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Gender Inequality in American Music

Nadia Morales Rivera
Music & Culture IRL
Published in
6 min readMay 9, 2023
Photo by Soundtrap on Unsplash

American music has historically expressed the struggle with gender equality, especially when it comes to women. Women have encountered obstacles in their quest for respect and success in the music industry. They have been mistreated and underrepresented. This discussion is important, because it illustrates how society views gender equality in other fields. The influence of music on people’s lives can’t be underestimated; it can affect how people feel, think, and behave. These ideas are important to cover, bringing attention to the growth of a diversified music industry, the lifting of restrictions on female musicians, and the growing awareness of a problem in today’s culture is crucial.

The Past

A Woman’s role in the past was to be a wife and devote time to her husband, children, and other family members. “Women were considered incapable of great creativity in composition and performance. Because women’s sphere was the home, and it was improper for middle- and upper-class women to work outside the home, public performance was seen as akin to prostitution” (Armstrong). As time went by, women began to be introduced to music and were taught to act feminine and acquire talents that would also help them become ideal wives in the future. This included music, and women would enroll in classes to learn how to sing and play the piano to be more “educated.”

Women in the Music Industry

In the early 19th century, only a few women had their songs published, but they struggled to be recognized in a male-dominated industry. However, women have contributed significantly to the development of jazz, classical, blues, rock and roll, and other genres of music since their beginning. In the 1900s, women like Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday became important jazz singers. They opened the way for future generations of women in popular American music. Rock and roll also came with influential women like R&B singers Ruth Brown and Tina Turner. Aretha Franklin, “The first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987, rapidly became a symbol of a feminist movement to change gender norms and with that the inequality of representation in the music industry (“Aretha Franklin”).

The many obstacles

In an already harsh industry where everyone is trying to become popular or at least noteworthy, women in the music business confront numerous obstacles. Female artists frequently express their disappointment and rage at being treated unfairly. Nadia Khan, an artist that has been mistreated said, “I’ve been made to feel invisible. I’ve been mistaken for a groupie. Just last week I was assumed to be the makeup artist on a shoot” (Lloyd). Unfortunately, she is not the only one. “Sexist stereotypes are somewhat like cancer; they invade a person’s aura emotionally, mentally, spiritually, and physically. Stereotypes can destroy an individual’s confidence, attitude, and willingness to learn and achieve” (Webb).

The Issue

Gender inequality is a more significant issue than it seems because, “If you prevent women from seeing any examples of them achieving, then it prevents them from believing they can achieve it”(Larsson). Thanks to technology today, younger generations can see more female singers being successful, breaking the pattern of a male-dominated industry“According to a study on representation and equality in the music industry, only 2.8 percent of producers were female while approximately 97 percent were male.”(“Share of Producers”). The industry still has a lot of work to do.

Women Making History

Some examples of women in the music industry that have talked about this issue and many other obstacles are Taylor Swift and Meghan Trainor. They talk about how the industry treats women differently and encourage a change and bring attention to the issue. Taylor focuses more on how women have a harder time and how they are not respected. Trainor focuses more on body positivity and the way the media affects women with their body image.

‌“The Man” by Taylor Swift (2020)

“The Man” by Taylor Swift talks about how women are treated in the music industry and in general. Taylor directed and acted in the music video, assuring the message was clear. She explains how society has made fun of her or shamed her for her dating history, but it would be different if she were a man. The whole song is about how women are treated differently for doing the same thing as men. For example, and in my opinion the best line of the song, “I’m so sick of running as fast I can, wondering if I’d get there quicker If I was a man”(0:32–36). This references how female artists are bashed for everything they do, for instance, who they date, how old they look, and what they are wearing. Men don’t get the same treatment. This song discusses how women must put in more effort to achieve success than men do, yet men don’t have to struggle as much.

“All About That Bass” by Meghan Trainor (2015)

“All About That Bass” by Meghan Trainor is a song about body positivity. The artist focuses on letting the audience know that all bodies are normal and calls out the media. The line “I see the magazines working that Photoshop, we know that shit ain’t real, come on now, make it stop”(0:32–38). Trainor talks about how society has a certain standard for women and this issue is emphasized in the music industry. Women are supposed to look a specific way in order to fit the standard. Meghan Trainor is an artist that addresses some of the obstacles to being a woman with the beauty standard.

Conclusion

Gender inequality in American music is an important issue to talk about, and it should get more attention. Women have dealt with many obstacles since the beginning of the music industry. In the music industry, they are not treated fairly and are shamed for acting a certain way. The industry has changed and with new technology, more artists are able to release their music and gain popularity with social media making it easier for women to gain respect and popularity. The fact that more women are represented in this industry does not mean that this issue is solved. The way gender inequality affects society is visible and affects future generations.

Women should not have to have to fight to get equal treatment and representation in American music. In my opinion, this issue is a reflection of society, and it should be acknowledged because it can say a lot about what we think is important as a society. Acting on an issue like this can help future generations. Representation is essential. In today’s society, women should be treated equally in any industry and have equal representation as well. The fact that the music industry is not the only industry where there is gender inequality should alarm us as a community. The first step to finding a solution for an issue is acknowledging that there is one in the first place.

Gender Inequality
Music Industry
Taylor Swift
American Music

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Nadia Morales Rivera
Music & Culture IRL

Written by Nadia Morales Rivera

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