city, Gaga has taught women to play dress up and hide. She does stand for all that is different, however she claims to have Bowie as an influence, through whom she’d learnt to adapt to her differences and accept them – yet she shows NO sign of those tastes she describes in her music. Sorry folks! It sounds all the same to me. Same as everything else. She sounds like Britney, Rihanna, Madonna…I can’t tell who is who. Therefore, any intelligent person who doesn’t believe in the proverbial ‘everything that meets the eye’, is able to acknowledge that the only thing different and innovative about Gaga is her dress sense. She’s eccentric for the pure hell of being so. She is lead by plastic fantastic mr. music label instructing her on what to do, sing, say and how to record her music. Her lack of talent as a so-called fan of Bowie, is extremely unimpressive and invisible. This is far from what a TRUE thinking woman would be inspired by. Yes, because music says a lot about who you are, and sadly, so does one’s personal work.
We live in the Sex and the City generation. The world in which it’s justified (if not obligatory) to agree with abortion if you are indeed a true ‘with it’ feminist. If you’re a forward – looking woman you’ve got to have the cost-me-an-arm-and-a-leg designer wardrobe, which if you’re wealthy enough, won’t drink your bank account dry like a prune, leaving you with virtually no assets, no will, no pension plan and zero savings. A modern woman objectifies men (to make a powerful rebellious statement) and can be free to use as many swear words as she likes because , hey, why not? Women have been too ‘silent’ for too long.
If you ask me, really, it’s all a bunch of rotting bull. These woman are pathetic. My female idol is Nico of the Velvet Underground. A German – born model who acted as a muse for artists worldwide, including Warhol and Federico Fellini. She was a German beauty who dressed in stunning but wholly understated clothes in an attempt to hide her beauty, to be acknowledged as the true artist, musician, singer, composer and producer that she was.
I’d like to see more women discuss music, enonomics, world politics, human rights, history, art and literature and film, other than a bunch of pathetic sluts catering to their excessive vanities, drinking expensive cocktails in the day(how the hell is that even plausible to a realistic audience if you’ve a full-time job and bills to pay anyway!) , indulging in rampant fornication, and slaving away to their nail gel!! In this tv and advertising-ruined society, in how many seasons from now will the beautiful, unselfish, unspoilt, discreet woman be in vogue again?