A shift is happening within feminism once again, much like it did in the 1970s and 80s. In those decades, the feminist movement experienced a war within itself known as the “Feminist Sex Wars.”
This period is often reduced to a black-and-white issue, but it has many sides to it. Ultimately, the debates that were had during this time helped shape the way consent and power work within the pornography industry. One of the arguments was how some people viewed porn as violence against women, and the others emphasized sexual autonomy and viewed sex work as an occupation. During this time, the main debate was whether women embracing sex without critique inadvertently reinforced patriarchal power. Now, in 2025, it seems society may enter another “Feminist Sex War.”
Many among Generation Z view sex and porn differently from previous generations. Gen Zers are seen as being less sex positive than previous generations. Due to their easy access to the internet and porn, Gen Zers have arguably been the most exposed to this form of content.
This generation has seen how pornography’s influence has affected how people have sex. Billie Eilish, an American singer-songwriter and Gen Zer, has even discussed how porn influenced her sexual choices as a young adult. While there are many valid critiques of porn and how it portrays women's sexual experiences, such as how it focuses on male pleasure, the overall shift to more anti-sex feminism is dangerous to the progress of the feminist movement.
In pop culture today, many women are sexual, and it is seen as empowering until it crosses an invisible line. In society's mind, those performers are now for the male gaze and can no longer be both sexual and empowered.
Take Sabrina Carpenter and her upcoming album “Man’s Best Friend” as an example. The album cover has caused a lot of controversy online, and people are criticizing it as anti-feminist. The cover depicts Carpenter on her hands and knees with a man pulling her hair. People have commented on this cover, saying it is “misogynistic” and even labeling Carpenter as too “male centered.” While the cover is of Carpenter in a submissive pose, it does not equate to setting back feminism.
The assumption that a submissive pose is degrading women is harmful to those with domination/subordination kinks to begin with. What people do in bed is not reflective of the type of person they are. In fact, sexual fantasies often subvert who one is in real life. In dom/sub play, the sub is just as in control of the scene as the dom is. In short, a sub in the bedroom can, and is often empowered in their real life, i.e., Babygirl.
Carpenter is also not playing to the male gaze, as some claim. By definition, the male gaze is a “way of portraying and looking at women that empowers men while sexualizing and diminishing women.” Carpenter is not pandering herself toward a male audience or letting herself be sexualized by others. Rather, she is embracing her own autonomy and sexualizing herself. So, is she really being objectified and centering the male gaze if she is choosing when and how to be sexual?
Feminism cannot survive if society continues to ridicule women for making choices about their own bodies and image. If feminism today feels threatened by an album cover, maybe the issue isn’t with the cover, but rather with the narrow definition of empowerment. Just like during the “Feminist Sex Wars,” the conversation today is risking a collapse into judgment and not actual conversation. Feminist views on sex must evolve and make room for complexity, contradiction and choice.
BedPost is a sex and relationship column that does not reflect the views of The Post.
