Last Sunday was 'Girl Power Day', designed to celebrate the launch of the Spice Girls' Wannabe single, but does the term ever mean anything or was it just a cynical marketing ploy?
| Girl power was a bit of a marketing ploy but I reckon they meant some of it. |
As a precocious ten-year-old I remember informing my truly self-reliant mother that it was indeed the Spice Girls who invented the term "Girl Power". I'd never heard of the concept before, but now I realise that girl power did, and will continue to positively influence me. Destiny's Child would describe my mother as an independent (self-sufficient), bootylicious (beautiful), survivor (of divorce) - one of the many modern descriptions of girl power. These days women are excelling so much in professional, sporting and cultural aspects of society that in my opinion. "Go girl!" has never been more apt.
Alisha Fuller, 15
Of course Girl Power means something, it stands for being a strong woman and being independent. I don't know why it's associated with the Spice Girls who were a bunch of rowdy women in too-tight clothes and chunky platforms. For them Girl Power was a publicity thing. Real Girl Power started back in the day. Some true role models are the Suffragettes, Margaret Thatcher (only because she was the first British female PM) Winnie Mandela and even my mum deserves a place in the history books. Girl Power day should be every day of a girl's life, rather than and extension of the Spice mansions.
Gabriella Gay, 15
Girl power signifies confidence and assertiveness in women. It didn't start with the Spice Girls, but I do commend them for re-introducing it to young society. Girl power is significant, but the way it's presented to society does worry me. It is not about the Spice girls nor is it about female superiority. This day is a chance for women to express their individuality and enjoy their uniqueness. It's a time to embrace and acknowledge the achievement of women all around the world both past and present.
Akosua Bonsu, 15
Girl Power was a bit of a marketing ploy but I reckon they meant some of it. but the term doesn't really mean anything anymore because the Spice Girls have 'broken up'. They were the ones who brought it to our attention in the first place. Now there needs to be someone else to take up the cause again. But there are still lots of strong women around for girls to look up to, like their mothers. You either have to look up to someone in your family and it's better to have someone from your family. Famous people don't always practice what they preach.
Benjamina Avro-Owiriwa, 13
Girl Power used to mean being strong and independent, but it doesn't really mean anything now because the Spice Girls are rubbish singers in clothes that are too tight. When the Spice Girls first came out I used to like them, but only for about a couple of months. They talked about Girl Power I thought, 'they must think they're all that and really strong.' But now they're just out of date, but I don't know about Girl Power though.
Cindy Crome, 11
About the team
The Answer the question panel are members of Children's Express London bureau. This column was published as part of Teen Talk, the Children's Express page in New Nation.
