Double Dare Ya

In “Sluts and Riot Grrrls: Female Identity and Sexual Agency,” Attwood examines the ways in which women in popular culture have taken the generally derogatory term ‘slut’ and have turned it around to gain sexual agency over their own bodies. She looks specifically at the Riot Grrrl movement of the 1990s, a feminist punk movement that aimed to empower young women and promote a DIY (do-it-yourself) ethic.

Attwood argues that the term ‘slut’ has been used historically to police women’s sexuality and reinforce patriarchal norms of sexual purity and control. However, in the hands of Riot Grrrls, the term was reclaimed and repurposed as a way to reject these norms and assert sexual agency. Riot Grrrls celebrated sexual desire and experimentation as a way of asserting their own power and resisting dominant cultural narratives about women’s sexuality.

My work “Agency” is a response to the article by Attwood. The piece depicts Kathleen Hanna, the lead singer of the punk band Bikini Kill, singing her lyrics “Dare you to do what you want, dare you to be who you will” in front of a wall full of Barbies.


When I began thinking about the concept of agency and the ability to control one’s own body and identity, I immediately thought of Barbie. She is a symbol of the many roles and possibilities that women can inhabit, all at once if they choose. The wall full of Barbies represents the many societal expectations and pressures placed on women to conform to certain roles and behaviors. However, through Kathleen’s powerful performance, she challenges and disrupts these expectations, empowering women to take control of their own lives.

The use of photoshop allowed me to create a vivid and visually striking piece that highlights the contrast between Kathleen’s bold and unapologetic performance and the passive, static nature of the Barbie dolls. Through her lyrics and presence, Kathleen embodies the spirit of agency and inspires others to break free from societal constraints and live on their own terms.

“Agency” celebrates the power of self-expression and the importance of having agency over one’s own body and identity. By reclaiming derogatory terms and challenging societal expectations, women can gain the freedom to be their true selves and pursue their dreams without fear or shame.