Why Loving The Spice Girls Was Our First Foray Into Feminism
On January 21, 2017, the Women's March occurred. It was a feminist protest defending rights for all women.
Thousands of women assembled in Washington, DC in the name of feminism, in order to stand up for what they believe in.
Feminism is defined as,
A range of political movements, ideologies and social movements that share a common goal: to define, establish and achieve political, economic, personal and social rights for women. This includes seeking to establish equal opportunities for women in education and employment.
This brings me to my next point.
Whenever I think of feminism, my all-time favorite girl squad, Spice Girls, comes to mind. They have never failed to slay... from their incredible jams and on point outfits, to the girl power they constantly embodied.
When I was growing up, I wished and hoped one day I would be part of the Spice Girls. A gal can dream, right? They were the epitome of cool in my teeny bopper eyes.
Not a day would go by that my teen self wouldn't bump “Wannabe” in the house with the windows open, belting it out with my main girl squad for everyone in the neighborhood to hear.
In fact, you can play it now for some background music as you read this.
We were young, wild and free. We may have also cracked a few mirrors in the process, but I DIGRESS.
Now, as an adult, I appreciate how cool the Spice Girls' music truly is.
Not only was it fun music to listen (and dance) to growing up, but these women have also shown the world what hardcore girl power is all about. They define and embody it at its finest.
We didn't know it at the time, but loving the Spice Girls was our first foray into feminism.
The Spice Girls' image was independent of male input.
In a '90s radio interview, Mel B (aka Scary Spice) told a male caller to sit the heck down when he asked if the ladies “go to bars and pick up guys and stuff.”
Real talk: Wrong move, dude.
Mel B confidently shut him down with,
This is about girl power, this is not about picking up guys.
She continued,
It's about spreading a positive vibe, kicking it for the girls… It's not about picking up guys. We don't need men to control our life. We control our lives anyway.
Heck yeah, Mel B. You tell him how it is, like the boss woman you are.
Girl power just gets me so pumped up.
We can all agree: Scary Spice is the real MVP.
Don't get me wrong; I show equal amount of love and appreciation to all of the Spice Girls. It's clear each one of them totally rocks.
But I must point out that I have an insane amount of respect for Scary Spice when she completely called out that male caller.
She's not afraid to say it like it is and stand up for what her girl squad is all about: girl power.
In the process, Mel B inspired each and every one of us. She's truly an incredible role model and feminist icon, and so many women look up to her.
And who can forget when the entire girl squad shut down a sexist director who asked them to reveal more skin for a Polaroid commercial?
Don't mess with the Spice Girls because they will always make girl power rain down on you... hard. And that's exactly what the sexist director deserved.
If you wannabe my lover, you gotta get with my friends. Make it last forever; friendship never ends.
The Spice Girls' songs are empowering AF.
The Spice Girls' incredible anthems are all about standing up for what you believe in: being strong and peacing out from any bad situation at hand.
Their songs were so empowering, and they evoke such a positive response to this day. A group of women even gave “Wannabe” a feminist remake entitled “#WhatIReallyReallyWant.”
Victoria Beckham responded to the music video by praising it. She was all about the girl power message.
She said,
I think this film is a wonderful idea. How fabulous it is that after 20 years, the legacy of the Spice Girls' — 'Girl Power' — is being used to encourage and empower a whole new generation.
The Spice Girls' “Wannabe” video remake included beautiful women from Canada, Nigeria, India and the UK representing females from different parts of the world.
They are unique in their own special way, all while fighting for women's rights.
Throughout the powerful video, these women embody what every woman should have rights to in the world.
No matter what parts of the world we're from, we all share that common, special bond of girl power (all thanks to the Spice Girls).
It's clear the Spice Girls were – and still are – a true inspiration to every girl.
