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Feminism & Music Essay

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Marilynn Anderson
Pat McLeod
ENG 111
07/22/2022
There’s A New Woman in Town
From our hobbies, the clothes we wear, how we carry ourselves, who we find attractive;
it is all influenced by pop culture. As a woman in America, I find it essential to have the freedom
to express myself, to have rights to my body, and to be heard. One of the ways in which I find
solace as a female, is through the music I listen to. Music is a form of self-expression, and it is
always surrounding us, in a coffee shop, during a workout, on a long car ride, even on the side of
street. Music from the fourth wave of the feminist movement has allowed females and allies to
be more confident and open about their sexuality than any other era of the feminist movement.
The rise of the fourth wave of feminism came around 2010, with the increased use of
social media and being able to reach a larger audience. With advancements in technology,
females everywhere have been able to reach their targeted audience and have the freedom to
produce whatever they desire. According to Masterclass, the four main characteristics of fourthwave feminism is intersectionality, internationalism, solidarity, and decentralization. Fourthwave feminism also advocates for body positivity, trans-inclusivity, and equality opportunity for
people of color. As a result, female artists are free to share their identities, their struggles, and
their beliefs, in hopes of empowering other women.
In terms of female artists paving the way for future women, Madonna is the first to come
to mind. Shen states that she “fearlessly tackles subjects of sexuality, nudity, religion, and
feminism in a way that no one else in music has” (202). In an article by Glamour Magazine, she
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is applauded for her perseverance through “blatant sexism and misogyny and constant bullying
and relentless abuse”, where she has maintained a 40-year career. Growing up and listening to
Madonna was something I have carried with me into adulthood. Her outspoken personality,
courageous and eccentric style, and wild performances are empowering to me because they show
me that I am allowed to express myself with no regrets. Although her career started with the
release of “Like A Virgin” in 1984 (Shen 202), she has continued to support female artists. A
recent example included supporting Britney Spears and her conservatorship battle that flooded
social media back in 2021, according to PEOPLE.com.
As the fourth wave of feminism focuses on intersectionality, Black female artists like
Cardi B and Meghan Thee Stallion are reclaiming their femininity and sexuality one rhyme at a
time. In the battle for feminine rights among black woman, a blog post by Afterglow mentions
that “Cardi B and Meghan thee Stallion have become exceptions in a male-dominated industry…
their [overtly sexual] actions are not one-dimensional as they bring awareness to Black
womanhood through the celebration of Black bodies”. Both rappers have spoken out against
discrimination and oppression of both Black women and females in the music industry. On a
letter to The New York Times, Meghan wrote, “When women choose to capitalize on our
sexuality, to reclaim our own power, like I have, we are vilified and disrespected.”. She explains
that she is ridiculed for reclaiming her sexuality, but doesn’t the cisgendered white male profit
from an image of power, greed, an attractive physique? Cardi B also spoke out in an interview
with i-D stating that “being a feminist is real simple; it’s that a woman can do things the same as
a man… I can finesse, I can hustle. We have the same freedom”. These women have completely
changed the views on feminism, turning it into its simplest form: that a woman can embrace who
she is without regard to what society believes is the norm.
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Although music has been a source of self-expression throughout the feminist movement,
since the 2010s it has broadened the horizons for inclusivity in the musical world along with
supplying listeners with their own source of empowerment. According to Feminism in India, the
first and second wave brought about songs of suffrage, women’s voting rights, gender roles, and
female independence. Dolly Parton was also highly influential during these times as “not only a
feminist icon but also a very important figure to the LGBTQIA+ community for her outspoken,
unapologetic, and accepting personality”, as mentioned by Feminism in India. But how do these
achievements compare to the feminist goals of today? Artists are expanding. They are expanding
their audience through social media, breaking through the gender “barriers”, and using their
platforms to express who they truly are. In another article from Feminism in India, they point out
that, “…Disney stars like Selena Gomez, Miley Cyrus, and Demi Lovato, who had to face severe
criticism over the years for their public transition from child artists to adults, [are] taking
complete charge of their sexual expression.”. Looking at women who grew up in a misogynistic
industry and managed to fight for their rights and independence, has sparked a sense of “freedom
of expression” among “regular” civilians, that Nancy Sinatra’s These Boots are made for Walkin
(1996) could not have done on its own.
