Attention all women! Congratulations! You are women! And from Jan. 5-11, you should feel free to be as empowered as you wish, because this is the one week of the year in which we are encouraged to do so! Sure, it seems like something that should go without saying — like how my dad used to insist that there isn’t a "Children’s Day" because every day is Children’s Day — but then I turn on any form of media and I find my fellow females debasing themselves in all sorts of exciting new ways and I think to myself, "Well, maybe we do need one of these."
So when my darling editor Mike Bruno asked if anyone wanted to write something to commemorate this splendid occasion, I volunteered. Then I wrote like 27 different really shrill posts — several of which involved decrying the ongoing usage and seeming acceptance of the term "cougar" to describe any woman who has decided not to shrivel up and die in her mid-30s — before settling on the following:
I am declaring my personal mascot for Women’s Self-Empowerment Week to be Lily Allen (pictured)! I cannot wait for her new album, It’s Not Me, It’s You. Below, I have embedded the video for the first single, "The Fear," and I have also included a bonus embed of her cover of Britney Spears’ "Womanizer," which does the impossible and actually finds something resembling human emotion within the half-English of that chorus. (Oh, Britney Spears. Please take full advantage of this week!)
Why is Lily Allen my WS-EW Queen? It’s quite simple: Because she became famous for wearing trainers with prom dresses. Because she curses like a really smart sailor. Because she suffered true tragedy quietly, but suffers small indignities as loud as she can. Because she hates Perez. Because she does what she wants, when she wants, and doesn’t apologize for it, unless she does apologize for it, and then it’s the least apologetic apology you’ll ever hear. She is fully herself at all times, even as she’s still figuring out who that self is, and really couldn’t give a rip whether that’s okay with anyone or not. And that, my estrogen buddies, is the definition of empowered. Actually, screw that: Lily Allen is just plain powerful. I hate the idea that as women we need to tiptoe up to our strength like a heavy barbell and be condescendingly applauded when we lift it. Argh. Oh, there I go getting shrill again.
Anyway. PopWatchers! Who are your Women’s Self-Empowerment Week Mascots? Can be singers, actresses, newswomen (you go, Campbell Brown), authors, whatever. Raise your voices, sisters! Let the river run!
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I love Lily Allen’s cover of “Womanizer!” It’s better that Yael Naim’s rendition of “Toxic,” IMO.
very nice!!
My WS-EW mascot is M.I.A. because she’s risen above her past to become successful and she speaks her mind, unlike most female celebrities *cough*anyone employed by Disney*cough*
Tina Fey. Smart, funny and (gasp!) attractive? Her own TV show, already legendary political impression and movie star who writes her own words? Couldn’t be. Name one female SNL alum as successful. Actually don’t because you can’t. Thank you, Tina, for proving us girls can be smart and funny (on PURPOSE) too!
I totally agree with Lily Allen. Thanks for the videos!
Thank you Whitney for saying like it is. I am so tired of having to justify who I am just because I am female. I am a 41-yr geologist, who works in a male dominated world and I love it. I also can curse like a solider (former Army brat), drink anyone under the table, but I also love my Prada purses, high heels and Project Runway. I am also the mother of two beautiful teenage girls and making sure that they grow up with the same self-confidence that my parents instilled in me is my highest priority.
Bjork. Also, Lily Allen is great.
Also, remember a year or two ago when everyone was comparing Amy Winehouse and Lily Allen and trying to decide who was better? Well, can I go ahead call it in Lily’s favor? Look at the two of them now and I think we can see which one is in it for the long haul.
Storm Large (one of the contestants from Rock Star Supernova) She’s not afraid to be herself. Her song “Ladylike” is my anthem!
And Tina Fey made it “acceptable” for women to wear glasses.
I also have to give America Ferrera credit for being a young celebrity who seems to realize that–gasp!–there’s more going on in the world than clubbing and the like.
Gotta jump on the Tina Fey bandwagon. She didn’t just have a great year, she’s been smartening up TV for almost a decade. GO TINA!
She drinks (only sometimes) she smokes, she uses foul language, (only sometimes) and she takes the piss out of people that are asking for it! Do I Like her for that? HELL YEAH I LOVE HER FOR THAT!
Meryl Streep
Natalie Portman
Imogen Heap
Dido
Alicia Keys
Kate Winslet = crazy awesome.
