This is Postfeminism? Pink: Stupid Girl

With the analysis on Modleski's work “Postmortem on Postfeminism”, Post feminism has a heterosexual presumption that brings the main focus back on to men which in turn, sets women as the “other”. In addition, Postfeminism can be defined as an eraser of power dynamics by promoting the liberal characteristic of gender equality, which has been attained. Events that proclaim or assume “the advent of postfeminism, are actually engaged in negating the critiques and undermining the goals of feminism... Delivering us back to the prefeminist world” (3).

An example I decided to use from the mainstream media that exhibits potential for subversion and has problematic elements at the same time is the music video and lyrics of “Stupid Girls” by Pink. The music video mocks video models and women with eating disorders in order to teach a little girl to take the more “masculine” route (football) and focus on less materialistic (feminine) things.

Women's Representation in the Music Video and Problematic Elements

1. The video starts with a little girl in a football jersey who is watching Pink's video on TV. She is witnessing all the things the celebrities and women go through to become an “ideal” woman. The little girl has Pink as an angel on one side and Pink as the devil on the other.

Problematic Elements: While this may be seen as feminist by teaching young girls that superficial and materialistic views are not actually the main focus of life, the problematic element is that at the end of the music video, the little girl chooses a football over “girly” toys. This highlights that to avoid being a ”stupid girl”, women should choose the more masculine route. To play with barbie dolls or other “girly” toys is a predictor of a “stupid girl”. This brings one of Modleski's respects to defining postfeminism. Featuring the traditionally masculine traits as the focus in order to be a smart girl brings “men back to the center stage and diverting feminists from tasks more pressing...” (6). In other words, this music video brings traditionally masculine roles or traits as the focus while setting feminine aspects as “the other”.

2. A video model is seen dancing beside a well-known rapper, 50 Cent, as Pink asks in her lyrics, “What happened to the dreams of a girl president? She's dancing in the video next to 50 Cent”.

Problematic Elements: It is true that video models and strippers are glorified and the presence of video models in hip hop videos is almost mandatory in order to “sell” the song/album/brand. In other words, it seems that in order to sell the song, the music video needs to sell hyper-sexuality. However, asking where the dreams of becoming a president for a girl as she dances next to a rapper in a music video may seem feminist, as it may seem to ask why a woman's goals is resorted so easily to video modelling and objectification. Yet, it is problematic to assume that the models never had and will never have such dreams. The lyrics denies the possibility that socio-economic statuses of women in low-income areas may have see such occupations as a way to earn money in order to obtain such dreams or to support her family. Although glorifying and objectifying women is problematic, assuming that these models' dreams are fulfilled at being featured in a music for a few minutes ignores socioeconomic issues that exist. Furthermore, asking “Where, oh where, have the smart people gone? Oh where, oh where could they be?” in the chorus generates the message that the video models lack intelligence or ability to utilize intelligence. How is the viewer to know that the goal of a certain video model isn't to use that money to pay for law school? Using Modleski's article, this part of the music video is in respect to the notion that power dynamics do not exist and that women can easily obtain dreams and goals without being subject to objectification by men. It is also evident that a power dynamic exists between different groups of women, for example, a woman from a middle-class upbringing may have more easy access to education, programs and resources than a woman from low-income area.

3. A girl is seen walking into the bathroom complaining of eating 300 calories that day and is quoted saying, “That was so not sexy”, while her friend is vomiting in the sink.

Problematic Element: To mock purging as an attempt to look like an ideal woman may seem feminist, generating the message that women should be happy with their weight or consider healthy eating and exercising instead. However, in the eyes of one who suffers from bulimia or anorexia will see this part of the video and take offence. “300 calories... That was so not sexy” is not an accurate portrayal of what eating disorders are about. Eating disorders are a mental disorder and women with eating disorders may not seek to just be “sexy” but may be seeking to just be thin. What the video, coupled with the song, is actually doing is generating the message that only stupid girls have eating disorders. In addition, it tells the one with an eating disorder that they will be ridiculed. This can result in may negative situations such as deterring from seeking help.

We currently live in a postfeminist world where events may seen feminist. With this music video, it may be assumed that the general message for young girls and women that glorifying sexualized characteristics as their primary identity and conforming to the idealized and fantasized woman is socially construction. However, the mockery and humour used to generate this message does more damage than liberation and as Modleski says, this very act delivers us right back to the prefeminist world.