Girl Power

• On your own write down the first 3 words that come to mind when I say Spice Girls.

• What is Girl Power?• Discuss in a pair and then attempt to explain the

concept to another pair.

Girl Power• The Spice Girls and their "girl power" message are the spawn of MTV

feminism, of which there are arguably two strands. In the early 1980s, Cyndi Lauper sang "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" and led a conga line of party girls as they got up to no good.

• And there was Madonna, the boy toy, writhing around, baring her midriff and singing "Everybody." They both mixed sexuality and rump-shaking into a statement of confidence and control. They both used fashion as a statement on feminine identity and a source of power.

• The Spice Girls soared to fame on the Lauper model, giving girls a cool, slightly naughty band they could dream of being a part of rather than merely one to swoon over. "Girl power" wasn't a parent-approved movement. If so, then surely there would have been a "Smart Spice." But the Spice Girls were more palatable than the women who followed the Madonna philosophy, which advocated the power in a half-naked tush.

• The Spice Girls used fashion as a shorthand for identity. The power wasn't in a girl taking her clothes off, but in being brave enough to wear the clothes that expressed her personality.

Auditions

• The Spice girls formed after answering a response in stage magazine.

• http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=LsOeQCIrAhs• Isn’t it interesting how and why they were chosen.

More importantly the transformation.

What are the 5 labels for the Spice Girls?

How are they signified in the following pictures?

Girls - If you were a young teenage Girl in the 90’s which one would

you have been? Why??Did the Spice Girls in any way

affect your Identity Construction??

The image of the Spice Girls was deliberately aimed at young girls, an audience of formidable size and potential; reinforcing the range of appeal within the target demographic were the bandmates' five distinctive personalities, which encouraged fans to identify with one member or another. This marketing was helped in no small way by the aliases assigned to each member of the group. Shortly after "Wannabe's" release, the group appeared in Top of the Pops magazine where each member was given a nickname based upon their image: Victoria became "Posh Spice", Emma became "Baby Spice," Melanie B was named "Scary Spice", Geri was named "Ginger Spice", and Melanie C became "Sporty Spice".

‘Wannabe’• Read the lyrics for Spice girls ‘wannabe’• Is there anything striking about the lyrics. Comment on how

they could be seen to empower or excite young girls. • http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=M3wgaWAHo2Q • As you watch the video make notes on the labelling of the

members. • Also make notes on the behaviour of these members

Destiny’s Child

• Took Girl Power one step further. • 1999 hit ‘bills, bills, bills’ followed by

Independent Women part 1 & 2 an many more.

• Emphasis was on ‘I depend on me’ and ‘I DON’T want you’

• Independent Women

The ‘Ladette’• It could be argued that the Spice Girls are responsible

for the term ‘ladette’ which again sprung up in the 90’s Cool Britannia time. The term Ladette refers to a female incarnation of the male Lad stereotype.

• The ‘Girlie Show’ hosted by Sara Cox. One of the ‘ladettes’ of the 90’s. http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=EKkjxTGrtKQ

• http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=yyvsEna5eSw&feature=related

• Her partner in crime Zoe Ball was famously pictures on the morning of her wedding day holding a fag and a bottle of Jack Daniels.

Today• The list of misbehaving celebrity women is endless. • Lily Allen, Kate Nash, Amy Winehouse. • http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=93rrFBCOkj8

• Question – Has the Girl Power movement of the 90’s affected modern culture?

Girls as young as 13 are increasingly showing such behaviours as smoking, swearing, fighting, drinking, disrupting lessons, being open about sex, and being cheeky and loud,

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=tgtuCi-xl9w

Spice Girls and Identity Construction• Question:• How influential are bands such as the Spice Girls and

Destiny’s Child in the construction of female identity?• Is the behaviour of the noughties ‘ladettes’ the fault of the

Spice Girls?• Quote to get you thinking:“The impact of the Spice Girls…was to provide a new twist to the

feminist discourse of power and subjectivity. By telling their fans that feminism is necessary and fun, that it is part of every dayness, and that girls should challenge rather than accept traditional constraints – ‘What you looking at boy? Can you handle a Spice Girl?’ – they sold the 1990’s as a girl’s World and presented the future as female.”