I’m going to preface this article by saying that I love Sabrina Carpenter. So obviously when I’m speaking with my coworker a few months back and trying to explain who Sabrina is to him, I’m left speechless when our other coworker speaks up and says “oh, she’s the slutty one.” Now – if you know me, then you’re more than aware that I can’t keep a poker face to save my life. To make this easier for you, picture this: my jaw on the floor, and a very clear rage brewing behind my eyes. Despite the plethora of other deep-rooted issues in such a statement, my main problems were these: 1) Who the hell does that description help? 2) Why does a woman expressing her sexuality have to equate to her being “slutty”?
A woman’s choice to express her sexuality has been a non-issue “issue,” for as long as I can remember (which isn’t very long given I was born in 2008, but you get my point). However, it’s 2026; it shouldn’t be a crime for Sabrina to say that she wants to give a “house tour”! Recently, especially following Sabrina’s release of “Man’s Best Friend” in August 2025, there has been online discourse regarding whether or not the album cover is setting women back 500 years (for anyone confused– she’s on her hands and knees with a man off-screen holding her hair). While in hindsight the image might be a little shocking, if you engage in a teensy-weensy bit of critical thinking, you’ll realize that she’s not setting anybody back. In fact, the internet being up-in-arms about her image and lyrics having sexual themes lies in our society’s slow return to puritanical values. That’s right people– purity culture! You might be thinking “didn’t we let that go, like, a million years ago?” and while the answer should be yes, our society and its insatiable need to rehash trends that demean women has struck once more.
I come here to you, as a self-proclaimed Sabrina Carpenter connoisseur, to explain why I believe that my pop princess is fighting on the front lines in this battle against purity culture. Is she aware she’s doing this? Maybe, maybe not. However, I am.
Before I freak you out any more with my unconditional love for Sabrina Carpenter, let me unpack the origins of this recent return to puritanical ideals. There is a major difference between the release date of “Short and Sweet” and “Man’s Best Friend.” Surprise– it’s the administrations that they were released under! “Short and Sweet” was released on the tail-end of Biden’s administration, and while her sexual lyricism didn’t go completely unnoticed (note: “Bed Chem” and “Taste”), the album did not face nearly as much backlash as that of “Man’s Best Friend” until Sabrina kick-started her tour. In this new administration, with legislation ever-changing and the goal to restore America to its “former glory,” modesty and purity culture have made their comeback. Our society is operating off of the belief that everybody exercises the same religious values. We’ve backslid into the idea that women being comfortable with their sexuality, and being sexual is completely unthought of. Heaven forbid a repressed young woman in college expresses her wants and needs! (Sorry– too personal?)
Here’s where Sabrina comes in. If you’ve seen photos, videos, or actually attended the Short And Sweet tour that spanned a whopping 14 months from September 2024 to November 2025, then you’ll know that it was a heated performance. Sex, fuzzy pink handcuffs, new positions, and the cutest damn outfit changes you’ve ever seen! Not to mention, all of the Sabrina fans coming together, dressed head-to-toe in whatever lingerie they could find. This alone– a gathering of women who aren’t afraid to show their sexuality, actively squashes this revived idea of purity and modesty. News flash: women are sexy, and they’re horny too. Sabrina actively combats puritanical ideas in a few parts of the show (if not all): the “Bed Chem” outro, the “Juno” surprise position, and her iconic towel removal before “Taste.”
In the famous “Bed Chem” outro, Sabrina makes a little show of her and one of her dancers going to bed together, doing something different every show night. This bit isn’t popular because people are shocked to see a woman in this context, but rather because it’s exciting, and hot. Nothing is better than a woman taking control of her sexuality! The viral “Juno” surprise features Sabrina going into a random sex position at the part of the song where she sings “have you ever tried this one?”, which always ended in an array of applause. And finally, the towel removal at the beginning of the show is fun, cute, and reveals Sabrina’s iconic bodysuits.
Following the release of “Man’s Best Friend” in the middle of the tour, more online discussions were demeaning Sabrina for her performances, and making the claim that her behavior is actively setting back women’s movements (yeah– because out of everything going on in the world, Sabrina Carpenter is what’s setting us back). However, I think Sabrina’s choices regarding the album cover, the lyrics, and her image in general, are all indicators of how much control she really has. Sabrina wants to have sex, she has. The album acknowledges Sabrina’s sexual nature as a part of her in a casual way, which is exactly how it is. This thwarts the puritanical idea that if a woman is sexual, then she is not respectable or entitled to her own womanhood.
Sabrina’s freely expressed sexuality is admirable, and inspiring. Women, especially recently, are told that being sexual is “unladylike,” and to be comfortable with your sexuality is even worse. Sabrina’s albums show that purity culture does not have the grounds to survive in our modern society, and that women can and will be sexual. With any luck, she’ll be announcing a “Man’s Best Friend” tour that–crossing my fingers– is hornier, steamier, and one hell of a time.