it feels to me like Miley is at an age where she is pushing the boundaries and discovering herself (we all went through that) and she is justifying her behaviour by suggesting it is empowering. many young girls do that. they think it is grown up to take off your clothes and that they are in charge. When the time comes and they realise that they are not in charge and never were it is extremely demoralising and upsetting.
At that age putting your own empowered feelings together with men getting their jollies from the way you look - is a hard ask. it makes no sense to you. you like it, but it scares you. it feels right and wrong all at once. it is such a hard path to tread and to do it in the limelight is even harder.
using your sexuality is an important skill to learn - after all we are all sexual. However, understanding that it can be demeaning, setting a poor example and that men want you to do it - upset that feeling of empowerment. At 20 years of age Miley has little idea of feminism, her own ability to attract men and the impact she has on impressionable youngsters.
I am 40 and still have trouble understanding that dynamic.
My own cropped hair is a direct influence from Sinead too - cut the first time at age 20 just as Miley did. I also found it empowering and still do.