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Gaslight, Gatekeep, but most importantly, Girlboss
Why the ‘Girlboss’ phenomenon is problematic and slowly fading “Girlboss” is a new term popularized by Nasty Gal Founder and Executive Chairman Sophia Amoruso, an American entrepreneur who channelled her notoriety from the rise of her multi-million-dollar fashion business, into a best-selling book. According to Amoruso, a “Girlboss” is a woman “whose success is defined in opposition to the masculine business world in which she swims upstream.” The “Girlboss” was originally a term for feminist empowerment, referring to women who put professional (i.e. financial) success above all by adopting a relentless cut-throat yet feminine persona to get there. It’s been codified in popular culture through figures such as Miranda Priestly…
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The wellness trap
Rethinking what it means to be healthy in the age of content creators Musician Lorde was burning sage and cleansing crystals in her “Mood Ring” music video that premiered in August 2021. Throughout the satirical pop song, Lorde comments on wellness culture by pointing out the great lengths women—particularly privileged white women—go to feel well. In an interview with Genius, Lorde explained the meaning behind the lyrics in “Mood Ring.” In the lines, “I’m tryna get well from the inside / Plants and celebrity news / All the vitamins I consume,” the hypocrisy of digital wellness culture is revealed. “I had a moment of realizing like I’m trying to eat…
