The Representation of Women in Music and Films


Music

Men have always had a bigger role in music. As producers and singers, men have always been the most successful. When looking at the billboard top 100 charts over the last couple of decades it is clear that most of the popular songs have been sang or produced by men. It is easy to see why men are displayed as superior to women. They are degrading women and are reinforcing negative stereotypes. Since music is so important in our culture, the messages that are being carried out through songs greatly impact the attitudes and behaviors of American society.

Over the decades it seems that more women have entered the music industry. Many female singers have had great success especially in the 90s and 2000s oppose to only a couple that can be named from previous decades. Although there are more female singers and producers, the majority of producers are still men. This means that women are not being heard and men are still deciding what society gets to see and hear.

40 songs from throughout the fifties until now were evaluated. All but 3 songs have reached number one in the billboard top 100 charts. Many similarities were found in music lyrics throughout the decades. Most of the stereotypes and themes that are found in music are: the portrayal of women as evil, women shown as a man’s possession, focus on female body, women shown as needing a man to be happy, women as sex objects, and most commonly women described as attractive. Not only do lyrics describe women as attractive to make a successful record, female artists must also be attractive if they want to be successful as well.

Womens role in music seems to be based more on looks. The importance is seen in female singers having to be beautiful, which often means a sexualized thin girl with large breasts who is seen in the latest trends. Most successful women in the music industry fit into society’s definition of beautiful. There are very little women who have had success who are considered to be unattractive by the media. Missy Elliot became a big success in the early 2000’s despite her weight but like other artist she has lost a large amount of weight. Women in the media are always being criticized for gaining weight or losing too much weight. These women are always being pressured into looking perfect. From the fifties till now the most popular women in the music industry have been attractive. More recently female artist have turned to plastic surgery as a way to fix their flaws and appear perfect. When searching for images on women in music throughout the decades I came across beautiful women who looked provocative. The media has also pressured women to sexualize themselves for success. It seems that the beauty of some female artist also make up for the lack of talent. While there are others who are clearly more talented who do not have much success because their looks. Because these women are the role models to our society it is easy to see why most American girls feel the need to be beautiful by sexualizing themselves, turning to plastic surgery, extreme diets and workouts and shopping for new clothes and make up.

In lyrics and videos emphasis is given to a woman’s looks. In almost every song that talks about women and is sung by men, it is mentioned that their partner or girl they are pursuing is attractive. Out of the 40 songs that were evaluated 18 of the 20 songs that were sung by men talked about a woman’s looks. Songs like Pretty Woman (1960’s) and Venus (1970’s) show that this is not a new trend. More recently lyrics on a woman’s appearance focus on her body parts, depicting women as sexual objects. Sir Mix A Lot’s, Baby Got Back makes it clear that “shes gotta pack much back” or he wants nothing with her. More recently songs talk about women in vulgar manner. While listening to songs that were sung by women, not one song talked about males being attractive nor did they mention a man’s private parts. The stereotype that women should be beautiful is reinforced by music and it is hurtful to women.

Women who do not live up to society’s standard of beautiful are greatly affected. As it is heard in many songs that a man is in love with a beautiful woman, the girls who are not considered attractive feel that they are not worthy of love and often have self esteem issues. Janis Ian’s 1975 hit At Seventeen is an example of how these girls may feel. she says, “I learned the truth at seventeen That love was meant for beauty queens and high school girls with clear skinned smiles who married young and then retired The valentines I never knew The Friday night charades of youth were spent on one more beautiful At Sseventeen I learned the truth And those of us with ravaged faces lacking in the social graces desperately remained at home inventing lovers on the phone.” In 1999 the female group TLC released Unpretty. This song is about a woman who is being put down by her boyfriend and changes her looks to make him happy and the lyrics also say that that she was never insecure until she met him.

As mentioned earlier one of the stereotypes that was given to women was that they are portrayed as evil. Women are usually seen in this light when they go against the stereotypical norm of being caring, delicate and passive. In many songs they are portrayed as evil for breaking a man’s heart by sleeping with other men, this is shown in the song Runaround Sue by Dion which released in 1961. Dion says, “She took my love then ran around with every single guy in town Ah, I should have known it from the very start this girl will leave me with a broken heart now listen people what I'm telling you A-keep away from-a Runaround Sue.” While women are seen negatively for being promiscuous and are referred to as “sluts” and “whores” men are praised for doing the same thing.

