Miss Piggy received the Sackler Center for Feminist Art’s First Award on Wednesday at the Brooklyn Museum. The honor, presented by Gloria Steinem and Elizabeth Sackler, recognizes women who are first in their fields and exhibit tenacity and strength. Piggy joins a roster of laureates including Sandra Day O’Connor, Toni Morrison, and Anita Hill.
The ceremony marks a curious intersection of high-art feminism and Muppet mayhem. For the Sackler Center, the choice isn’t a joke; it’s a statement on ambition. By awarding a puppet, the center highlights the universal struggle for recognition and the grit required to occupy space in a world that often views female ambition as “too much.”
Why did Elizabeth Sackler choose a Muppet for a feminist award?
Elizabeth Sackler, the founder-namesake of the awards, told MSNBC that Miss Piggy “completely fit the bill” due to her intelligence, strategy, and sense of humor. Sackler emphasized that Piggy embodies the belief that “who you are is all you need to be and [to] really go for it.”
In a statement to USA Today, Sackler added that Piggy possesses “spirit,” “determination,” and “grit.” She argued that Piggy has inspired children to embrace their authentic selves, a sentiment Sackler says “squares very directly with feminism.” This alignment suggests the award focuses less on political purity and more on the act of unapologetic self-assertion.
The Brooklyn Museum, where the event took place, has long served as a hub for the Sackler Center for Feminist Art, aiming to challenge traditional narratives of gender and power through visual and performance art.
How does Piggy’s history conflict with feminist values?
The appointment hasn’t been without friction. Critics, as noted by MSNBC, point to Piggy’s volatile and often “leech-y” relationship with Kermit as a contradiction to the empowerment the award celebrates. More pointedly, Piggy has previously gone on record stating she is “not a feminist,” creating a gap between her behavior and her stated ideology.
This tension mirrors a broader cultural debate regarding “choice feminism”—the idea that any choice a woman makes is a feminist choice if she chooses it. Piggy’s brand of feminism is less about systemic policy change and more about individual dominance and the pursuit of glamour and fame.
Piggy addressed these contradictions head-on during her acceptance speech. In a move that was as sudden as her trademark karate chops, she announced to the audience, “As of today, I am a feminist.”
What is the legacy of the Sackler Center’s First Award?
By placing a Muppet alongside figures like Sandra Day O’Connor and Toni Morrison, the Sackler Center is intentionally blurring the line between cultural icons and political pioneers. The “First Award” is designed to honor those who broke ceilings in their respective domains, regardless of whether those domains are the Supreme Court or the variety show circuit.
The inclusion of Gloria Steinem lends the event significant institutional weight. Steinem’s participation suggests that the movement has room for the “diva” archetype—the woman who refuses to be modest or quiet in her demands for success.
This event serves as a reminder that feminism is not a monolith. It encompasses both the rigorous legal battles for equality and the performative, often humorous, insistence on one’s own importance. Miss Piggy, in her sequins and pearls, represents the raw, unfiltered desire for power and attention that often precedes formal political liberation.
Does the “diva” persona empower women by demanding the spotlight, or does it distract from the systemic work of equality? If a puppet can claim the mantle of feminism through sheer force of personality, it begs the question: is tenacity alone enough to define the movement? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
