Even Music Doesn't Escape Stereotypes

For class this week we were suppose to pick a song, or clip from a movie, that had to do with gender, race or ethnicity. So, since I listen to music all the time, I decided to go with a song that had to do with gender.

I chose Beyonce's "If I Were A Boy" because the song is about role reversal. Throughout the song, she keeps saying if she were a boy she would be better and would treat the women she was with with respect. However, in the video she plays the role of the "man" but treats her significant other with the same disrespect she feels women feel from their men. It's like she wants him to know how she feels when he treats her like that.  Take a look.

My back up song was also about role reversal. I chose Lonestar's "Mr. Mom." I chose this song because the father in this song lost his job and his wife is now going to go to work while he stays home and takes care of the kids. He thinks it's going to be a cakewalk, but quickly finds out that his wife does a whole lot more then he gave her credit for. I think this song takes the traditional gender roles and completely turns them upside down by showing that maybe the grass isn't as green as we think it is on the other side.

Music, like everything else, isn't free from stereotypes. As these videos show, the gender roles being portrayed in these videos fit pretty perfectly into our views of the opposite gender. With Beyonce, you have the guy who cheats on his girlfriend, and with Lonestar the incompetent dad who can't take care of his kids, or do the housework right. Go figure.

To end on a positive note...here is some Lady GaGa, who just wants everyone to love themselves just the way they are :)