Empowerment Redefined: Does Espresso Miss the Mark?

• 25020047
• Oct 7, 2024
• 1 min read

On a superficial level, Espresso comes off as this hyper-energized, in-your-face kind of confidence and taking-control anthem. Sabrina comes off pretty forward, sure of herself, and the words could arguably be one form of empowerment that Gen-Z can easily get behind. Take, for example, the bars: ‘I’m the one running the show, getting what I deserve.’ Those are some boss-energy vibes right there. Espresso heavily relies on the performance of confidence related to material success and appearance. In the music video, Carpenter is in a very stylized, trendy environment and really projects power and control. There’s, of course, nothing wrong with confidence, but this indicates that external validation—a concept that might be reinforcing potentially toxic media-driven narratives about women’s worth related to how they appear or what they have—is where it comes from.

This rather myopic view of empowerment could be seen as problematic when one considers existing expectations placed upon the women of Gen-Z. Rather than empowering women to explore inside themselves for motivations, these songs—especially Espresso—plant ideas that one’s self-worth is dependent upon external factors: success, beauty, and social status.

As we continue to dissect pop culture, let us strive for the kind of narratives that emancipate at the core, not just superficially.