Jolene, and other anti-feminist anthems

There's an Ariana Grande song that examples female to female aggression & competitiveness that I find a bit brutal ...

Break up with your girlfriend ...

You got me some type of way
Ain't used to feelin' this way
I do not know what to say (Yeah, yeah)
But I know I shouldn't think about it

Took one fuckin' look at your face
Now I wanna know how you taste
Usually don't give it away (Yeah, yeah)
But you know I'm out here thinkin' 'bout it

Then I realize she's right there
And I'm at home like, "Damn, this ain't fair"

Break up with your girlfriend
Yeah, yeah, 'cause I'm bored
You could hit it in the mornin'
Yeah, yeah, like it's yours
I know it ain't right
But I don't care
Break up with your girlfriend
Yeah, yeah, 'cause I'm bored

... I suppose in a way it's a good song, because it does deal with emotions that many of us may have felt or been the unlucky recipient of, probably, as women ... but it puts it out there with no apology.

"I love Dolly Parton and think is an absolute master of storytelling, and I’m going to disagree with Jolene being ‘anti-feminist’ as the protagonist of the song is appealing to the other women, and taking the man in the relationship out of the decision process, then it could be argued that it is actually a feminist song - the women will decide the future of the relationship.

Just a different take.

I agree- that's how I've always read it."

No, no, no. The argument that the man has no agency is nothing new is it? It's the typical sexist argument over the centuries, that if a woman 'bewitches' a man then he obviously can't say no, because a man can never say no to sex so men's sexual behaviour is women's responsibility.
It's a catchy song and DP is great, but don't try to pretend it's not extremely sexist.

Many of the songs I loved as a teenager
"Woman in Love " Three degrees.
"Substitute" by Clout
"Will you still love me tomorrow?" Carol King
"I want you" Elvis Costello

But maybe we're meant to sympathise with the speaker, whilst also seeing it as a lesson: do you want to be that woman? Equally, jolene isn't attacked. In fact, is there even any suggestion that jolene IS going to take her man? Or is the speaker terrified her smitten man is going to go after Jolene? Maybe Jolene's sick and tired of the townsmen lusting after her and the wives hatin' on her down at the 7/11.

Second more than a woman. The lyrics are revolting. Nothing anti feminist about Jolene (Jolene Joleeeeeene) though!

She wants to stay but needs to be given an excuse because of how the rest of society will judge it.

Nice idea but the line “Say, what’s in this drink?” kills this reading for me.

Perhaps this one doesn't quite fit the brief, but I Want You (Elvis Costello) is pretty disturbing.

I hate the old Fern Kinney song:
“He walked into my life
And now he’s taking over.
I think it’s beautiful”
Bleurgh. Surrendered wife, much?

Baby It’s Cold Outside comes up every Christmas - it sounds pretty bad nowadays but apparently in the original 1940s context it’s about a woman who very much wants to stay over with her man worried her reputation will be ruined if she does.

"Roxanne

You don't have to put on the red light
Those days are over
You don't have to sell your body to the night
Roxanne
You don't have to wear that dress tonight
Walk the streets for money
You don't care if it's wrong or if it's right"

Is it anti-feminist to tell someone there are other options than prostitution?

Angel of the morning

Just touch my cheek before you leave me, baby
^Just call me angel of the morning, angel
Then slowly turn away from me^

Was going to mention that one. The other Chip Taylor classic is Anyway that you Want Me

Anyway that you want me
Anyway that you'll take me
Anyway that you'll make me be part of you
Anyway that I know

Although one was also covered by Reg Presley and The Troggs.

Thought of another one! There was a UK girl group a few years back called Stooshe, they didn’t last for long but they made a track called “Black Heart” that stuck with me. It just felt like a glorification of an abusive relationship.

I don't like it when you break me honey
Why'd you have to do that?
Tell me when you'll make these tears keep falling
Do you feel like a man?
Figure, figure there's no working you out whatsoever
Only one way I can sum you up altogether
You got a black heart
Daddy I've fallen for a monster
Somehow he's scaring me to death
He's big and bad
I love him like mad
Momma, he's the best I ever had
Daddy I've fallen for a monster
He got a black heart
No walls to build around me honey
'Cause you blew my house down
Sticks and stones won't put it back up for me
And that's where we're at now
Sicker, sicker, I ain't feeling your mouth whatsoever
Naming hurts me more than weight thrown around but whatever
You got a black heart
Daddy I've fallen for a monster
Somehow he's scaring me to death
He's big and bad
I love him like mad
Momma, he's the best I ever had
Daddy I've fallen for a monster
He got a black heart
Daddy I've fallen for a monster
Somehow he's scaring me to death
He's big and bad
I love him like mad
Momma, he's the best I ever had
Daddy I've fallen for a monster
He got a black heart
He got a black heart
He got such a dirty black heart in him
I love him like mad
Oh, yes I do
He got a black heart

Billie Holiday sang
"If I'm beat up by my Poppa
I ain't gonna call no copper
Ain't nobody's business if i do"

Sheena Easton's 9 - 5 gets me.

'My baby takes the morning train. He works from nine to five and then. He takes another home again. To find me waitin' for him'. Does he really !!

Gwenhwyfar, the problem with Jolene is that the singer passively accepts that her boyfriend fancies beautiful Jolene more than her, talks about Jolene in his sleep, etc.
And instead of having some self respect and telling her shit boyfriend to fuck off and chase after Jolene, she “begs” Jolene not to take her man away.
Thus reinforcing sexist stereotypes of women competing with each other for men on the basis of their looks, and men getting a free pass to prefer and fancy other women.