As a driving force for the fourth wave of the feminist movement is solidarity, more allies
have emerged such as the Black Lives Matter movement and the LGBTQIA+ community. With
smaller movements joining forces, there is has been a broadening of people who feel comfortable
with who they are regarding sexuality and race. Even male artists have chosen to speak out in the
fight for women’s equality, such as Harry Styles. The HelloGiggles blog even stated that Styles
“joined the #HeForShe movement in 2014” and “has shut down any line of discussion in
interviews that objectifies women or alludes to them being treated unjustly in any way”. Even
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Miley Cyrus has defied gender roles and expressed her sexuality, from growing out her armpit
hair and her involvement in #freethenipple. Society is starting to accept that gender norms are
changing, and a lot can be owed to the celebrities who took a stand to be themselves and be
positive influences on their followers.
Music from the fourth wave of the feminist movement has allowed females and allies to
be more confident and open about their sexuality than any other era of the feminist movement.
One can only imagine what this movement has in store for the world, yet we do have a long way
to go. As a woman, it is empowering to know that I can be who I want to be and that there is
music I can listen to when I feel constricted or controlled by the views of others. As an ally, I
will encourage to support this movement by rejecting the oppression of all women, to continue
the fight for reproductive rights, and to support a female artist in the feminist movement.
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Works Cited
Campione, Katie. “Madonna Supports Britney Spears amid Conservatorship Battle: 'Give This
Woman Her Life Back'.” PEOPLE.com, 9 July 2021, https://people.com/music/madonnaspeaks-out-in-support-of-britney-spears-amid-conservatorship-developments/.
Collins, Hattie. “Why the Whole World Is Talking about Cardi b.” i-D, 8 Feb. 2018, https://id.vice.com/en_uk/article/vbpe33/cardi-b-interview-2018.
Dunbar, Polly. “Music Is No Longer a Man's World Thanks to These Remarkable Women; the
Most Influential Feminist Musicians of the Past 60 Years.” Glamour UK, 15 July 2021,
https://www.glamourmagazine.co.uk/article/best-female-musicians.
“The Feminine Musique: Cardi, Megan, and Black Feminism.” Afterglow ATX, 6 Dec. 2021,
https://www.afterglowatx.com/blog/2021/12/6/the-feminine-musique-cardi-megan-andblack-feminism.
Mallick, Mrittika. “Sexism In The Music Industry: Gender Stereotypes & The Trivialisation of
Female Pop Musicians.” Feminism In India, 27 Nov. 2021,
https://feminisminindia.com/2021/11/29/sexism-in-the-music-industry-gender-stereotypesthe-trivialisation-of-female-pop-musicians/.
MasterClass. “Fourth-Wave Feminism Explained.” MasterClass, MasterClass, 12 Mar. 2022,
https://www.masterclass.com/articles/fourth-wavefeminism#4dBCQzTaPuzqMWaDcfX1tH.
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Works Cited
Phillips, Hedy. “7 Times Harry Styles Proved He's Actually Our Feminist Prince.” HelloGiggles,
1 Feb. 2021, https://hellogiggles.com/celebrity/harry-styles-feminist-quotes/.
Ramnath, Aarthi. “Tracing The History and Role Of Music In The Evolution Of Feminist
Movements.” Feminism In India, 3 Jan. 2022,
https://feminisminindia.com/2021/12/03/tracing-the-history-and-role-of-music-in-theevolution-of-feminist-movements/.
Shen, Ann. Bad Girls Throughout History: 100 Remarkable Women Who Changed The World.
Chronicle Books, 2016.
Stallion, Megan Thee. “Megan Thee Stallion: Why I Speak up for Black Women.” The New York
Times, The New York Times, 13 Oct. 2020,
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/13/opinion/megan-thee-stallion-black-women.html.
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