Britney Spears' predominance as a pre-teen pop culture icon cannot be denied or ignored. Spears, along with her colleagues Christina Aguilera, Jessica Simpson, Mandy Moore and many others, are always on the "Top 40", make frequent appearances on MTV and can often be found on magazine covers and in photo spreads . Spears is particularly popular among preteen girls, who buy her records, singing and dancing to the lyrics. These lyrics often deal with topics of love, lust and sex that some consider too mature for the young girls targeted by Spears' marketing. Young women today are maturing earlier and earlier, and the sexual messages in Spears' songs may simply satisfy an existing demand for these types of songs. On the other hand, her sexy image and provocative lyrics could create demand among young women, sending harmful messages about what it means to be a young woman in American culture. Is Britney Spears the new manifestation of “girl power” and does that make her a feminist role model? Or does it perpetuate stereotypes of thin women as sex symbols? Does it offer girls a healthy way to examine their sexuality? Or is she forcing sexuality on young girls before they are ready? These are the questions I wish to explore. It is too early to assess Spears' lasting influence on young women and the feminist movement. However, by making comparisons to the girl groups of the early 1960s, whose influence can now be analyzed, then perhaps Spears can be better understood in the present. In her article Why The Shirelles Mattered, Susan Douglas reflects on groups like the Shirelles and their impact on the girls who listened to them. Overall, Doug... middle of paper ... instead of the other essentials to a young girl's development. Additionally, the sexuality Spears portrays conforms to traditional white beauty standards that many young girls will struggle to meet, which can harm their self-esteem and confidence. Despite her flaws as an adequate role model, Britney Spears has a considerable number of pre-teen fans, who learn about beauty, sexuality and femininity through her. It will be interesting to see how this generation of girls will contribute to the feminist movement as they grow up. Works Cited Douglas, Susan. “Why the Shirelles were important.” Excerpted from Reading Women's Lives, edited by CayoGamber. Second edition, 2000. “Pop idolatry can be dangerous for girls. » Marketing to Women, 13(9): 8, September 2000. http://www.britneyzone.com/