Imagine a world where only men were involved in the music industry. Think of how different our connection with music would be–would women be able to connect with artists in the same way? Would young girls still have the same role models as they do now? Without women, where would music be? Luckily, the women who broke barriers and redefined society allowed us to never have to experience a world where only men dominate the charts and take over our radios.
Less than a hundred years ago, women faced severe discrimination and struggle when it came to pursuing careers in the music industry. Women had to maintain a certain image in their performances, keeping their appearances elegant, classy, and never showing too much emotion. They had to keep quiet behind the scenes, they could not voice their complaints, be a part of the songwriting or production aspects, and were even limited to the venues they were allowed to perform at. Men were the ones who took over the spotlight and were credited for their talent, whereas women were credited for their attractiveness and emotional control.
Everything began to change in the 1960s, when women started to break the barriers created by men in the industry. Iconic women such as Aretha Franklin and Janis Joplin began to use their music to create a difference in the industry. Aretha Franklin redefined how powerful female voices and songwriting really were, and used her voice not only to empower women but to change the narrative of women’s place within the music industry. She was the first woman to be inducted into the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame–a genre of music that society believed only men could succeed in. Janis Joplin also dominated the rock world and showed society what a woman was truly made of. Rather than conforming to the image of what women were “supposed to be,” she stuck to herself and showed her raw, wild emotional side, and ensured she only portrayed her true self and sexuality. Her power proved that women deserve the same place within the music industry, and broke the norms that women needed to behave a certain way on stage. Without the women who took the first steps, despite the risks, we would not have been able to meet all the women who followed in their path.
As we move through the decades, it is necessary to stop in the 90s and recognize the women who further transformed a woman’s place within music. In this era, women faced oversexualization and misogyny and were forced to work double the amount as their male counterparts. Women faced heavy discrimination with the media, as outlets focused on their personal lives more than their music and artistry, whereas men were frequently asked about their careers only. However, the beautiful aspect of women is the ability to realize the problem, and rather than giving up, challenge outdated and sexist ideas. Celine Dion, despite gaining traction during this difficult time for women, did not allow a male-dominated industry to prevent her success. She went on to redefine the Las Vegas residency and revolutionize pop and contemporary music with her powerful, emotional vocal range. Madonna not only took over the world with her music but redefined the image of a pop star and was one of the first women to publicly reclaim her sexuality and stage presence. Rather than allowing the oversexualization to prevent her from showing her appearance, she challenged the norms and standards by outwardly owning her sexuality through fashion. Celine Dion and Madonna, along with other iconic names such as Mariah Carey and Aaliyah, allowed for the generation of music artists we know today to be able to be exactly who they are.
When we think of iconic women in our modern-day world, our minds shift to women like Taylor Swift or Lady Gaga. Taylor Swift has taken over the world since the beginning of her career, consistently proving that women can do anything a man can do. She was the first artist to re-record her songs to reclaim ownership, broke multiple records regarding streams and album purchases, and performed the highest-grossing tour of all time. Swift is not only adored by her fanbase, but any woman within the industry can be inspired by her perseverance and her commitment to changing the game for those to follow behind her. Lady Gaga not only has given us hit after hit, but she has also redefined stage performances and pushed established boundaries about stage presence and fashion. Known to be one of the first women to shift genres continuously and turn her stage presence into a theatrical performance, Lady Gaga is one of the most iconic pop stars our generation has seen.
If these women had not possessed the courage to break the rules, our music would not have the same sound, and the concerts we attend would look nothing like they do. Women are necessary, not only in the music industry, but for other women to see that we have the same abilities as men. Another beautiful aspect about women–we are never afraid to make a few men mad to show them how it’s really done.
