From the dawn of time up until now, women have faced a slew of problems including but not limited to political exclusion, slut shaming, glass ceilings, objectification, child marriage, periods, rape culture, misogyny, sex trafficking, street harassment, female infanticide and wage gaps. Maybe you've experienced or witness some, most, or all of these. Chances are that if you identify as a woman, you've struggled with some serious lady problems at one point or another. Here are a few amazing songs that touch upon a number of feminine pains.

1. Crimson Wave by Taco Cat

From the band that brought you the newly revived Powerpuff Girls’ theme song comes an anthem of menstruation woes. It’s just that time of the month when everything hurts and you “ask mother nature ‘why why why?’” and try to find a comfortable position to lay in. There’s nothing really fun about periods, but this song is still a fun jam.

2. Pretty Hurts by Beyoncé

Beyonce has never failed to touch upon a lot of feminist topics and has given us empowering songs like “Who Run the World” and “Single Ladies”. One of the more melancholic talks about the negative effects societal beauty standards and depicts a beauty pageant in the music video, asking “are you really happy with yourself?” This entire song gives me goosebumps.

3. STFU by Malka Red

Brown University Graduate Malka Red made headlines this summer when her music video for “Boy Booty” went viral. In another single of hers, she flips the table on mansplaining, She raps about meeting a scientist at a party and hitting on him condescendingly (“Aw look at you hippie dude, do you know about CO2? Do you wear a lab coat and goggles too? He’s a man and a scientist – it’s adorable!”) as well as harassing men on the street. Hopefully flipping the perspective will make some people think.

4. You Don’t Own Me by Lesley Gore

Though Lesley is singing about a guy constantly trying to restrict her from living her life while she’s with him, this is still an experience most women could probably relate to. Men do have a history of trying to keep women in line, under control, prevent them from becoming too autonomous. And often times when dating, guys are known to try to control what their girlfriends wear, who they see, where they go, and what they do (though girls absolutely can be guilty of this as well). Whether it’s in a relationship, workplace, friendship, or family, I agree with Lesley when she reminds her beau “you don’t own me, don’t try to change me in any way.”

5. Defined Lines by Auckland Law Revue

Robin Thicke pissed off a number of people with his rapey “Blurred Lines,” so a group of girls got together and made this music video in response, sharing their manifesto. “We’re feeling the frustration from all the exploitation,” they sing as nearly naked men paw at them in imitation of the original video. They absolutely drag the patriarchy’s sexist ways and I am 100 percent here for it. #SmartandScholastic

6. Alphabet Boy by Melanie Martinez

Like Malka Red, Melanie has just had enough of men acting like they’re so much smarter than her. “I know my ABCs, yet you keep teaching me/I say, f**k your degree,” she stabs back at her mansplainer, spelling out a special message for him. Aside from this venomous retort, Melanie has a slew of other hard hitting songs covering subjects like rape, broken homes and hurtful beauty standards.

7. NO by Megan Trainor

It’s safe to say that no woman ever appreciates being persistently hit on when she is clearly not interested. Some guys just cannot take a hint – or they do but don’t care. Either way, Meghan Trainor is tired of it and decides to turn her complaints into a money making hit. So to all gross dudes slobbering over women who do not want your slobbering: “Thank you in advance, I don't wanna dance / I don't need your hands all over me”. Signed, NO. You can reach me for more information at NO.

8. Hard Out Here by Lily Allen

Since the first day I heard this song, it really clicked with me. Lilly is so spot on with the injustices she points out, such as slut shaming and objectification, and even the video shines a light on the way women are depicted in the music industry. “There's a glass ceiling to break, there's money to make,” she urges as she climbs off an operating table where her manager has her undergoing liposuction. She too pokes fun at Robin Thicke and his claim spelled in balloons. If you enjoy this song, check out her title-track “Sheezus.”

9. Brides for Sale by Sonita

This Afghan girl was about to be sold into marriage at age 15 when she wrote this song and convinced her parents to rethink the decision. She is now attending school in the United States on a scholarship and wants to become a lawyer to prevent child marriage around the world. “I scream for a body exhausted in its cage/A body that broke under the price tags you put on it.” In the video, she stands looking directly into the camera wearing a bridal veil and covered in bruises, a bar code on her forehead.

10. Sit Still, Look Pretty by Daya

This toxic idea runs rampant that women derive their worth from men. If men don’t find you attractive, then you’re not. If you can’t take care of a man, what are you good for? Look good and be subservient. Well, Daya isn’t swallowing this load of bull. She would rather be the queen of her own world and doesn’t see the need to have a guy by her side who probably wouldn’t treat her right anyway. “I don't know what you've been told/But this gal right here's gonna rule the world/Yeah, that is where I'm gonna be because I wanna be/No, I don't wanna sit still, look pretty”, Daya passionately sings. Of course, boys can be supportive and caring and that’s not to say ditch them completely – but remember that you don’t need a man to validate yourself.

11. Can’t Hold Us Down by Christina Aguilera and Lil Kim

A feminist anthem all around, these two singers touch upon the expectation that women be rather passive and silent and also point out the double standards women face in the bedroom: “The guy gets all the glory the more he can score/While the girl can do the same and yet you call her a whore/I don't understand why it's okay/The guy can get away with it, the girl gets named”. Truer words have never been spoken.