Country Music and Women, Research Paper Example

Music has long been a way in which artists and people in general, express themselves. Combining lyrics in a way to form a picture, tell a story, or simply to relay a message is a method that has been used since before the first written word. So, when one evaluates the music of today’s society, what messages are they picking up? What stories are being told? Although the original intentions may not have been as such, female degradation is a prominent aspect of a lot of music in the present generations, particularly country music.

Take, for specific examples, music videos on the internet. The song “My Cowboy” by Jessie James prominently features screen shots of her scantily clad body, gyrating hips, and six inch stilettos. Furthermore, there is the well- applied fact, monkey see, monkey do. Every shot of the film, not specifically focused upon Jessie James sexual characteristics, shows young men drooling over her body and getting riled up at her moves; not the music. Honestly, it is not hard to say that the video takes away from the actual music because the lyrics do not even make that much sense.

Another music video that can be charged with the same crimes is none other than the famous “Honkytonkbadonkeydonk” song by Trace Adkins. While there are similarities to the aforementioned piece above, this song is performed by male artists and basically doubles his ‘crimes’ against the degradation to women. Why? Because in addition to the hundreds of short skirts and shorts that have butt cheeks hanging from them, the song itself focuses primarily on the female rear end, and how they, the men at the bar, like to watch them move. It does not appear to be a far cry from some sexual fantasy, just aired to the public and taught to kids from all ages.

So how did the music industry end up like this? For a long time, marketing representatives and public relations agencies have known one fact simple and true: sex sells. The depictions of what women want to be and what men want to see functions so that greater sex appeal brings in a larger fan base.

When most people go into the music industry seeking fame, fortune, and power, the more people buying up the songs and listening at the concerts speeds that dream on to quicker fruition. In short, Americans, and really even the world at large, is selling out the values that our parent’s parents raised them with for a quick buck and a shiny penny.

The real shift is that both songs and music videos are becoming increasingly more X- rated and women in particular are constantly being portrayed sans any moral bearing. Then, add in the lyrics to the videos. “Shake that money maker,” (Adkins, “Honkytonkbadonkeydonk”). “Show me off and call me baby. Show me off to all your friends,” (James, “My Cowboy”). Women are being objectified and reduced to eye candy; though in the case of Jessie James, the female in the song is asking for just that to occur.

And that, then, is the next point; and one that cannot just be ignored. Women are allowing such treatment, sometimes going so far as to court it themselves. What the media in general, and the music industry in particular, is working to teach females of the world today, is that is how one should look and act to be thought of as sexy, to be liked, admired, and ‘valued.’ This is why girls in ever- decreasing ages are wearing to much make up and trying to dress as skimpy as possible. That is why boys are doing their best to act as they see their role models in the videos, concerts, etc…

Ultimately, when men, and women, set themselves up to be key players in the media, with songs topping the charts and music videos getting millions of hits online, they really need to not forget that people are looking up to them and following the examples to which they are exposed. Otherwise, the people of today’s generations, and those of the future, will find themselves in an ever downward spiraling moral slump leading to the objectification and degradation of women and no one seeing the error in their ways.

So, with examples of degradation to women in music examined, to where the practices will eventually lead, and the fact that the culprits of such degradation are both males and females alike, where does that leave a researcher?

The logical conclusion is to then search for, and analyze, potential ways to positively break these singing role models of such behavior while letting them maintain their goals; the aforementioned fame and fortune. By turning the focus back to actual music, stories, and messages, of socially acceptable content, then perhaps the degradation of just females, but to society as a whole, can be halted.

It would by no means be an easy undertaking, convincing many musicians which are their selves morally corrupt, to see things in a new light. But really, all that has to be done is to convince a few big names to alter their ways and it is not an absurd assumption that at least some of the rest will follow.

Finally, the reason that one has to seek change from the source as opposed to seeking a virtual boycott from the fans for obscene behavior is because, while some will stick to their guns and turn their backs on the negative actions of their heroes, idols, etc… most will follow in their footsteps in the never ending quest to be live them, follow in their footsteps, and take the same courses in life.

Works cited

Adkins, Trace. “Music video by Trace Adkins performing Hokytonkbadonkeydonk.” Youtube.com. 2009.Web. Jun 19 2011.

James, Jesse. “Music video by Jessie James performing My Cowboy.” The Island Def Jam Music Group. 2009. Web. Jun 18 2011.

“Modern Music is Degrading to Women.” Collegenet.com. 2010. Web. Jun 18 2011.

“Music Videos Degrade Women?” Allnurses Central. 2004. Web. Jun 18 2011.