Stranger Things finally makes room for girlhood nostalgia — kinda

polygon.com:

Stranger Things revels in the nostalgia and the aesthetic of the 1980s — but that nostalgia is presented in a very limited scope. Throughout its four seasons, the Netflix show celebrates what little boys who grew up in predominantly white suburbs in the ’80s loved, and not much else. It makes sense, considering the creators themselves were little boys during that decade. The Duffer brothers have been open about their influences and all the references in the show, which have translated into the main characters’ passions: Ghostbusters, Dungeons & Dragons, and Dig Dug, to name a few.

None of those things are blatantly anti-girl, but they’re still tailored overwhelmingly to boys. And yes, there are plenty of ’80s hallmarks in the show that are more universal concepts, like mega-malls and New Coke. But Stranger Thingshas a distinct lack of ’80s pop culture elements that girls specifically would have enjoyed. Where are the fashion plates? The Jem and the Holograms or Barbie dolls? The stocks of Sweet Valley High books? There may be one or two Strawberry Shortcake costumes in the background, but there is a lack of other girly things because most of the main female characters in the show simply prefer the things that the boys enjoy. It speaks not just to how the female characters are treated in the show, but also the greater culture phenomenon of elevating boyhood interests over girlhood ones.

But with the introduction of Lucas’ sister, Erica (Priah Ferguson), as a main character last season and an expansion of Max’s interests this season, Stranger Things has slowly started to acknowledge that girl things are worth remembering too. Well, kinda.

[Ed. note: This essay contains some spoilers for Stranger Things season 4 part 1.]