This double standard is reinforced in music and although more women are challenging this by exploring sexuality in their songs like Britney Spears new 2009 single 3 ,which is about a three some, these songs are considered to be for “sluts”. Women who are promiscuous are said to have no respect for themselves and it seems that these women are not given respect by men in music as well. In snoop dogs song, It Aint No Fun, he says, “When I met you last night baby Before you opened up your gap I had respect for ya lady But now I take it all back” saying that women cannot be respected for giving it up to easily. Although this problem has always been around, it is seen more recently now that hip hop has become part of the mainstream. Hip hop has become popular for degrading women by calling them “bitches” and “hoes” and by turning men into pimps. There is no degrading word for male promiscuity.

Almost every song that is sung by a woman is about a man. Most songs are about wanting to be in a relationship because to the media that is a woman’s happiness. Songs like Linda Ronstadts , When Wwill I Be Loved which was released in 1974 show women as needy and desperate for a man. in britneys spears 1999 hit song, Baby One More Time, she says, “My loneliness is killing me I must confess, I still believe When I'm not with you I lose my mind Give me a sign

Hit me baby one more time,” she is pretty much begging the guy to come back . In 2008 beyonce released single ladies which repeats the phrase “if you liked it then you should have put a ring on it.” this song shows the importance of marriage to women. The stereotype that women need to be in a relationship and ultimately Marriage to be happy are still being played out in music today.

Movies

In movies just as music, most directors and leading roles have been men. Women have been restricted to the role they get to play. It seems that most women in movies are given the same stereotypes as those in music. They either have the characteristics of a caring woman or are depicted as evil. The same stereotypes are shown: the importance of being in a relationship, women being materialistic and women being attractive.

In most movies women are seen as needing to be saved by a man. In 1959 Disney produced the movie Sleeping Beauty and showed princess aurora as a beautiful delicate woman who was saved by the princes kiss and was brought back to life. Although the movie was about the princess, the prince took over the movie by playing the active role fighting the witch meanwhile the helpless princess waited to be saved. In the 60s Audrey Hepburn starred in Breakfast at Tiffany’s which shows her as a helpless girl who needs a man to take care of her. More recently, in 1990 Julia Roberts was a prostitute in Pretty Woman who was saved and became a lady with the help of a man.

Being in a relationship and marriage seem to be in movies as the ultimate factor of happiness and of great importance to women. In the princess films that Disney has brought us there is always a relationship between a woman and a man which by the end of the movie turns into marriage. In Hes Just not that Into You which was released in 2008 women are shown as obsessed with men and the idea of being in relationship and are needy. In 2008 the movie Four Christmases was released, at first Reese Witherspoon and boyfriend of four years Vince Vaughn try to challenge the idea of marriage saying that they can be in love without ever having to be married or have children. By the end of the movie Witherspoon realizes that she does want to be married and have kids one day. By not continuing to challenge the norm that is seen in movies it shows that there is something wrong with women who do want marriage and children.

Not only are these stereotypes being played out by women but also by animated films which are targeted towards children. Not only in Disney princess films is this seen but also in movies like Madagascar, Ice Age, Shrek, and Alvin and the Chipmunks. These movies always show characters in relationships even though these films are targeted at kids. These movies stress at an early age the importance of being in a relationship. Many times even when the characters are animals they instill the same message and often show cartoons as flirts and show them kissing. These films also show female cartoons in a sexualized way giving them attributes like big lips and long lashes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMcLn6YjsBg


Beauty in film is very important. In most if not all movies it is a beautiful woman who captures the leading man’s heart. Instead of showing women as they really are films only hire women who are very beautiful and are often extremely thin. As in music, movies also add on to the stereotype that a woman should be beautiful and look a certain way. Many actresses are pressured into being very thin and often turn anorexic. Many women in our society wanting to look like their favorite actress also fall into this unhealthy habit.

Women are also seen as materialistic. Movies help to reinforce this stereotype. In Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Hepburn is obsessed with the Tiffany’s jewelry store and is obsessed with wanting to marry a rich man. In a more modern movie, Confessions of a Shopaholic shows Isla Fisher as a rich girl who is obsessed with shopping then suddenly goes broke after her cards are declined.

Women in music and movies are given limited roles due to the fact that most producers are men and put out what they want to be seen. These stereotypes label women in a negative manner and put down women who try to challenge society’s norms. It seems that the stereotypes that were prominent in the 50s have carried out throughout the decades. women in the media still have a long way to go to be up to par with men.

- Jessica