FEATURE:
Good Graces
IN THIS PHOTO: Sabrina Carpenter
Sabrina Carpenter and Normalising Women Embracing Their Sexuality
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IT has been just over twenty-five years…
since Britney Spears released her debut album, ...Baby One More Time. Many look at that album for kick-starting a wave of female artists expressing their sexuality through their music and videos. In some cases, the videos for Britney Spears have not aged too well. Think about ...Baby One More Time the track and her schoolgirl outfit. The fact that she was infantized and made to dress younger and very sexually for some shoots. As a teenage artist, it was quite unseemly to think she given this image and persona that was exploitative. In years since, Spears struck out and put her own stamp on videos. A more liberated woman, I know she has influenced a whole new generation of women. The same goes for peers such as Christina Aguilera and Jennifer Lopez. Follow it through with artists such as Rihanna and modern-day greats such as Dua Lipa or Charli XCX. You can look back to the 1980s and 1990s when Madonna was releasing this evocative, provocative and confident music that was so expressive and confident. No doubt compelling artists who followed. All of these women at times have faced judgement, criticism and misogyny. Madonna especially. This idea that you cannot be sexually expressive or true to yourself in the music, through videos or on the stage. Perhaps not as prevalent today, female artists are still facing backlash and sexism when they are expressive and revealing on stage. Or they release an album that is sex-positive or bold. Sabrina Carpenter is one of the world’s biggest artists. Recently, as NME reported, she has experienced some criticism during her Short N’ Sweet tour:
“Sabrina Carpenter has responded to criticism of her embrace of sexuality on her ‘Short N’ Sweet’ tour.
Now, in an interview with TIME, Carpenter has opened up about her boudoir-inspired stage fashion and choreography, admitting that “you’ll still get the occasional mother that has a strong opinion on how you should be dressing.
“And to that I just say, don’t come to the show and that’s OK,” she said. “It’s unfortunate that it’s ever been something to criticise, because truthfully, the scariest thing in the world is getting up on a stage in front of that many people and having to perform as if it’s nothing. If the one thing that helps you do that is the way you feel comfortable dressing, then that’s what you’ve got to do.”
Carpenter also addressed fans shocked that she would express her sexuality in front of family members at her Madison Square Garden show, with Carpenter responding: “My fans online are like, I can’t believe she’s bending over in front of her grandparents!
“I’m like, girl, they are not paying attention to that,” she continued. “They’re just like, I can’t believe all these people are here”.
Even though we are not in a puritanical or necessarily prudish age, I do feel there is perhaps less tolerant of women in music pushing boundaries the same way as women who came before them did. There has always been misogyny aimed at women who are confidential expressing themselves this way. Neither immoral or reckless, it is a shame that we are in an age where women are judged or seen as wrong for embracing their sexuality in any way. That somehow they are pushing things too far. It is a double standard. Despite the fact there are not a lot of oldskool male Rock bands who are talking about sex and bringing that sexuality to the stage like in decades past, there is still very little in the way of condemnation or judgement their way. Women seen as irresponsible or explicit when they dare to show any flesh or the slightest hint of their sexuality. Men almost embraced and idolised. I have talked about this before. We are still experiencing such misogyny and sexism. It opens up a bigger debate and conversation about female sexuality in Pop. Sabrina Carpenter is among a group of incredible young women who are writing and performing songs that examine and explore their sexuality without it being exploitative or overly-explicit. They are speaking to and inspiring girls and young women. There is an argument today as to whether female sexualisation in Pop is expressive or exploited. This feature from earlier in the year looks at various sides of the argument:
“Today, Miley Cyrus has become more famous for twerking and swinging naked from a wrecking ball rather than for her wonderful voice, and makes highly sexualised videos directed by men like Terry Richardson (who has been accused of sexual assault by a few of the models he’s worked with).
In fact, while some argue that Cyrus and other celebrities are empowering women by expressing female sexuality in pop, the reality is that often these women and their actions are managed and directed by men.
Larry Rudolph, for example, is the man behind Britney’s ‘Baby One More Time’ video, and the rebranding of Brit as ‘a sexy pop princess’. Perhaps unsurprisingly, he’s now Miley’s manager, too – and he’s the man behind the idea of having Miley twerk and simulate masturbation on stage with Robin Thicke at the MTV Music Awards.
He also started a gyrating girl group called G.R.L. along with Pussycat Dolls founder Robin Antin and producers Max Martin and Dr. Luke. Who just happens to be the man behind Kesha’s success. And guess what? Kesha has since been locked in a legal battle with him. She claims he abused her for years.
Who Benefits?
Blatant female sexuality in pop may be masquerading as female empowerment, but who are these sexual displays truly aimed at? And what results do they have?
Certainly, they sell music – to both male and female fans. But they also sell messages: messages that say women’s value is based largely on the size and shape of their body parts and the sexual things they do with them. Messages that tell young girls that being highly sexualised is the norm. And that tell young boys that women are always available and ‘up for it’.
Sure, it’s fine to have a large sexual appetite, but if these women were really all about being empowered, wouldn’t they be showing themselves say, lording over loads of gyrating, oiled, half-naked male bodies rather than showing off their own? It’s clear from just about any music video that the viewer is assumed to be male, and the content of the video is aimed to titillate him.
