On August 22, 2016, Misterwives, a musical group, released a impressionable music video for their song, "Not Your Way" off their recent album "Our Own House." "Not Your Way" can be seen as a feminist anthem and the video brought light to some of the issues that women face. Misterwives created a unique video that can bring light to issues women in the music industry and beyond face while commemorating the Women's Suffrage Movement. The video is a silent movie for the most part depicting a group of men losing who they are just to make it into the music industry. With rules such as no eating and being taught how to be sexy, it is no wonder the men are not happy in the slightest. Not to mention, the manager, Man-D, isn't making it much easier with his rules and insensitivity. The video ends with the men getting angry and ruining the concert until the janitor gets on stage and wins over the crowd. Man-D, while in a fit of rage, then gets thrown into a trashcan to finish out the video.
There are many things involved in the video that sends the message that there is inequality surrounding the music industry and society. For example, the clever choice of incorporating a silent movie as the style for the video. The Women's Suffrage Movement succeed with getting the right to vote in 1920, which is around the time that silent movies were popular. This is relating it to the past injustice, but also acknowledging the fact that it is getting close to 100 years ago. The music video also reversed roles making the males experience what the females initially did. This roles reversal caused the audience to notice more since it is not shown typically happening to men. Both of these traits created a theme that every audience member should leave with understanding more and wanting to change more toward equality.
"Not Your Way" brought more light to an already hot topic. Even though equality and feminism has been discussed frequently recently, that does not make this any less important. Inequality is still everywhere, including the music industry. Females are told to be sexy to be noticed, which should not be the case. The music industry should be strictly about talent and nothing to do with looks. Females should be able to create the music and get noticed no matter how they look. Also, this video is important because it keeps the conversation going. If we stop talking about equality the idea of equality could go away for longer, creating larger inequality around the world. Even though the video for "Not Your Way" is just involving the music industry, it is still possible to apply it to other places in society. Women should not have to worry about weight or makeup just to get a job just to get paid less then men.
"Not Your Way" by Misterwives shined light onto equality leaving the viewers, hopefully, with a long lasting lesson that can be applied to other parts of society.
