How Do Women Contribute To Rock And Roll?
Throughout history women have been undermined by the patriarchy. There is no difference when it comes to rock and roll. Since the late 1950s when women first began to make their entry into rock and roll until now, women have been making great strides in the industry. However, as James Brown and Betty Jean Newsome state in their 1966 single, “this is a man’s world”. Women have constantly been cheated out of credit and money. They have also not been taken seriously as musicians. They have been oversexualised, as well, in rock and roll. As Runaways’ Joan Jett says, “People don't want to see women doing things they don't think women should do.” However, women have made incredible contributions towards rock and roll, and they should be treated
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There is a certain appearance that women must keep up, while for men, there is no particular appearance – they are judged on their music not their look (Davies 303). When women are displayed in magazine covers, they are wearing tight clothes and showing a lot of cleavage. “A simplistic explanation for the highly sexualised representation of women would be that individual male music journalists are unable to view women as anything other than sex objects” (Davies 304). In Groce and Cooper’s essay, they interviewed women in local rock and roll bands. One vocalist, Carole, mentioned, “I try very hard to be pretty to an audience. First they look at you, then they listen to you” (224). Ronnie Spector, lead singer of The Ronnettes, was seen as a sex symbol at the time. She has said, “I thought the higher my dress went and the more guys were having orgasms, the better it was. And I was right!” (Hartman and Schmid 64). While things have been changing for the better, women have only been portrayed as sexual or domestic (Hartman and Schmid 64). Even backup singers are seen as sexual objects. Many backup singers have dress codes that require them to wear minimal clothing, and they are seen as eye candy (Neville). Women’s sexuality should not be a factor in how famous they become. They should be viewed by their talent, and their look should come second, exactly how men are viewed in the
There is a certain appearance that women must keep up, while for men, there is no particular appearance – they are judged on their music not their look (Davies 303). When women are displayed in magazine covers, they are wearing tight clothes and showing a lot of cleavage. “A simplistic explanation for the highly sexualised representation of women would be that individual male music journalists are unable to view women as anything other than sex objects” (Davies 304). In Groce and Cooper’s essay, they interviewed women in local rock and roll bands. One vocalist, Carole, mentioned, “I try very hard to be pretty to an audience. First they look at you, then they listen to you” (224). Ronnie Spector, lead singer of The Ronnettes, was seen as a sex symbol at the time. She has said, “I thought the higher my dress went and the more guys were having orgasms, the better it was. And I was right!” (Hartman and Schmid 64). While things have been changing for the better, women have only been portrayed as sexual or domestic (Hartman and Schmid 64). Even backup singers are seen as sexual objects. Many backup singers have dress codes that require them to wear minimal clothing, and they are seen as eye candy (Neville). Women’s sexuality should not be a factor in how famous they become. They should be viewed by their talent, and their look should come second, exactly how men are viewed in the