The phrase “girl power” was coined by Bikini Kill in the early 1990s, but its meaning was watered down later in the decade when angry radical women in music were followed by younger, less opinionated pop stars.
But how did this happen? Culture critic at The Atlantic and Pulitzer Prize finalist Sophie Gilbert takes a deep dive into 1990s and 2000s pop culture in her new book, Girl on Girl: How Pop Culture Turned a Generation of Women Against Themselves, to find out.
Today on Commotion, host Elamin Abdelmahmoud speaks with Gilbert about her new book, how this pop culture shift happened and how its effects continue to shape our current moment.
WATCH | Today’s episode on YouTube:
You can listen to the full discussion from today’s show on CBC Listen or on our podcast, Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud, available wherever you get your podcasts.
Interview with Sophie Gilbert produced by Jane van Koeverden.
