Recently, Megan Thee Stallion and Cardi B dropped their song and music video for "WAP" which went number 1 on the BillBoard Charts. With the song came pushback from conservative politicians to incel men who have nothing better to do. Many claimed it was inappropriate for two 25 and 28 year old women to rap about sex because they have young fans and they are regressing the feminist movement.
This week, the same controversy has made its way over to pop princess Ariana Grande. Her new album is expected to release Friday, October 30 with the lead single, "Positions", dropping the 23rd. It has been rumored for almost a year now that Ariana's next album will be about-- wait for it-- sex. With the rumors being virtually confirmed this week and last, some of Ariana's fan accounts on Twitter have been reprimanding her for the decision. "Not u supporting ariana making an album about sex when her fans are mostly minors. this is making me sick." one fan said. Now. Does Ariana Grande have young fans? Yes. But is she also a 27 year old woman that creates art for herself, not anyone else, about her experiences that likely include sex because she is a grown woman? Yes.
To continue, let's examine the argument that Megan Thee Stallion, Cardi B, and Ariana Grande are ruining young kids' innocence because of sexually explicit songs. The way I see it, there are three reasons why this is absolutely untrue.
1) If your child understood the references in WAP or the ones that will likely be made in "Positions", they already knew about sex.
2) Meg, Cardi, and Ariana aren't the first to sing about sex, and they certainly won't be the last.
3) This protect the children mantra is not applied to music made by men
To begin, do you remember that video of that four year old boy trying to sing Uptown Funk by Bruno Mars? Well, if you've forgotten, here it is:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kJwJdpRVss
He was trying to say 'funk" but ended up saying the f-word because he didn't know any better. If he did know better, he probably would not use such vulgar language in front of his parents. The same goes for sexually explicit songs. If your child is shamelessly singing along to "WAP" or "Positions", I promise they have no idea what they're talking about. And if they do understand the references, the song did not teach them. They knew. They knew, and I understand that can be hard to accept. However, they knew. Megan Thee Stallion, Cardi B, and Ariana Grande did not teach them about the birds and the bees through one explicit song. They should not be blamed for your tween child having curiosity about sex.
Secondly, sexual lyrics have been a part of American pop music since its inception. In the 70's there was Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On", in the 80's there was Platinum selling "Physical" by Olivia Newton John, in the 90's there was Toni Braxton's "Your Making Me High". Meg, Cardi, Ariana, and any other female artist that chooses to write about sex clearly aren't the first-- and they won't be the last.
Finally, many artists besides Meg, Cardi, and Ariana have sung about sex. Many of these artists are men. To only condemn the women in music for creating sexually explicit songs is sexist. Women and men want and enjoy sex equally, so women should not be the only group chastised for it.
Whether it be from peers or by stumbling across it on the Internet, a child may be exposed to sex when they reach adolescence. For some children, this is as young as 9 or 10. For others, it is as old as 14. Nevertheless, these changes are inevitable, with or without Megan Thee Stallion, Cardi B, and Ariana Grande.
