Music/Society Modern Wrld (W6)
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Musicand4thwavefeminism.pptxMusic, #Metoo, and 4th Wave Feminism
4th Wave Feminism: Definition
Starts around 2010-2012, continues to present
Characterized by use of social media and technology
Issues: equal pay for equal work; intersectional oppression, sexual violence, childcare, birth control, women’s health, patriarchy, sex positivity, body image, gender discrimination...
More global, large movements in China, India, Europe, etc.
‘call out culture’ – naming names of abusers (Bill Cosby, Weinstein, R. Kelly, etc.) and businesses, relates to…
‘cancel culture’ – boycotts of certain people and products, remove symbols of oppression
Criticisms – digital divide, some do not have access to internet, and are left out; this wave still often leaves out (marginalizes) trans & disabled women; ‘slacktivism’ accused of being lazy
Brief Timeline
2012 – Laura Bates creates
Everyday Sexism website to document such stories
2014 – Free the Nipple campaign – addresses right for public breast feeding
January 2017 – Women’s March (in DC), for women’s rights and protest Trump election (pink ‘pussy’ hats becomes symbol of the movement)
October 2017 – Harvey Weinstein accused of sexual assault in NYT
October 2017 – #Metoo begins in response to Weinstein reports (women share stories of sexual abuse on social media)
2018 – Time’s Up movement against sexual harassment (in movie industry)
2019 – R. Kelly arrested, charged with sexual assault
2020 – Weinstein found guilty of sexual misconduct and rape
Key Music of the 4th Wave
2012 – Grimes “Oblivion”
2015 Lady Gaga – “Til It Happens to You” (sexual assault) 2016 performance at Oscars
2017, Kesha “Praying” (re: sexual abuse); accused Dr. Luke, producer, of sexual abuse
Nearly 1 in 5 (20%) of American women report being victims of rape (or attempted rape) at sometime in their lives 1
BEYONCE (Marquita Smith reading)
2013 self-titled album
According to author…
Hip-hop feminism – emphasizes importance of intersectional Black womanhood for the hip-hop generation (Gen X and beyond)
Beyonce counters ‘controlling images’ (Patricia Hill Collins): stereotypes of Black women as mammie (maid), Jezebel (whore), Sapphire (angry), welfare queens (helpless)
Album offers a complex view of her identity (and that of Black women); as able to be multiple things simultaneously – mother, wife, sexual/sensual, career-driven, family, activist, feminist, powerful…
Beyonce album Songs
“Pretty Hurts” – critique of beauty pageants and beauty standards
“***Flawless” – refusal to be silent; unapologetically feminist; projects confidence
“Bow Down” – projects feminist power over abusers
“No Angel” – challenges notion of female respectability; traditionally this meant for women to be quiet, dutiful, pious (religious), subordinate, chaste (non-sexual), etc.
“Drunk in Love” – demonstrates joy of sensual love/sex, celebrates erotic (emotional feeling) over pornographic (only physical sensation)
“Blow” – emphasizes female pleasure, self-ownership of body
“Partition” - emphasizes complexity of female identity; women can be intellectual, creative, sensual, maternal, funny, powerful all at once
“Grown Woman” – mature black femininity, motherhood; counters stereotypes of broken (fatherless; welfare dependent) Black families
