As all 10 seasons of Friends were released on Netflix last week, young viewers found dozens of unexamined sexist, homophobic and abusive incidents in the sitcom. Is it time to banish other cultural milestones from the same decade?
Austin Powers – Historic sex abuser
Didn’t just abuse women in the 1960s but actually traveled through time so that he could abuse some more. And we are meant to root for him?
Britney Spears – Internalized sexism, underage sex promotion
OK, ‘Hit Me Baby One More Time’ wasn’t actually about domestic violence, but isn’t that schoolgirl outfit a pedophile magnet? And don’t even start with Born to Make You Happy.
Heroin chic – Body shaming
Don’t talk about ‘90s icons being too thin – because a body shape is not a crime. But also ban them from the catwalk for being too thin – because they are setting a bad example.
Wonderbra ads – Sexual objectification
The iconic scantily-clad poses reduce women to sex objects for the male gaze. Lingerie ads should not be allowed to be seen by men, and should feature women in overalls working in a factory, or in burqas, looking after children.
Spice Girls – Racist, sexist clichés
A series of offensively reductive identities. It’s not OK to call a fully-grown woman ‘Baby.’ And ‘Scary Spice’ just plays on insidious stereotypes about black women.
Pocahontas – With the best of intentions, everything
Whichever way you approach this, it is going to be cultural appropriation, noble savage mythmaking, and outright racist stereotyping. So, probably best just not make any movies about Native Americans at all, or wait until they build their own Disney.