What's happened to feminism in women's pop music?

[MrsJamin]

I am totally bemused by the group fifth harmony and the utter misogyny in the lyrics, they're just so demeaning.
Eg 1 - "you just gotta go to work"
eg 2 choice lyrics include:
Everything is blank until you draw me
Everything is gray until you draw me
Write on me
Color outside the lines
Love the way you tat me up
Baby take your time

Wtf happened to girl power in pop? These songs are so debasing, meaning the girls just serve men, they are blank slates to be written on by men. I've read some articles that suggest most of their songs are written by men and not written by these girls at all. Am actually quite concerned they are coerced into singing these songs against their wishes, they were on the x factor in the USA so are very likely to have no say in their contractual obligations including twerking in hotpants. :(

[glenthebattleostrich]

There have always been women who are puppets though.

Megan trayner (sp) has just pulled a music video because the record company photoshoped the video and trimmed her waist.

Katy Perry has some good stuff.

Kelly Clarkson is another

[MrsJamin]

Yeah these lyrics are something else though. They just mean "I'm nothing until a man defines who I am". Young girls will emulate this group!

[poorbuthappy]

I struggle with Katy Perry.
The videos (at least the early ones) are fucking horrendous.

[shinynewusername]

"you're the boss at home" is another choice lyric in the 5th Harmony one.

On the whole, though, I think the situation is slightly less dire than it was 10 years ago. At least there are some big stars like Taylor Swift and Adele who have made it on something approaching their own terms. Even Rhianna is occasionally seen with her clothes on these days.

[CeeBeeBee]

Pink's "Stupid Girls" sums up everything that is wrong with celebrity and raunch culture.

[LassWiTheDelicateAir]

Am actually quite concerned they are coerced into singing these songs against their wishes, they were on the x factor in the USA so are very likely to have no say in their contractual obligations including twerking in hotpants

I think it is more likely a case of deciding that being devoid of any musical talent won't stop them having a career.

[ShitUsername]

Whenever the FH video comes on tv oh - who is a brickie by trade - says health and safety would have a field day with them because they're not wearing their hard hats misses point

[GirlOverboard]

I don't see what's wrong with 'Work From Home', it's just a metaphor for sex and the man being the 'boss' in the bedroom etc. They've released some female empowerment songs too, like 'Miss Movin' On' and 'BO$$':

"You say that you a baller
And I see you trying holla
But that ain't how I was brought up
Next
Working for the money
'Cause that what my momma taught me
So yo ass better show me some respect"

"I'm not the way that I used to be
I took the record off repeat
It killed me but I survived
And now I'm coming alive"

[WriteforFun1]

it's not just feminism, I was wondering where songs about anything other than love and sex have gone....

[beckythemasterbaker]

Oh dear, I have just checked it and the lyrics are bad. It's not just about sex. She is a kept woman who spends her day sending naked pics to him while hoping he does not get fired. Then when he gets home he can get what he deserves because of how much they worked all day. That is what it's talking about.

Instead of feminist trying to criticise female celebrities who try, every inch of their work is dissected about what they got wrong. It's songs like these that should be talked about more and how it's damaging.

Isn't Adele's songs all about missing a man, reminiscing and stalking. Am sure that is not good for the female mind. When did it become all about empowering. Am basing this on the songs I have heard on the radio. I have no idea what's on her album.

I actually don't think that the shake it off song is very feminist but hey, each to their own. It's not as a bad as her Juliet song though.

[shinynewusername]

Don't get me wrong, I am seriously over Adele's music. But at least she appears to be in charge of her own career.

[beckythemasterbaker]

Don't get me wrong, I am seriously over Adele's music. But at least she appears to be in charge of her own career. In what way ?

[MrsJamin]

Exactly beckythemasterbaker, the work from home equates work to sex. How is that a healthy way of looking at sex for women? The write on me lyrics were the most depressing, I have no idea why any woman would be happy singing that she is blank without a man defining who she is.