Women and Music

        Every now and then a song or video will be released by a female artist that will be the cause of a lot of controversy. In the past it was Christina Aguilear's “Dirty”, Lil Kim's “How Many Licks” or Kelis' “Milkshake”. What makes these songs so controversial? Sure the explicit lyrics might be what caused people to want to burn these women at the stake, but it's a bigger issue. Society can't handle women speaking openly about sex. Meghan The Stallion's “WAP” featuring Cardi B was so popular because it made society begin a narrative about women and sex.

        There's a big double standard when it comes to creating art with the subject of sex. Sex sells, and the entertainment industry knows this. In music, men talk about it all the time. Male rappers have used sex as a tool to make money for years. Almost every popular hip hop song created by men talks about their sexual practices or preferences. Songs such as “Oochie Wally” (Nas), “Get Low” (Ying Yang Twins), and “Slob On My Knob” (Three 6 Mafia) all have sex as the main subject for their songs. These songs have lyrics so explicit that they sound like completely different songs when edited for radio or television. What's also to note these songs all became instant chart toppers, and some of their most popular songs ever.

        When explicit songs from women become popular it's because it's so polarizing, rather than it simply being a good song. We've made many advances in society but one thing that hasn't changed is our portrayal of women. We still believe women don't fart, poop, or god help us masturbate. Over time society has painted women as docile, and inferior to men. Because of this fabricated idea of the perfect kept woman when songs like “WAP” come out it's almost the end of the world. I saw men on all social media platforms ready to start World War 3 over the song and video of “WAP”. Men receive a pat on the back for explicitness, while women are almost excommunicated from society.

        I think when men see women that are sexually empowered they feel emasculated. When women speak about their sexual standards or preferences, and men can't reach them they feel like “less of a man”. Thoughts of inferiority leads to doubt, doubt leads to fear, then fear leads to anger. There's a reason why men such as Ben Shapiro are disgusted by Meghan The Stallion's WAP. They lose power in their minds when they simply can't reach the bar. It also makes them question their sexual prowess and education. This will then lead to them lashing out, and begin with the name calling.

        I think as a whole society needs to be more comfortable hearing women speak about sex. I also believe there needs to be more open discussions about sex, and sexual education. Hearing a song like “WAP” shouldn't cause so much division. I think people offended by this song had to come to terms with their own sexual inferiorities, lack of sexual education, and overall timidness of sex. I hope more women aren't afraid to mention sex in their art due to the backlash of WAP, and other pieces of art that was created that men deemed inappropriate. I'm a fan of Meg The Stallion's song “WAP” and well “WAP in general.