Music and Gender

The biggest gender influence on music is what is 'normal' for boys and girls to listen to. I think of artists like Beyonce, Taylor Swift, and One Direction. These are usually considered 'girly music artists' and, for boys, artists like J. Cole, Lil Baby, and Kendrick Lamar. Notice a trend? It's considered 'weird' if a boy likes to listen to 'girly pop music' and if a girl likes to listen to rap. 

I also think of how the music industry treats men and women. If you ever listen to the type of music artists are making, how they present themselves on stage, and what they are talking about. Women are often so sexualized in the industry, whether it's from other people or if they are sexualizing themselves. It just makes me think of how hard women have to work to even get half the same recognition as their male counterparts do. The song 'The Man' by Taylor Swift comes into my mind whenever I think about this topic. She talks about how easy her personal and work life would be if she were a man. She questions that if she were a man, would people still question the way she moves business-wise, would they question her dating history and slut-shame her or applaud her for "playing the field before I found someone to commit to", would people ridicule her for her choices and accomplishments? This song is just one of the biggest things I think of because the message is so in your face. 

I think about how men, in general, are expected to always be ‘strong and masculine and have an alpha mentality.’ You don’t typically hear a lot of male artists singing about their heartbreaks the same way a female artist does, you don’t hear them talking about their emotions. It’s always money, sex, and power. Although I’m personally not a fan, Rod Wave is an artist I know for a fact does talk about some heavy topics on mental health. A few other artists have songs talking about some other heavy topics, but he is the first one I can think of off the top of my head. On the flip side, when you hear a female talking about the topics of ‘money, sex, and power,’ it’s like the same double standard of ‘well, if I was a man, society wouldn’t be treating me like I was the weird one.’ 

I just find it interesting how we make everything so ‘gender-based.’ Why do we label things as ‘for boys and girls’? Even with instruments. My younger brother plays the clarinet. He is a boy who is in the band, playing the clarinet, in a section that is full of girls. And some people may find that weird, but he doesn’t mind because he’s secure in himself, but that’s beside the point. I just don’t understand why it has to be weird that a boy may want to play what is considered a ‘girl’s instrument.’ When looking into the percussion section of the band, all you see are boys and no girls. Why is that? 

Side Note: I think ageism sort of has a play in this as well, specifically for women. It goes back to the belief that after a woman hits a certain age or after she has children, her sex appeal is no longer existent. There’s the issue of the pay gap, sexual harassment and abuse, lack of support, and underrepresentation. 

Music is supposed to be enjoyed by everyone of all genders, races, and backgrounds. I just find it so strange that even today, we still have ‘gender-specific’ things. And I hope that I’ll see the day when, in the music industry, someone’s value isn’t dependent on their gender or looks but on their talent and work ethic.