2023 – widely known as “the year of the girl” – brought a new appreciation for girlhood. The unmatched popularity of the Eras Tour, the smashing success of the Barbie movie at the box office, even the rise of isms like “girl dinner, girl math, and hot girl walks” all tell us that cultural representations of being female are rapidly shifting. The representation of femininity is no longer exclusive to the experience of a mature woman; there is a deep appreciation for things previously associated with childhood enjoyment. Even the re-appearance of “girly” fashion trends like butterfly clips and bows remind us that reclaiming parts of childhood is always an option. The problem, however, is that this definition of girlhood can become oversimplified very quickly.
Girlhood has a variety of meanings, but what this blog has focused most on is girlhood as a cultural phenomenon. The way it is reflected in cinema, music, fashion, and social media trends all speak to a cultural context in which women are given the agency and space to explore their own identities. There is nothing wrong with the things this blog has focused on: the rise of the Barbie movie, of female directors making milestones, and romance being the focus of different viral trends or books we love. The issue, though, is what happens when we see this as the only way of viewing girlhood. To deepen this appreciation, it’s crucial to discuss how these trends influence perceptions of femininity beyond the mainstream, examining their impact on different communities.
At best, this reduces the myriad of female experiences, and at worst, it can perpetuate an illusion of inclusivity that is really only focused on upper-class white women. This superficial inclusivity fails to consider the intersectional struggles that other women face, particularly those from marginalized communities. For instance, while mainstream feminism celebrates milestones in popular media, it often overlooks the systemic barriers that women of color, LGBTQ+ women, and women with disabilities encounter daily. A shift in perspective towards girlhood is necessary: it must embrace intersectionality and celebrate diverse discussions of female experiences. While discourse around girlhood continues to occur, it is everyone’s duty to make sure this discussion takes place in the most inclusive way possible. This involves challenging our preconceptions and striving to understand girlhood through various lenses—not just those that are most visible or marketable. There is no way to highlight the last year’s successes for women without recognizing the downfalls in the same realm.
It is true that much of what women enjoy is often not taken seriously – the Barbie movie being an excellent example of this. Despite it being an incredible pop culture phenomenon, there have been countless discussions of Barbie’s merits as a piece of cinema. These discussions often reflect a broader cultural tendency to undervalue works that are perceived as ‘feminine’ or tailored primarily to women, a bias that extends well beyond the realms of cinema into literature, art, and even scientific achievements by women. The film should be defended on the basis of it being something women enjoy, and there is absolutely something to be said about the way it fared during awards season compared to many other films (made up mostly of men telling stories about men). That is not the issue here, though; rather, it’s the oversimplification of a much greater cultural issue that poses the biggest concern for feminists.
At the 2024 Oscars, both Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie did not get nominated for the awards of Best Director and Best Actress In A Leading Role, respectively; this quickly became a conversation of women’s experiences not being taken seriously in high-art contexts. These nominations, or the lack thereof, underscore a persistent underappreciation and undervaluation of women’s contributions to high arts, which is compounded for women of color and other marginalized groups who remain even less represented and acknowledged. The social media outrage that followed suit certainly drew attention to the fact that awards shows are not always reflective of public opinion. Hillary Clinton even tweeted about it, telling Margot and Greta that they were both “more than Kenough” despite their loss. In the face of such disparities, it becomes imperative to question and critique not just the overt symptoms but the underlying structures that perpetuate these inequalities.
This outrage is undoubtedly selective. Barbie as a representation of girlhood deserved credit – from the general public and critics alike. It quickly spiraled into a perfect example of what happens when any discussion on a social issue lacks intersectionality. The discourse surrounding these events often mirrors broader societal biases, which can overshadow and sideline the nuanced debates needed to foster genuine inclusivity and understanding. Lily Gladstone was only the fourth Indigenous person ever to be nominated for Best Actress, and both the Director and female lead of Past Lives missed out on nominations as well. There was more that should have mattered to women at the Oscars, and is exactly the kind of white feminism we all need to do better about.
This is just one example, but is representative of a greater problem: privileged white women experiencing some form of wrongdoing and it becoming the center of feminist discourse. If an incredibly high-earning movie made by two white women and received unprecedented public support still didn’t receive approval from the Oscars, questions need to be asked regarding the patriarchal power dynamics in movies and media broadly. These questions, however, must extend to lived experiences beyond this one form of identity. If even Barbie is overlooked, where does that leave marginalized women? Women of color, of sexual minority status, of lower socioeconomic classes or other identities deserve attention too.
The risk of our current path includes creating more problems than we are solving. Feminism has made significant strides, especially in a legal capacity. Even the way females are both portrayed and empowered in various forms of media deserves immense credit. The work, however, cannot stop there. We must continue pushing for a feminism that recognizes all voices within the movement, ensuring that no one is left behind or overlooked. The heart of the issue lies in the failure to acknowledge how much work is left to be done; there are so many overlapping identities such as race, ethnicity, sexuality, socioeconomic status, and ability that require their own representations. Without this perspective, as we’re currently seeing, will only actually improve a certain portion of women’s experiences. To truly advance feminist goals, we must commit to an inclusive and expansive approach that addresses the unique challenges faced by all women, not just the most visible or privileged. Girlhood can mean anything to any woman, and the plethora of experiences that come along with this should be acknowledged and uplifted. The solution is not to make girlhood any less fun or special, but rather to make it more inclusive. Centering intersectionality – and being cautious of our own biases – must become synonymous with how we portray and define girlhood.
Glimmers & Girlhood 
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