This is not a feminist argument, just an observation I’ve been paying more attention to lately. In my Psychology 231 (Gender Psych) class, I was asked to write about a song that portrays a gender role. After researching some songs and reading all of the lyrics closely, I started to realize that almost every popular song in the past decade is about gender roles in some way. Men and women in the music industry are playing into their gender roles so much that it is allowing people to generalize men and women more than ever. Here are some popular songs that are totally sterotyping genders and giving people the wrong idea:
1. “Boys”- Britney Spears
“What would it take for you to just leave with me?” Britney, Britney, Britney. Are you trying to sound desperate or is that how you really feel? Call me old fashioned, but if you are insinuating that you are going to bribe a guy to come home with you, then you sound like you have absolutely no self esteem. “Boys. Sometimes a girl just needs one.”- Actually ladies you don't need one.
2. “Boss”- Rick Ross
Really Rick Ross, you're the biggest boss that we’ve seen thus far? I beg to differ. This “boss” sterotype is one men love to try to validate. Boss should mean that you are a CEO of a company, not just a boss to women and your peers. Believe it or not, not all men have to have the power in every relationship and are unable to let their guard down once in a while.
3. “Like a Boy”- Ciara
This is song is literally a boy’s worst nightmare. “What if I had a thing on the side? Made ya cry? Would the rules change up or would they still apply if I played you like a toy? Sometimes I wish I could act like a boy.” Ciara is basically calling out all boys by saying that they all cheat, make girls cry, and play girls like toys. I get that every girl has gone through a bad relationship where this might seem entirely true but it really isn’t. I don't think its fair to generalize all boys by saying they do this when there are a lot of good guys in the world.
4.“Blurred Lines” –Robin Thicke (ft. T.I. and Pharrell Williams)
This song generalizes both men and women.“OK now he was close, tried to domesticate you but you're an animal, baby, it's in your nature.” Sorry Robin Thicke but not all ladies act like animals. This line is basically insinuating that girls are closet freaks. “I hate these blurred lines. I know you want it. But you're a good girl, the way you grab me must wanna get nasty, go ahead, get at me.” Robin Thicke is assuming that girls want to be with him and these “blurred lines” don’t mean anything.
These are just a few examples of gender stereotypes in songs. Almost every song on the radio has a strereotype they are validating in some way. We like to think our society is evolving and becoming better at realizing that these generalizations are not true, but artists keep putting these claims more into their listener's heads. It is important that people realize that stereotypes can be inaccurate and not to judge a book by it’s cover.
