Sexual Liberation or Setback?

from And That's On Equity Hosted by UBC WEC

When we think of women’s advocacy, we often focus on representation in male-dominated fields, access to education, and reproductive choice – but what about sexual freedom? In this episode, Iman, Wesley, Christine and Asia from the Women Empowerment Club explore how evolving media and pop culture shape the complex relationship between body and power. Kicking things off with Sabrina Carpenter’s latest album, Man’s Best Friend, we unpack the controversy around its cover art, the infantilizing Disney pipeline, and how sex appeal often correlated with commercial success. Drawing on her CBS Mornings interview and reactions in Harper’s Bazaar, we discuss to what extent Sabrina toes the line between taking ownership of her sexuality or reversing feminist progress by reinforcing the male gaze. The conversation further dives into the sexualization of Halloween costumes: As noted in Mean Girls, why is it the “one night a year a girl can dress like a total slut and no one can say anything about it?” How do these traditions reflect deeper patriarchal values and what does empowerment really look like? This episode challenges listeners to think critically about the media they consume and to support women in redefining what sexual ownership means to them.