Music is a gateway for many and heard by all. It is a means for individuals to express themselves using melodic beats and rhyming stanzas, sending a message to whoever chooses to listen. Dating back at least 55,000 years, music has taken many forms and served different purposes to various cultures. Today, music is used in our daily lives. Whether we are dancing the night away in a local club, walking to class, signing in the shower, or taking a road trip, music surrounds us.

Since the rise of feminism in modern society, both men and women have been speaking out about the issue of the portrayal of women in the media. Music is simply one form of media that dominates society daily. Those who listen to music are exposed to the various messages provided in lyric and beat. Throughout the last 100 years, women have been a topic in many genres of music, with their bodies as the focal point of a three-minute song. To say any song was the first to promote sexual favors and the objectification of women would be a lie. The need for awareness is important to begin the conversation and end the use of women as merely means to an end.

Aligned to Immanuel Kant’s philosophical ideas, to use someone as merely a means is something that warrants principled consent. A common way one is used as simply a means is through coercion and deceptive promises, forcing one to act based on misleading, false premises. When women, or any individuals, are used for their bodies, they are considered as merely a means, not as something of value or as a whole. This act does not promote their humanity but rather diminishes it through the selfish acts and desires of the individuals viewing the women as such. Songwriters and producers use both men and women as a means to gain revenue, objectifying and degrading them. I could spend this time addressing the ethics of this commonality, but instead, I will discuss the lyrics of a popular tune from a feminist perspective using personal opinions and readings from the course text.

Recently, I came across the song “Work From Home” by the recently popular, all-girl group, Fifth Harmony. Born from the American television series "The X Factor," Fifth Harmony began their career singing covers of popular songs and submitting them to YouTube. Since their rise to fame, this female-fueled group has won prestigious music awards, made it to Billboard top-rated charts, and sold over half a million copies of their first album. Their growing fame caught my ear as I heard their popular hits played on the radio and in multiple public venues. As I mentioned earlier, their song “Work From Home” has recently been on my top song list. Its catchy upbeat tune and interesting mix of genres are pleasing to listen to. Heck, I'll be the first one to sing along and dance while I'm cruising around town. Although once I read the lyrics, my mouth dropped––I was amazed that the content. created by an all-girl group, promoted the objectification of women.

By being females in the music industry and portraying their behavior in a positive light, Fifth Harmony is alluding to anti-feminist tendencies through sexual language and appearance. It implies women are merely objects used for one task only and have nothing else to offer in a relationship. Caroline Heldman, an associate professor of politics, addresses this message by referencing fishing line and running shoe advertisements including images of nude women to promote the products. She writes, “With each image, you’re hit with a simple, subliminal message: Girls’ and women's bodies are objects for others to visually consume.” Although there is not an image attached to Fifth Harmony’s song lyrics, they allow the mind to wander and create an image that exploits women's bodies sexually.

Oftentimes, relationships involving domination and subordination encourage prejudice, discrimination, and violence against a particular group of people. This is evident across the board of social issues including race, class, religion, ability, etc. For example, during the civil rights movement, physical violence was initiated and carried out against black individuals (the subordinate group) by the dominating white population. Continuing the theme of sexual exploitation of female bodies, these Fifth Harmony lyrics bring forward the issues surrounding violence against women.

Domestic violence, sexual harassment, and rape are all very real dangers that women from any background or circumstance need to be cautious of on a daily basis. Jackson Katz, a leading anti-sexist male activist, addresses this in his article "Violence Against Women is a Men’s Issue" by saying, “... [women] are ordering their daily lives around the threat of men’s violence.” Katz’s statement truthfully identifies the issues within society, as individuals such as the women in this hit single order their lives for one another rather than with one another. When we begin to focus on another individual and their needs increasingly more than ourselves, the reality of violence and degradation is very real.

In terms of gender equality issues, women are often considered to be inferior to men and some use this to justify men's violent, belittling, or abusive actions. These actions contribute to rape culture by degrading women’s rights and safety, ultimately dismissed by media and pop culture and considered acceptable. As Fifth Harmony sings, “And I don't need no explanation 'cause baby, you're the boss at home,” the idea that women need someone, possibly through financial support, sexual satisfaction, or simply emotional security, is reaffirmed. Additionally, the lyrics then claim the man is the boss at home, asserting his dominance in the relationship. Those in a dominant position often feel they can act in any way they see fit, forcing those in the subordinate position to feel pressured, or even threatened, to comply. This verse highlights the many social issues surrounding gender in our society.

Victims of violence and abuse want to be heard, but how can they when they are condemned and shamed for their actions? It is due to these lyrics and those similar that establish male domination and portray women as sexual objects that the idea that women are lesser is perpetuated; therefore, women receive little to no support for their traumatizing experiences. While services are available to those experiencing violence and abuse, oftentimes they are still victimized by society. Phrases like, “They were asking for it” or “You know you want it” perpetuate victim-blaming, making clinical and psychological services sometimes seem useless. Songs produced by popular artists, such as “Work From Home,” are seen to be catchy tunes, rather than a veiled message to society, reinforcing gender roles and stereotypes.

As the song continues, the artist discusses her obligation to use her body and “go to work” to satisfy her male companion. After about two minutes of sexual objectification of women, Mr. Ty Dolla $ign comes in with his rap to continue the exploitation of his female mistress. He states, “Girl, go to work for me. Can you make it clap, no hands for me? Take it to the ground, pick it up for me. Look back at it all over me. Put in work like my time sheet, she ride it like a '63.” These sexual innuendoes not only reinforce rape culture, but also portray his female companion as if this is all she is good for. In this scenario, the man is asserting his power serving as the dominant sexually aggressor through his demeaning, sexual commands, leaving the woman to oblige through her submissive and sexually passive behavior. The sole focus is on the man receiving and the woman giving, creating a possible situation without consent.

So why is this important? Some might say this is just a song and I am taking its lyrics too seriously. But that is the source of the problem in this society. The wise feminist activist and author bell hooks once said, “Feminism is a struggle to end sexist oppression.” She further discusses the importance of committing to the reorganization of society to ensure that self-development of individuals takes precedence over earthly goods and desires. This commitment is rooted in humanity, bringing individuals together to work toward equality and building a unified society.

The reorganization and unity discussed takes many forms, including media and pop culture. The music industry thrives on human sexuality through song lyrics, music videos, and sometimes even attire at popular award shows. Rather than using the media, specifically the music industry, as a model for our lives, we need to combat the normalcy society thinks it provides. For example, if men and women define their own manhood or womanhood without the influence of stereotypes and gender expectations, then we will begin to see a change in society. Rather than competing with one another through the stereotypes and expectations already in place, it is time we, as a society, begin to come together as one and establish a unifying community. In doing so, the standards that were once set by pop culture and the media will disappear and society will begin to reorganize itself, hopefully viewing men and women as equal for who they are and not what society wants them to be.

There is a lot to be done in order to create a change but we must start somewhere, beginning with openly discussing popular music and the messages it sends. Fifth Harmony’s tune, though catchy, sends a message to men and women that could have damaging effects on society. It is through conversation that we begin to combat these expectations and break down gender stereotypes. Although the conversation is necessary, I believe it is one that we, as a society, do not have often enough. Once we listen to one another's individual needs, we cannot fully address the problem. It is time to break the silence and use popular songs such as “Work From Home” and other media works to engage in conversation and reestablish cultural norms. From there, we can be free to understand the truth and act accordingly.