Girl Power: Why a Spice Girls reunion is needed in 2018

Remember the nineties? It was the decade when music empowered women to be exactly (and whatever) they wanted to be. Whitney Houston was all “I’m Every Woman” and Alanis Morissette reminded us that it’s okay to call out a man for making a mess of our lives in “You Oughta Know”. It was a decade of girl power, and no group embodied that theme more than the Spice Girls. These five women came together to tell us what they want, what they really, really want, and they were proud to speak their minds and encouraged other women to do the same.

Yet, 24 years after the band was first formed, gender inequality is still as prevalent as ever. The gender pay gap still exists globally, with EU reports saying Irish women earn an average of 13.9 per cent less than our male counterparts. Not only that, but sexual assault is still a blight on our society and many of us are discouraged from reporting such crimes for fear of being brushed off or disbelieved.

 

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If normal, everyday women are to find the courage to stand up for themselves, we need the support of powerful women in the media. Thankfully, celebrities like Jessica Chastain, Oprah Winfrey and Reese Witherspoon are speaking out against inequality, with the Time’s Up movement gaining momentum every day – but their speeches only go so far. We need to bring back the empowering music of the nineties and indulge ourselves in new, strong, feminist anthems.

Enter the Spice Girls once more, who are rumoured to be planning a spectacular reunion. Victoria Beckham, Geri Horner, Mel B, Mel C and Emma Bunton reunited with their former manager, Simon Fuller, at Geri’s house last week, sharing a cryptic message on Instagram about how ‘Friendship never ends’. Fans have taken this as almost confirmation that the band is back together – and quite frankly, we’re on board. We live in a time where women are finally finding the support and nerve to stand up for what is right, what is fair, and what we’re entitled to. If the Spice Girls can bring the message of girl power, independence and equality to the fore after 18 years apart, then surely anything is possible.