Women in Pop Have More Barriers than Records to Break
In this era of female stardom, where artists like Chappell Roan and Olivia Rodrigo are making and breaking the astronomical records they set, women in music seem to control the pulse of our modern generation. Yet, to no fault of their own, female artists' grip on the public’s perception of their work and fanbase may be weaker than one hopes.
I have been a fan of particularly female, pop-leaning music since I began exploring the vibrant, enriching world of music. Whether it be household names like Taylor Swift, Phoebe Bridgers, and Lorde, or up-and-coming artists like Maisie Peters and Sabrina Carpenter, I have always been drawn to deep-cutting, honest, witty lyrics placed within a hard-hitting, replayable production. There is nothing like scream-singing breakup lyrics along the eighties synths and snare beats of Swift’s 1989. Not only does pop music spread into all corners of our culture in a way that no other genre comes close to, but it manages to connect us and bring us closer through shared playlists and top-selling hits.
There is no debate that female pop music is, put simply, popular. However, the larger the audience that female artists accumulate, the unfortunate truth is that they and their female audiences become larger targets. For example, the term “fangirl” has grown to have a negative connotation; usually conjuring images of screaming teenagers swooning over a nondescript member of One Direction. Yet, the same people who make women and girls feel small for supporting their favorite artists will surely wear an Eagles jersey and talk your ear off about the upcoming game. It’s not that men who enjoy sports are sub-par compared to women who enjoy music. The issue is that one group is ostracized for their interests while the other group’s interests are blended seamlessly into mainstream culture without judgment. While this misogyny is nothing new (think of Beatlemania and its “fangirls”) it feels as though we are living through a time where girls and women have less and less space to express their interests and passions without backlash.
In high school, I founded and ran a club dedicated to pop music, specifically Taylor Swift. It was overall an incredible experience. We talked about the latest theories, analyzed song lyrics, and gushed over how much we enjoyed music. The experience of hosting a space where teenage girls, myself included, were able to freely express their interests without judgment was an uplifting, yet eye-opening one. I realized, as meetings passed, that for many members, this was one of the only spaces where they felt comfortable sharing this part of themselves. Expressing interests that you are passionate about inherently puts you in a vulnerable position (what if someone doesn’t feel the same way you do?). As a young woman, I have been trained to understand that people will not only disagree, but they will also judge.
So, what can we do to aid in this issue, where it feels as if women are being shoved out of every room in our culture? While it may be uncomfortable at first, we need to take ownership of not only our hobbies and interests but of our identities. We deserve to be in these spaces as much as anyone else. We need to be reminded that feeling passionate and finding enjoyment in life is to be celebrated, not shamed. So go to that concert, talk to people about your favorite artist’s new record-breaking achievement, wear the merch that you saved up to buy—and while you do it, remember that you are not only allowed to do so, but you are also breaking down barriers for the next generation of women.