DOES POP CULTURE PROVIDE YOUNG WOMEN WITH AUTHENTIC EXAMPLES OF SISTERHOOD?
Sisterhood: ‘the solidarity of women based on shared conditions, experiences, or concerns’.
When I say the words ‘pop culture’ and ‘sisterhood’ in the same sentence, who do you think of? Kim, Khloe and Kourtney? Taylor Swift and her ‘girl squad’? Kendall and Cara? Gigi and Bella? Like it or loathe it, these are the examples of sisterhood pop culture has to offer. These are the women the young generation look to, watch on Snapchat and like dozens of pictures of on Instagram.
Mainstream music offers up teams of female rappers and singers who come together to create million dollar grossing songs with videos to match, often showing the two singing side-by-side in matching leotards occasionally throwing their arms round each other, or the in case of Beyonce and Nicki Minaj’s 'Flawless' remix, eating cheeseburgers through interlinked arms. The songs themselves offer guaranteed top 10 hits with a concoction of highly sexualised lyrics and obligatory references to the other artist which seems to denote close friendship but rather seems to serve merely to bridge the gap between each artists verse; ‘my girl Ariana run pop’ Nicki Minaj raps on ‘Side to Side’ before Ariana Grande launches into the chorus. Is this pseudo sisterhood really the best example pop culture can provide?
Girl groups such as Fifth Harmony and in the past, Destiny's Child, TLC and the Spice Girls, beat the drum towards a more substantial offering; encouraging girls to uplift one another, and be emotionally and financially independent. Fifth Harmony ‘pledge allegiance to my independent girls, in here’ on single ‘Bo$$’, and promote sisterhood whilst referencing predecessors Destiny’s Child in most recent song, ‘That’s My Girl’:
You've been down before
You've been hurt before
You got up before
You'll be good to go, good to go
Destiny said it, you got to get up and get it
Get mad independent and don't you ever forget it
Got some dirt on your shoulder, then let me brush it off for ya
If you're feeling me, put your five high
That's my girl
When talking sisterhood in the literal sense, we cannot overlook the Kardashians. Whilst their E! reality show Keeping Up With the Kardashians may symbolise all that is wrong with modern society for some, for those who watch it the family embodies the true values of sisterhood. Older sisters Kim, Kourtney and Khloe, in particular, demonstrate a strong bond which despite occasional disagreements and handbag swinging (that was one time people), remains unbreakable. Loyalty is the Kardashian brand, and KUWTK is one of the few shows on which the focus on female friendships and sisterhood is unwavering. To quote Kim Kardashian herself, “when it really comes down to it, the most important thing is family.” They support and protect each other through 72-day marriages, divorce, parental gender reassignment, and abuse and criticism from the public and fellow celebrities, without question. The fiercest among them is Khloe, who has previously come to the defence of Caitlyn, Kylie, and Kim on Twitter, “I am a lion and these are my cubs,” she explained to Complex last year. “Don’t fuck with my cubs, ’cause I will rip your head off.” Whilst many may question and belittle their methods, there is no denying the authenticity of their sisterhood.
