'Sporty Spice' Mel C has issues with where girl power has gone

by

Sara McGinnis

posted in Celebrities

It's been quite a few years since Melanie Chisholm and her Spice Girls counterparts were convincing us all to "slam your body down and wind it all around...zigazig-ha," and this former pop music queen is unnerved at how sexual things have gotten since.

The 40-year-old singer, who is mom to 5-year-old Scarlet, recently opened up about how she shields her daughter from the imagery that goes along with current songs by telling the Daily Mirror, "My girl Scarlet is a big fan of Rihanna, but I won't let her watch the videos - they're too sexual. I protect my daughter from it while I can, but she's growing up fast."

Part of Mel C's worry is that current pop stars, such as Rihanna, are encouraging women to be objectified.

"For me it's almost like what we did with girl power has gone too far the other way, which defeats the object," she explained. "I appreciate that it's a different generation now, but I don't consider that empowering."

In 2001 "girl power" was added to the Oxford English Dictionary, complete with a nod to the Spice Girls:

Power exercised girls; spec. a self-reliant attitude among girls and young women manifested in ambition, assertiveness, and individualism. Although also used more widely (esp. as a slogan), the term has been particularly and repeatedly associated with popular music; most notably in the early 1990s with the briefly prominent ‘riot girl’ movement in the United States; then, in the late 1990s, with the British all-female group the Spice Girls.

The sticking point, I suppose, is whether or not one sees a young woman embracing and displaying her sexuality as powerful or problematic.

As a parent, I'm inclined to agree with Melanie and as of right now do not allow my two sons to watch music videos. They're dripping with sex, and are not something I think kids need to see or admire.

As a woman, however, my thoughts on the topic aren't as clearly defined. In general I don't think there's anything wrong with a female embracing her sexuality and showing it off if that's how she feels inclined to present herself. It's hard for me to decide if my views are conflicting, or if I just have a firm line drawn between what's acceptable for adults and kids.

Join the conversation

Do feel 'girl power' has gone astray? Why or why not?

Photo: PR Photos

Just for kicks -- a look back at 'Posh Spice' Victoria Beckham in our gallery of maternity photos from the '90s: