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matcheslitA woman doing something isn't necessarily feminism. Sometimes it can even be anti-feminist. Sabrina Carpenter choosing to engage in misogyny for the male gaze is still engaging in misogyny. It's still the male gaze. People can claim it's "satire" but, without an obvious wink to the audience, it's not satire--it's just a harmful message (a woman objectifying herself to a man) without the subversion (missing). Sabrina Carpenter's new album cover does not threaten or mock the status quo--it IS the status quo.
Then some defenders are not suggesting it's satire. Instead, they are simply saying it's empowering: supposedly it's "obviously for women" and it's "obviously mocking men who think it's for them" But...it has no obvious tell that it's not for men, actually. It's just for men. This is proven by men posting about how much HOT they find the album cover without any discussion about feminism while the women fight about whether or not it's feminist.
That all being said, I'm not saying Sabrina can't do whatever she wants. I don't think she's a bad role model or a slut or anything. Admittedly I've never liked her much because she caters so much to the male gaze / straight fantasies (but I do find her hot, probably proving my point further--not liking her but liking the LOOK of her). But she can do whatever she likes--she's a pop star, not a political activist. I can see it's fun for her and other women! It's just not empowering. It's not feminism. If it is supposed to be satire, it's a failed experiment. And ultimately, it's so weird and a little disheartening that women need to do mental gymnastics to justify liking something "problematic" to themselves and others.
Edit: After sleeping on it, I'm left to only assume that she isn't even trying to be satirical or feminist like her fans insist. It's an insult to her to suggest she missed the mark that badly. I think ultimately she's just being shocking because being horny is her "thing" and sex sells. It's certainly generated a lot of online discussion (even here on XHS). Her fans are perhaps just a little delulu and trying to cope with the fact their favorite isn't a Feminist Icon--it's not like she ever expressed an interest in being one. And that should be OK.
Then some defenders are not suggesting it's satire. Instead, they are simply saying it's empowering: supposedly it's "obviously for women" and it's "obviously mocking men who think it's for them" But...it has no obvious tell that it's not for men, actually. It's just for men. This is proven by men posting about how much HOT they find the album cover without any discussion about feminism while the women fight about whether or not it's feminist.
That all being said, I'm not saying Sabrina can't do whatever she wants. I don't think she's a bad role model or a slut or anything. Admittedly I've never liked her much because she caters so much to the male gaze / straight fantasies (but I do find her hot, probably proving my point further--not liking her but liking the LOOK of her). But she can do whatever she likes--she's a pop star, not a political activist. I can see it's fun for her and other women! It's just not empowering. It's not feminism. If it is supposed to be satire, it's a failed experiment. And ultimately, it's so weird and a little disheartening that women need to do mental gymnastics to justify liking something "problematic" to themselves and others.
Edit: After sleeping on it, I'm left to only assume that she isn't even trying to be satirical or feminist like her fans insist. It's an insult to her to suggest she missed the mark that badly. I think ultimately she's just being shocking because being horny is her "thing" and sex sells. It's certainly generated a lot of online discussion (even here on XHS). Her fans are perhaps just a little delulu and trying to cope with the fact their favorite isn't a Feminist Icon--it's not like she ever expressed an interest in being one. And that should be OK.