Kate Winslet.
Jennifer Garner–for being so darn nice.
And ass-kicking as Sydney Bristow.
Toni Morrison, Tina Fey, Oprah and Curtis Sittenfeld
campbell brown has absolutely no personality or gravitas. i find it laughable that she hosts a show called “no bull no bias”. please.
anyway, my shout-outs to great women go to: MICHELLE OBAMA, JILL BIDEN, CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CATE BLANCHETT, GWEN IFILL, VIOLA DAVIS and MERYL STREEP. awesome, inspiring women right there.
ohh i almost forgot
Eve Ensler – for inspiring women and starting a tradition thats still continuing 11 years later
and Heather Raffo – “9 Parts of Desire” is just magnificent
my American Theatre History teacher for telling her students to question everything and instilling in us the drive to “Eat the world or the world will eat you.”
I’ll go with Tina Fey. Smart. Funny. “I’ll make my OWN way in this biz if I have to” attitude.
I’d also like to throw P!nk into the mix. No BS and her “I am who I am with no apologies” way is, I think, pretty amazing!
Great post. Not sure why everyone has to look to celebrities in this case, though. My mascot? My mother. I admire her because she is a 54-year-old woman who has always done what she wanted to do and has never let the haters get her down. Not once. I try to emulate her every day.
I love Helen Mirren. She is so sexy and talented and down to earth and, what, 60-ish? She is fabulous!!
Okay, I am loving this comment thread, keep ‘em coming! But fancypants, I’ll fight you on the Campbell Brown thing– I adore her. She smirks just right. Tina Fey, of course, of course, and Moxie, Pink was a close runner-up to Lily Allen for the star of this post. Finally, to everyone who’s praising the real women in their own lives– teachers, daughters, mothers– I say a big HELLS YES.
Great post Whitney, really great.
My WS-EW mascot has to be Tina Fey. I still cannot understand how she was not chosen EW’s 2008 Entertainer of the Year. I mean, seriously, what else did she have to do this year to get it?
I commend Lily Allen for living her life how she wants to live it. I resent the prominent idea here, however, that in order for a woman to seem “self-empowered” she has to be a drinking, smoking, swearing, provocative She-Ra. Nothing wrong with that either, of course, I’m just saying that plenty of women live quiet, subtle, yet just as empowered lives, full of grace. How about a big round of kudos for any woman who makes her enjoyment of her life experiences more important than the number on the scale; who is unapologetically herself–girly-girl as she wants to be or as She-Ra as possible; who knows when to take care of others and when to let others take care of her; who lives life in the public eye with grace and wit; and who cares about the legacy she leaves, because there’s nothing more self-empowering than helping others empower themselves!
hooray!: That was very nicely put. I am rarely full of grace myself, but I do so admire those who are. Thanks for reminding all of us that there’s different definitions of power.
my girl power hero has always been NINA SIMONE! when she sings happy, i can’t help but feel joyous, and when she sings sad, i bawl.
Ok, Whitney. If you read this or respond, tell me, why has Campbell suddenly decided to inject her opinion into the news? Wasn’t she all about just reporting the facts, and letting the viewer decide? At least whenever she filled in on Today, when she was NBC? While I don’t entirely dislike her, I do feel that she presents her opinion as though they have more weight than anyone elses. As much as you love Campbell, you have got to admit that she does not have the presence or gravitas to deliver opinions like, say, the late great Tim Russert or Christiane Amanpour, although they rarely gave/give opinions. Plus I think it is of note that Campbell is married to a Republican strategist – Dan Senor. That might not mean much, I mean look at Carville and Matalin, but then again, their relationship is not the norm. Plus, Soledad O’Brien and Suzanne Malveaux are waaay better (and Harvard grads).
hooray! – well said! I’m wondering if we’ll all be paid 30 cents more an hour this week, to make up for the fact that women make 70 cents to every dollar men make. We’ve come a long way, baby, but we’re not there yet.
Robyn 100%! Her quiet departure from her record label and delightfully unique brand of strong femininity makes me wish I had hairless armpits just so I could start growing them out.
fancypants: just out of curiosity, why Jill Biden? Because she’s married to the Vice President to Barack Obama? If that’s the reason, that’s so NOT self-empowerment.