Feminism and music - the same old stereotypes

women fansAccording to AOL music whilst the Spice Girls were about “fun feminism” (I assume as opposed to the un-fun nasty dour sort) we have now entered a phase of music being about male sexual titillation. Now, of course, you could always say that popular music has always been about male titillation - after all Bucks Fizz didn’t have their skirts ripped off in a show of solidarity with other women - but its also reductive to say the whole of music involving female artists can be reduced to the Spice Girls for the 1990s and the Pussycat Dolls for the 2000s.

Whilst the article is suitably critical of the move to hyper-sexualise music in general, it still maintains this highly reductive notion of where women are, and aren’t involved in music.

It’s hard to blame the Pussycat Dolls for marketing their hyper-sexuality. It’s the music industry as a whole that put all their eggs in the old “sex sells” basket. In the last 15 years, rap videos have gone from the ‘hood to the strip club, while Britney Spears’ crotch is considered more newsworthy than her new record.

From AOL Music

If you, however, look at the most influential female artists you’ll notice that the Spice Girls only make 191 and the Dolls don’t make it at all. Any why should we be surprised a “pop” group which started life as a “burlesque” act in the Viper Lounge before moving to be their own tourist attraction at Caesar’s Palace, isn’t selling empowerment to the girls who listen to them?

So lets look at some women who do make the cut in the influential women artists list - people like Janis Joplin(No 7), Chrissie Hynde (No 21) and Annie Lennox (No 22). Or for more up-to-date contributions Melissa Etheridge (No 53), The Go-Gos (No 63) and Ani di Franco (No 85). Or better still go explore the list for your own favourites!

Image by JcMaco used under Creative Commons License

Posted by Louise Livesey on 2 March 2008, at 10:17 AM | Comments (2)

Your Comments

Lauren O said:

PJ Harvey is way lower on that list than she should be.

Posted on 02 March 2008 at 10:04 PM

Genevieve said:

Well, Sleater-Kinney and Bikini Kill are both on it...though way lower than they should be. Kim Deal's higher, though, which is cool.

Posted on 03 March 2008 at 11:37 PM

Have your say

In order to keep this blog as a feminist and friendly space, comments will be subject to some rules. We do not seek to censor debate: the beauty of the internet is that anyone can set up their own blog or website to express their views.

  1. This blog is a safe and friendly space for feminists and feminist allies. Debate and critique are welcome where it is constructive and deepens analysis or understanding. Anti-feminist comments will not be approved. We get to decide what's anti-feminist.
  2. All comments must be approved by one of the bloggers. For this reason, there may be a delay before your comment appears.
  3. No sexist, racist, homophobic, transphobic, classist, ablist comments, comments which make personal attacks on any blogger or commenter, or comments that are otherwise deemed offensive by us will be posted.
  4. Trolls will be banned from commenting. We get to decide who is a troll.
  5. No anonymous comments - please feel free to use your real name or make one up, though.
  6. Be nice.

Please note that your email address will not be displayed on this website. All comments are checked, prior to being published on this site.

< back | top ^ | next >

Latest Posts
Some words of wisdom from Naomi Wolf
New feature: Incitement to rape
When a beauty contest allegedly isn't a beauty contest...
Some news stories
Royal Mail stamp issue to honour 'Women of Distinction'
Harry Enfield
Israeli paper refuses to print photos of PM-in-waiting
Defend and Extend Abortion Rights: Pro-Choice Protest
Pregnant women to be targeted under draconian plans to deny medical care to asylum seekers?
Defend and Extend Abortion Rights: Lobby Your MP NOW.
More posts
Latest Comments
Amy on Defend and Extend Abortion Rights: Pro-Choice Protest
Shea on Some words of wisdom from Naomi Wolf
S on When a beauty contest allegedly isn't a beauty contest...
AMM on When a beauty contest allegedly isn't a beauty contest...
Qubit on When a beauty contest allegedly isn't a beauty contest...
Cockney Hitcher on Defend and Extend Abortion Rights: Lobby Your MP NOW.
Louise Livesey on When a beauty contest allegedly isn't a beauty contest...
Qubit on When a beauty contest allegedly isn't a beauty contest...
Sarah on Pharma industry gives less than a crap about women's health. Quelle surprise.
maggie on Some words of wisdom from Naomi Wolf
More feminist bloggers
There are plenty of fantastic UK feminist bloggers around. For a fantastic introduction to feminist blogging, go to the Carnival of Feminists website, which showcases the finest feminist posts from around the blogsphere, including many from UK blogs.
Small Print
All blog posts are the views of the individual post author, and not those of The F-Word.

Inside this section

Blog Home
Archives by Month
October 2008
September 2008
August 2008
July 2008
June 2008
May 2008
April 2008
March 2008
February 2008
More Archives
Archives by Author
Abby O'Reilly
Anne Onne
Barbara Felix
Carrie Dunn
Catherine Redfern
Guest Blogger
Helen G
Holly Combe
Jess McCabe
Kate Smurthwaite
Laura Woodhouse
Louise Livesey
Lynne Miles
Milly Shaw
Samara Ginsberg
Sokari Ekine
Yvonne Howard
zohra moosa
News prior to April 2005
XML feed Feeds
Latest Blog Posts
Latest Comments

Contact Us

This webpage lives at: http://www.thefword.org.uk/blog/2008/03/feminism_and_mu