Anderson 1 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 Anderson 2 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. Anderson 3 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 Anderson 4 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. Anderson 5 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. Anderson 6 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.
