Lyrics are important in all music, as it portrays not only who you are as an artist but the message that you are trying to relay to people. Not all women in mainstream music write lyrics that encourage sexual themes, but pop culture normally praises songs that do. There are many different views when it comes to music content in the feminist community. Some views are very similar to each other but the two that combat each other are radical feminist vs. cultural feminists. Radical feminists don’t upright agree with the direction music is heading, but they tolerate it because they feel if you take away the sexual themes females lose the right to express themselves how they please. Another argument radical feminists would make is that most females do not operate in the manner that is portrayed through this type of music. It allows females that don’t live the life that is being represented to enjoy the entertainment of sexual escapades without actually letting the music influence their lives. The opposing cultural feminists would say that the increased sexual themes are reinforcing a system of gender inequality.
Music
A radical feminist would view the song Cake by Rihanna as her expressing her desire for a man and having the ability to control him. Lines such as “Ooh baby, I like it You so excited Don't try to hide it I'mma make you my b*” suggest that women have the ability to be dominant in the relationship. This also represents that women dont have to be submissive and have the ability to play the dominant role.
A cultural feminist would view the song Milkshake by Kellis as morally wrong and misleading to society. Lines such as “My milkshake brings all the boys to the yard and their like its better than yours” encourage women to compete amongst each other to acquire men. Through this competition women subject themselves to men’s desires instead of their own.
Beyonce recently created a song that attempts to change popular culture beliefs on how females should present themselves in modern society. The name of the song is Flawless and a lot of the lyrics in the song encourage women to be their own person and be proud of their natural beauty.
Adele is an example of a female artist that is not too invested in selling sexual themed music. Not all relevant female musicians turn to sexually based music in order to sell music. Through lyrics in Someone Like You Adele reinforces the fact that women are in control of their own decisions and are able to choose a man instead of a man choosing them.