S3 C1-C2 BIMBOS AND THE POWER OF PLAYING DUMB

slew/barrage of sth

A large, overwhelming amount of something.

slur

An offensive term used to insult or demean someone.

to squander sth

To waste something valuable or misuse an opportunity.

to fill the void

To numb emptiness or loneliness with something else.

dazzlingly beautiful

Extremely attractive in a striking way.

pink-latex-clad

Dressed in shiny, pink latex clothing.

to rise/shoot to prominence

To quickly become well-known.

ultra-feminine optics

An appearance that emphasizes hyper-femininity.

to strike a chord

To resonate emotionally or intellectually with someone.

adamantly anti-capitalist

Strongly opposed to capitalist values.

cadence

The rhythm or flow of speech.

buxom

Having a full, curvaceous figure, especially in the chest.

to span spectrums of weight, race, and class

To include a diverse range of body types, races, and social classes.

elitist

Relating to the idea that a select group of people are superior and deserve special privileges.

academic intelligence

The ability to excel in formal education.

to apply a fresh coat of lipgloss

To reapply lipgloss.

to reclaim one’s body in the name of independence

To take control of one’s body as an act of self-empowerment.

self-actualisation

Achieving one’s full potential or sense of fulfillment.

weaponised unintelligence

The act of using the appearance of being unintelligent as a manipulation tool.

beguiling manipulation

The act of using charm or allure to deceive or influence someone in a cunning way.

doe-eyed

Having large, innocent-looking eyes.

plagued by anxieties

Constantly troubled by worries.

a mirage of liberation

An illusion of freedom.

pariah

Someone who is rejected or excluded from society.

early aughts

The early 2000s.

to pine after sth

To long for or desire something intensely.

to lambast smb

To criticize someone harshly or severely.

to chide smb for sth

To scold or mildly criticize someone for something.

decked out in pink and glitter

Dressed extravagantly in pink and glitter.

self-loathing

Intense dislike or hatred of oneself.

gender equity

Gender equality.

to permeate sth

To spread throughout every part of something.

to purge misogyny from society

To eliminate misogyny from society.

to belittle hyperfemininity

To dismiss or mock hyperfemininity.

to fall from grace

To lose respect, status, or approval.

derision for women

Mockery or contempt directed at women.

antithetical

Directly opposed or contrasting to something.

ditzy

Silly or scatterbrained, often in a way that seems unintelligent.

spoiled

Overly indulged or accustomed to getting what one wants.

palatable for sth

Acceptable or appealing to a particular group.

chasms within feminism

Disagreements within feminism.

vapid

Lacking depth, intelligence, or originality.

profess to be deeper

To claim or pretend to have more substance.

less than

Inferior or not as good as something else.

to concede power

To give up or yield power or control.

to focus animus on femininity

Direct hostility toward femininity.

to perpetuate sth

To continue or keep something (often negative) in existence.

pink pumps

Pink high-heeled shoes.

to denigrate sth

To criticize or belittle something unfairly.

iteration of hyperfemininity

A version of hyperfemininity.

peddled to women

Promoted or sold to women, often in a manipulative way.

skewed bias

A distorted or unfair perspective.

to pit women against each other

To create competition between women.

tracksuit

A casual outfit consisting of a jacket and pants.

exposed thongs

Visible underwear, typically the back strap.

to have a predilection for

To have a strong preference for something.

copious amounts of eyeliner

A lot of eyeliner applied heavily.

to be roped into sth

To be persuaded or forced to participate in something.

mainstay color

A dominant or consistently popular color.

to come into fruition

To finally happen or be achieved after planning.

curvaceous

Having a body with pronounced curves.

busty bombshell

A glamorous woman with a large bust.

to exert the cultural pull

To have a strong influence on culture or society.

to suppress one’s femininity

To hide or downplay one’s feminine traits.

unabashed joy in your femininity

Open and proud joy that comes from expressing feminine qualities.

catfish

Someone who pretends to be someone else online.

to shield oneself from sth

To protect oneself from something.

to tout an ideology

To actively promote or advocate for a particular set of beliefs.

repercussions

Unintended consequences or effects of an action.

surface-level

Lacking depth; only addressing the most obvious aspects.

ingrained sexism

Deeply rooted and often unconscious sexism.

bimbo proponents

People who support bimboism.

self-objectification

Seeing or treating oneself as an object.

bolstered by sth

Strengthened or supported by something.

skimpy clothing

Revealing clothes.

to take on a character

To adopt a specific persona or role.

derogatory term

A phrase that conveys disrespect towards something.

sex object

A person reduced to their physical appearance.

sex appeal

The quality of being sexually attractive or alluring.

voluptuous body

A curvaceous figure.

multifaceted

Complex; having many aspects and layers.

to play into the airhead character/stereotype

To deliberately act in a way that reinforces the stereotype of being unintelligent or shallow.

to trivialize sth

To make something seem less significant, serious, or complex.

to water sth down

To weaken the strength, impact, or meaning of something.

bigoted

Holding strong, prejudiced and intolerant opinions.

to stay in the loop

To remain informed about a particular topic.

promiscuous

Engaging in sexual activity with multiple partners.

to pander to men

To deliberately appeal to male expectations.

to be coerced into sth

To be pressured or forced into doing something.

autonomous

Having the freedom and independence.

to cater to sth

To meet specific needs, desires, or expectations.

to put eurocentric beauty standards on a pedestal

To prioritize Western ideals of beauty.

choice feminism

A feminist perspective that views any choice a woman makes as inherently empowering, regardless of its societal implications.

intersectional feminism

A feminist approach that examines how overlapping systems of oppression (e.g., race, class, gender) shape women’s experiences.

to cherry pick

To selectively choose only the most favorable or convenient elements while ignoring the rest.

be-all and end-all

The most important part of something or the reason for something.

to turn a blind eye to

To deliberately ignore or overlook something.