From pink movie theater outfits to friendship bracelets and sparkly cowboy hats, no one anticipated the impact women had on the economy this summer.

Safe to say, this year was one of the biggest for women to showcase their artwork in the entertainment industry. The production of “Barbie,” directed by Greta Gerwig surpassed one billion dollars in the global box office; this movie was the first solo female directed film to accomplish that. Considering Hollywood’s history of sexism, this movie broke barriers for women working in entertainment.

Not only did this phenomenon take place in Hollywood, women entertainers also greatly contributed to economic growth through the music industry. Taylor Swift’s highly anticipated “Eras Tour” generated $320 million dollars for the US economy, compared to her previous “Reputation Tour” which generated $191.1 million dollars. This summer–following a long five year hiatus–Swift made a return to touring, taking fans through her 13 year career. With stadium earthquakes and marked up ticket prices, I think it’s clear to see that Swift’s hardwork and effort was finally being recognized across the country. 

Beyonce, running the world with her “Renaissance” tour, sold out of tickets on Ticketmaster within a matter of seconds. As the first female Black woman to sell out in a multitude of stadiums, Beyonce is a great example of representation for the Black community. From her iconic “Single Ladies” to now, she is truly the biggest sensation world-wide, making $127.6 million in her first month on tour.

To answer the real question, why are people going insane over these women now? These women have created a unified culture through their productions made. Dressing up in pink for the “Barbie” movie and dressing up in an outfit pertaining to one’s favorite album was healing to our girlhood. It is almost as if I have been witnessing these women grow up and mature into the people they are today.

Although there is still a double standard that is put upon women even to this day, this summer was a big win for women in this industry as a whole. Not only did they break historical barriers for entertainment, they showcased what it truly means being a girl. My best memories of my childhood were when I would play with Barbie dolls and listen to “Halo” by Beyonce. I believe that the strong and emotional bond with these women is what boosted the economy. After centuries of women being seen as inferior to men in these industries, I hope to see more success from talented women in the near future.