I have a lot of issues with the music and entertainment industries these days but my biggest one is its influence over young girls. Women like Kim Kardashian become famous for doing virtually nothing except having a sex tape with a B-list celebrity and opening a small clothing store with their parents' money. Yet, somehow, she is a role model and a businesswoman.
But then there are the celebrities who dare to change the way the world looks at not only themselves, but women in general. As women, especially in the United States, we have come an extremely long way. Yes, not everything is perfect since we still do not make the same amount of money that a man does, but in the larger picture, we should be pretty thankful that we are allowed to live the lives we lead.
While I am thankful that I have the option of being an incredibly successful career woman one day, I do also respect the women that choose to stay at home. In my opinion, that's what the feminist movement mainly represented: the ability for women to choose the path their lives took. (Yes, I'm aware there were a lot of other things, but let's hold off on that for a second, okay?)
Even though we have come a long way, we are still stuck. Men are glorified for the number of women they sleep with, while women are deemed sluts and whores if they sleep with a lot of men. The list of double standards goes on and on. Men will be men. That is sadly, something that has been around for a long time and I do not see it going away anytime soon. But, the least we can do, as women, is try and move ourselves forward by not slut shaming, body image shaming, and most importantly, reminding people how we do not need men to lead a successful (or happy) life. Meghan Trainor, your song, "Dear Future Husband" is an atrocity to women everywhere and if you do not believe me, I'm going to break down some of her lyrics for you.
"Cause if you'll treat me right I'll be the perfect wife, buying groceries, buy-buying what you need."
Ah, setting back women in the workforce many, many years. Being the perfect wife means you have to buy groceries for your husband and attending to his every need? To me, this is putting women back at home without a say. You are reviving the idea that now that you are married you are automatically required to quit your job and stay at home. If you want to do that, go for it, but by no means are you required to do so. Society, for the most part anyway, has moved on from that belief. Being the perfect wife, I assume, consists of a lot more than just buying groceries and buying everything your man needs. I promise you he can buy his own underwear and toothpaste. If he can't, you should reevaluate who you married, in my opinion.
"After every fight just apologize and maybe then I'll let you try and rock my body right. Even if I was wrong, you know I'm never wrong."
I have many an issue with this. First off, it plays into the stereotype that women are just insane and irrational. We all have brains, so we can argue rationally. Do not play into this idea that every time you get into a fight with your significant other she's going to throw all your stuff out onto the lawn. Also, take responsibility. Meghan Trainor, I'm sure you have been wrong before, so admit it like an adult. Admitting you were wrong is not the easiest thing to do, trust me, but if you refuse to ever be wrong, you allow men to think that not only are our feelings not worth fighting over, but our opinions aren't either.
"Dear future husband, make time for me. Don't leave me lonely, and know we'll never see your family more than mine."
I'm hoping I really do not need to say what I find wrong with this one. If you never want to see his family, it's probably because they do not like you (shocking) but you cannot ever tell someone they cannot see their family the same amount as they see yours. That's just absolutely absurd and I take extreme offense to that as someone who is incredibly close with their family. If someone ever told me that I had to spend more time with his family than with my own, I would leave immediately.
If you have any other concerns, just go look up her lyrics because I could go on and on. One last point before I go, however. Meghan Trainor, why did it have to be a husband? In a time where marriage equality is one of the biggest issues facing the nation right now, you are putting into young girls' minds who might be questioning their sexuality all these false pretenses about the future, love, and marriage. While you may not be part of the LGBTQI community, you have fans that are. Think of how your words affect the young kids who for some unbeknownst reason choose to listen to your music. I do not respect anything about your music, your personality, or frankly you as an artist. You're supposed to inspire people; instead, you just insult them. Artists should be trying to change the issues facing the world, not reverse the change that we have worked so hard to achieve. Meghan Trainor, the day I support your career by buying one of your songs is the day women have lost the battle to the world.
P.S. As a girl who has been naturally skinny her entire life, your song "All About That Bass" is incredibly insulting. I love my body and I do not need your skinny shaming to make yourself feel better about your body trying to tell me otherwise.