Pop music is infectious. Like it or not, most of the time, that catchy song about partying will get into your head and remain there for days on end. With that said, it is generally understood that this music serves no purpose. Taylor Swift sings another song about a break up and Flo Rida tells us to have a good time, but beyond that, there's not a lot to analyze. Pop music is generated merely to get a person to buy the single on iTunes and nothing more. Most usually say the same about Ke$ha, the singer known for bathing in glitter and auto-tuning her way through numerous songs involving binge drinking and parties that last all night. They look at lyrics like "I wanna dance with no pants on" and write her off as another meaningless artist- perhaps even especially stupid. The thing is though, Ke$ha is in on the joke, and means to send a message. One of her main intentions is to deconstruct the way society views women as well as make make a statement about gender roles. She makes it painfully clear that in the music industry, women barely receive any respect.
Misogyny is ever present in the world of music. From lyrics detailing how women are only useful for their bodies to singers flat out calling women disgusting words for the sake of being masculine, it's hard to escape it. The best examples of lyrics that shame women in such a way are way too inappropriate for me to paste here, considering the fact that most of them involve calling them a number of colorful curse words. The worst part is that this is considered normal for pop singers and rap artists. When Eminem sings about hitting and killing women, he's just doing his job- at least, that's how we see it. This music has a direct impact as well. A 2007 study done by Michael Cobb and William Boettcher found that "exposure to rap music increases sexist attitudes towards women," in addition to making more woman accepting of sexist behaviors (Cobb And Boettcher). Ke$ha isn't the only one who has noticed this trend. In her song, "Blah Blah Blah," such lyrics as "Music's up/ listen hot stuff/ I'm in love with this song/ So just hush, baby, shut up/ Heard enough," going on to curse at the supposed male counterpart and tell him how he is only useful for physical purposes. When asked abut the song, Ke$ha stated, "I'm just talking about men the way they've talked about women for years. If you listen to LMFAO, it's all about how women are pieces of meat. I find that stuff funny, so I want to do it back to them" (Ke$ha).
(Ke$ha at the VMA's exhibiting a more classic look that contrasts sharply with her usual outfits.)
Ke$ha certainly isn't the first female artist to embrace her sexuality, but for the purposes of our generation, her actions are definitely startling. Just consider the majority of people who immediately believe her to be "trailer trash" or "an idiot" or "a whore," despite the fact that she got a 1500 out of 1600 on her SAT and was accepted to Columbia before becoming a singer. Ke$ha is a smart businesswoman who knows what she's doing when she plays up a shtick and behaves in a lewd manner. Just as she said, when LMFAO sings songs about partying and getting drunk, they're considered fun, but most see Ke$ha merely as a nuisance. Music like "Blah Blah Blah" is so startling because it's so outside of the realm of what we normally hear from female singers, and as such, people make a snap judgement and judge her in numerous ways. All that she's preaching are the core roots of feminism, though: let women do whatever they want. If men are able to do something, so should women without facing such a dramatic backlash. Some have definitely taken her actions the wrong way, thinking that her behavior is indicative of the old feminist stereotype that states that all they are is a group of men-hating women.The answer to gender equality certainly isn't putting down men, and Ke$ha certainly isn't the first female artist to embrace her sexuality, but for the purposes of our generation, her actions are definitely startling and display the differences between the two sexes, at least in the music industry. Whether you're a fan, a hater, or simply someone who doesn't like pop music, Ke$ha has undeniably made a big impact so far in her music career, regardless of the status of her acceptance into society.
Fetters, Ashley. "Why Ke$ha's New Memoir Is 2012's Answer to 'The Feminine Mystique'"
The Atlantic. The Atlantic Monthly Group, 20 Nov. 2012. Web. 02 May 2013.
"Ke$ha: Feminist Pioneer?" PhiLOLZophy. Tumblr, 2011. Web. 02 May 2013.
Vansant, Emily. "Ke$ha...A Feminist?" The College Voice. The College Voice, 4 Dec. 2012. Web. 02 May 2013.
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