Women in Music

Rachel Nee
2/13/15


                                                                Women in Music


I think it’s interesting to see how far women in music have come but also how there are still issues that surround women in music as well. Women are able to write songs about empowerment, artists such as Cher, Beyonce, and Diana Ross. These songs are heard across the world for young girls who are to feel inspired by these songs. However, there are messages that can be controversial, artists such as Madonna portrayed controversy in her look and her music. Music videos for her hits were sexualized; Madonna was unique, trying to show her viewers that she wasn’t afraid to be who she was and that they shouldn’t be afraid to be themselves either. Not everyone agreed with these messages, and people didn’t think her music videos or lyrics were appropriate. They didn't want young viewers to be inspired by the type of image Madonna displayed. In the music industry, you are made into someone, sometimes you don't have a choice. Madonna was a sex symbol, and young girls fed off of her music and started to dress like her. Today, Madonna continues to display the image she has always had, she’s sending out the message that she is never going to change who she is, she’s going to be Madonna. We’ve seen changes in artists such as Miley Cyrus who represent what Madonna was in the 80’s. Miley was on the Disney Channel show Hannah Montana, and at a young age became popular to young girls. She kept a conservative look; Disney wanted her to represent them appropriately. This time in Miley’s life was when she was made into someone she wasn’t, she didn’t have control over what she did, and she had to keep herself and the character intact. When Hannah Montana ended, within the next year Miley had become a whole new person. At the 2013 VMA’s Miley came out in a controversial outfit and proceeded to dance inappropriately with artist Robin Thicke. I think this performance was Miley’s way of saying this is who I have chosen to be; she wasn’t under control of Disney anymore and was able to find herself. She has become that sex symbol; she has shown she isn’t afraid to be different. The discussion about Madonna in class today and how she continues to be how she has always been, made me think of artists like Miley. Miley has made a bold statement that she is happy with who she is. I support artists that have that uniqueness to them, sure they have made some controversial headlines and bad choices, but being in the spotlight in today’s society isn’t easy. I support female artists who express who they are in their music and the messages in their songs about being who you want to be and being strong. Artists like Meghan Trainor for example, at a young age she entered the music industry and was quickly criticized for the way she looked. I had seen comments when watching one of her videos about how she was fat and ugly. These people didn’t believe she lived up to society’s expectations of a sex symbol like Madonna. I support Miley for being who she really wants to be, I support Madonna in being herself and not changing for anyone, and I support Meghan for learning to accept the criticism and stay the way she looks. It’s important for girls to have someone to look up to whoever it may be in music, do I think they should be exactly like these women? No. However, I do think that all female artists have a way of telling young girls that they are strong, they are powerful, and they shouldn’t be afraid to be who they are. I admire artists who have their own style, sound, etc. No matter what artist it is, I think it’s important for young girls to see that these women make mistakes, they aren’t perfect, to not always follow what they have chosen, but they have always kept the message that everyone should stick to who they are and not be influenced to change into someone they aren’t.