"Girl Power, Feminism, Blah, Blah, Blah": The Spice Girls and Pop Culture Feminism Samantha West LIS 585 Instructor: Margaret Shane July 31, 2015
“’YOOOOO, I’LL TELL YOU WHAT I WANT, WHAT I REALLY, REALLY WANT!’
SO TELL ME WHAT YOU WANT, WHAT YOU REALLY, REALLY WANT!
I WANNA, I WANNA, I WANNA, I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY WANNA ZIG-AH-ZIG-AH!”
--Wannabe, 1996
So begins one of the catchiest pop songs of 1996 – and arguably, the decade. An unapologetic ode to female sexuality, independence, and friendship, the Spice Girls song is often considered to be an anthem for “strong women”, and the band themselves as emblematic of a pro-feminist moment in popular music, alongside their contemporaries such as Destiny’s Child or TLC. Their albums, film, interviews, and live shows – not to mention all of the media created in relation to them – all present them as independent, intelligent, courageous women, who own their sexuality and aren’t afraid to show their individuality. Just as often, the band was accused of regressive politics – famously calling Margaret Thatcher the “original Spice Girl” – and of using their sexuality to pander to the male gaze. Sure, they were all about shouting “Girl Power” and doing things on their own terms…but they were, people said, a transparently manufactured pop band. How much did they really believe what they were singing about? And did it really matter?