Between Empowerment and Commodification: A Feminist Literary Criticism on Girls by Girls’ Generation

This study employs a feminist literary criticism approach to analyze the song lyrics of Girls by the K-pop girl group Girls’ Generation, exploring how the poetic language and metaphors convey themes of women’s empowerment, solidarity, and resilience. The analysis reveals that the lyrics portray women as active subjects in a shared struggle, determined to move forward and support one another in the face of challenges. The metaphors of a journey and blooming flowers symbolize women’s collective experiences and their ability to create change and hope in a patriarchal world. The song encourages women to embrace their authentic selves, own their mistakes, and continue striving towards a brighter future. Through the lens of feminist literary criticism, “Girls” can be interpreted as a work of popular literature that inserts a discourse of resistance against unequal social structures while elevating female identity and solidarity. The poetic language and affirming tone effectively convey an emancipatory message, making the song not only a cultural product but also a literary means of promoting gender awareness and equality. This study highlights the potential of popular music to serve as an alternative discourse, expanding spaces for women’s expression and strengthening their collective voice in the pursuit of a more equitable society.