I do agree with this author, Lily Rowan’s, point of view in some ways. Although I am not sure Lady Gaga and Ke$ha’s lyrics helps any greater social problems. Yet, they should be able to sing about what they want, even if they do insult men, and may be a little racy. It is true that male singers/rappers do not speak nicely about women, their appearances, personalities, jobs etc. Two wrongs don’t make a right though, and by female singers joining in on the trend to insult others in their music just continues the cycle.
Rowan discuss that Lady Gaga and Ke$ha’s lyrics are empowering, and modernizing feminism. Through their lyrics they portray that women can have “girls nights out” rejecting any man unless the girl wants to give him the time. This is a way to show girls you can place oneself “outside the realm of men’s possibilities by sending the message that although men can look they can’t touch”. This sounds like a good role model philosophy, however, does this really teach young girls a good way to behave and present themselves? I feel that Lady Gaga and Ke$ha are teaching young girls to flaunt their bodies, sexuality, and makes them think that boys are a game and just things to play games with. I do no feel that is an appropriate or positive idea. Girls should feel confident, and dominant without the involvement of gaining a boys attention and affection.
These female artists may be transforming the contemporary path of feminism but at what cost? By giving into the crude, offensive, disrespectful ways of certain male musical artist by encouraging female artists to act the same, the use of sexism, racism, and privileged will continue in the music industry and the problem will not be solved.
It's an interesting question and I appreciate your thoughts. Young women are often taught to be ashamed of their sexuality, so perhaps these artists help females to have more sexual confidence and agency. On the other hand, their images emerge within a patriarchal society, and so I understand those who see them as projecting more of the same. Gaga, though, in particular, is very unique in her outlandish image and seems to have some interesting things to say in her music and videos.
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