Double Standards
Indeed, the double standard for women and men in pop is as strong as ever. Male pop stars are constantly surrounded by scantily clad women, while they sing in anything from jeans and a tee shirt to a full suit. (Robin Thicke’s ‘Blurred Lines’ video, as seen above, is a great example).
This clearly shows how the female sexuality expressed in pop music videos like this is designed specifically for the ‘male gaze’. Can you even imagine the uproar if a little boy were to be dressed in a nude coloured bodysuit, dancing with very adult-like moves to a song about one-night stands and alcoholism, or writhing around a cage with nearly nude adult? And yet Sia did this with two of her hit videos and very little was said about it. Because the child in question was a girl.
A Devastating Impact On Girls
Such explicit videos of female sexuality in pop are certainly exerting a negative influence on little girls. Even back in 2007 the American Psychological Society issued a report on the sexualisation of young women. They found “virtually every media form studied provided ample evidence of the sexualisation of women”. And since then, things have only gotten worse. One word, my friends: WAP.
In study after study, women – and increasingly, young girls – are portrayed in overtly sexualised ways. Vastly more than men. Unlike films, music videos are available for young children to watch without restriction. But some are getting so raunchy, there is a warning of ‘Adult Content’ before them. For example? Miley Cyrus’s MTV Music Awards performance where she ‘ejaculates’ smoke and glitter. Since the music video was originally created for youth culture, it’s a sad day when MTV has to carry warnings of ‘adult content’.
It’s About Safety, Too
The hypersexualisation of women in pop is more than a morality issue. It is one of women’s safety and equality. Studies show that girls who are exposed to sexualised content are more likely to endorse gender stereotypes and place attractiveness as central to a woman’s value. Boys who are exposed to this content are more likely to sexually harass females, and have inappropriate expectations of them. A shocking one in three girls in the UK say that they are ‘groped’ at school, or experience other unwanted sexual contact. Sexual harassment is practically routine at work, on public transport and other public spaces”.
If one would argue there is not the same rampant misogyny and double standards in the music industry regarding artists expressing themselves, we are still in a position when artists are being condemned. Although the criticism aimed at Sabrina Carpenter was not huge or especially vicious, there is still that judgmental tone and feeling that she is not age-appropriate. Too revealing for her young audience. Maybe not setting a good example. As she said herself. If they don’t like it then don’t come to the show. She is hardly pushing things at all. When Madonna recently started her Celebration Tour, she drew a lot of criticism because of being sexualised on stage. Ageism and misogyny, many attacked her and felt that she was rather unbecoming or should act her age. Attitudes towards women expressing themselves like any male artists often calls into question whether they can escape judgment and misogyny. Earlier this year, Kim Petras stated how everyone should be equal when it comes to sexuality in music. A transgender artist, she has faced plenty of approbation for her sex-positive music and stage performances. This NME explains more:
“In a new interview with the BBC, the German-born singer was talking about her latest EP ‘Slut Pop Miami’, which she released on February 14. The release contains several tracks that allude to themes of sex-positivity and LGBTQ+ inclusivity.
“It’s something I feel strongly about. I’ve always been surrounded by incredible women,” she said on the topic. “Even at school, the people who stood up for me and understood my condition were female.”
PHOTO CREDIT: Gina Wetzler/Redferns
In February last year, Petras became the first transgender woman to win Best Pop Duo/Group Performance at the Grammys, for her Sam Smith collaboration ‘Unholy’. She used her speech to pay tribute to the late SOPHIE.
“I think men’s desire to control women’s bodies has been the plague of this planet forever,” Petras continued. “It very much goes hand in hand with being transgender. The people who wanted to forbid me to transition are the same ones who want to forbid women to have abortions or have sex and even make money from it.
“I’m a big fan of Madonna’s work, and I feel like, when she celebrated sex in Erotica and her Sex book, people misunderstood it as just filth. But female sexuality isn’t filth, and it shouldn’t be written off like that. Neither is trans-feminine sexuality or anyone’s sexuality. I think everybody should be equal”.
I did read the articles about Sabrina Carpenter getting some negative feedback and flack from some people because of her latest tour and embracing her sexuality. I was going to leave it but felt, even in 2024, are women truly allowed to be themselves? Will they ever be allowed to explore their sexuality without facing criticism or misogyny? In some cases, it is male producers, directors and photographers exploiting women and pushing their sexuality in a seedy and dangerous way. When it comes to artists like Sabrina Carpenter, they are directing and controlling their own narrative. If people find their act and music too much then they can avoid it. Women should be seen as equal when it comes to their right to explore and project their sexuality. Talk about it. Perform any way they want. Misogyny and sexism are still prevalent. Women facing abuse and assault. Judgement and criticism. An industry that does not protect women from abuse or speak out are also one that judge women and call them out if they are sexual and expressive. Many men still moulding women and using their sexuality for profit and fame. Women should be celebrated and embraced. They should not be judged or told what to do. They should be seen as equal and allowed to express themselves how they like. Will we ever see a day where, in the music industry, there is…
TRUE equality?