ay in heIntroduction
Loretta Lynn is an American country music artist, who has received numerous awards and other medals for her songs. All her songs are hit singles and her albums cross worldwide. One of her best known, yet controversial song is, The Pill. This song explores the controversial issue of birth control.
Applying the 5 concepts
Hegemonic Masculinity and Emphasized Femininity:
Hegemonic masculinity and emphasized femininity, was taught to us since birth. It was showcased in in the television, through our books, advertisements and etc.Hegemonic masculinity illustrates the superiority of a men. It demonstrates how men should behave and conduct themselves in social settings (Braimoh, 2018). It portrays men to be aggressive, strong, independent, and exclusive. Emphasized femininity refers to the idea, that women must meet the needs and requirements of men. It demonstrates that women should be sexual appealing for a men, and meet his sexual desires. Within the song The Pill, Lynn writes about her personal experiences with her abuse. Within the first chorus Lynn writes,
You wined me and dined me
When I was your girl
Promised if I'd be your wife
You'd show me the world
But all I've seen of this old world
Is a bed and a doctor bill
(Genius Lyrics)
Lynn indicates that her and her husband did get married. She thought they would travel the world, together. However, this was not the case. Her husband seen her as a sex object, and demanded her to stay at home and engage in sexual activity, have children, take care of those children, and keep repeating this cycle. This type of behaviour is encouraged and seen as normal, by the men. However, the women disagree with this concept. Women do not want to be a man’s property, and reduce their self esteem. The world simply forgets a mens wrong deeds, by saying men will be men. Along with this, women are the ones who get blamed, and cannot use the terms girls will be girls, as an excuse.
Stereotypes
In the society we live in, there are many stereotypes which exists. Stereotypes are inferring a individual has the same characteristics and abilities as the same member of their group. Gender stereotypes are based upon our sex, either female or male. The females are to be polite, cook, nurturing etc. Then men are to be aggressive, strong and bold. Within the song, The Pill, in the second verus Lynn writes
All these years I've stayed at home while you had all your fun
And every year that's gone by
Another baby's come
(Genius Lyrics)
After Lynn’s marriage she was struggling with these stereotypes of females. She was unable to go and pursue a career of her choice. Unable to work, she was told to stay home and nurse the children. She was unable to develop her own personal abilities, and make her own life choices. Stereotyping can be seen as controversial because it affects an individual's violation of human rights and freedom. For an instance, women are known to be the sex object of men. However, this can be identified as rape as well.
Norms
Norms are rules that outline appropriate behaviour (Braimoh, 2018). There are many different types of norms. The role of women are shaped by the Supreme Court. They uphold various types of behaviours which women should follow. These laws then become formulated into stereotypes and norms, which women have to follow. One of these norms include, being an ideal mother. A mother is a figure who sets aside her emotions, behaviours, desires, just to sacrifice for her children or the other individuals surrounding her. Within the song, in the second verus Lynn writes,
This old maternity dress I've got
Is goin' in the garbage
The clothes I'm wearin' from now on
Won't take up so much yardage
Miniskirts, hot pants and a few little fancy frills
Yeah I'm makin' up for all those years
(Genius Lyrics)
Lynn showcases how women sacrifice their own wants for of their family. Within the song, Lynn writes as there will be no maternity dress, because she is throwing it out. Instead of the maternity dress, she will wear what she likes, mini skirts, hot pants, fancy frills. Lynn attempts to make the society happy by doing all those things are known to do, to be an ideal mother. Some of these things include, sacrificing,
not pursuing an education, nurturing the children and etc. However, Lynn gives up on getting pregnant, every other year. She and other women were finally at peace with the pill.
Minorities
A minority are individuals who are described as having disadvantages within the society. Women are not a minority in terms of numbers, but are minitory compared to men. Women can be described as minorities because of their social existence within the society. Women are known to have less power than men. When describing a group which is known as a minitory, the term discrimination is associated with it. Within the song, Lynn writes,
I'm tired of all your crowin'
(Genius Lyrics)
Lynn says this statement to her husband. Many women are trapped within the society and their husbands beliefs. A women lives under, a mans feet. The men are know to be superior, while the women are inferior. Without the consent and agreement of a man, a woman is unable to do thing. When a woman does not do what she is supposed to do, and produce children she is discriminated against. Lynn confronts the mainstream culture and states that women are fed up with living this way.
Second Wave Feminist
The song, The Pill, symbolizes the second wave feminist movement. The second wave of feminism tackled issues such as sexism and reproduction. The Pill, symbolizes this movement, and its events which took place. This movement supported women, to have control over their own lives. To have control over when to have sex, and to have control over reproduction. This pill encouraged women to take a stand. Along with Lynn and many other women, taking a stand against the society and men was difficult. However, with the releases of this song, it put some power in women’s hands. This song empowered women to break the societals thoughts about women. With the help of this pill, women were able to control reproduction, and childbearing for many years. This pill became success and key in a woman's life as, “Within five years of the pill’s approval, some six million women were using it” (Khan Academy).
Critical Reflection
Does the outrage or worry about the message in the cultural text make sense to you? Explain why or why not.
The outrange, and the message of this cultural text makes sense to me. Loretta Lynn supports, uplifts, and empower other women through her song.The message of this song is to advocate for women. Despite the fact, the pill had been released before this song was released, this songs encourages the pill from those who opposed it. This song gave women advice, to take it and stop and control their reproductive choices. This cultural texts makes sense to me as i support the idea of feminism. I believe a woman a much more valuable than a sex toy or a housewife. A women should be able to make and support her own life choices. A women should be able to pursue an education, have a occupation and career and be independent. Furthermore, this song supports the idea of birth control. I support the presence of a birth control pill. This pill created a tremendous change in a women life. Women had the burden of pregnancy and child rearing, but with this pill they were able to control something on their own, without their husbands consent. The message and outrange of this cultural text makes sense to me.
How, if at all, does the cultural text impact your life? Why or Why not?
A cultural text is a text which displays a cultural meaning. This cultural text impacts my life incredibly. The Pill, was a controversial song in which Lynn started singing and encouraging feminism. Loretta Lynn was sixteen years old when she was married, and at the age of 20, she had her first four children. After 10 years, she gave birth to her 2 other children. In total, Loretta Lynn gave birth to a total of 6 children. This impacts my life tremendous, as not a couple of years ago, women were used as sex toys. In the 1960’s there was a rapid increase of baby boom. Women who were under the age of 20, had at least four children. By the time,these women were 25, there was still many years of fertile years ahead of them. This baby boom had many negative consequences, one of which including small houses, and not a lot of funds to provide for everyone in the house, as it was costly. This cultural text impacted life, as today’s generation is different. Women are able to purse and education, are able to be make a living for themselves, and are independent. Women now have choices, when they want to get pregnant. In today’s society, the pill is seen as normal. This is because many women take it to control their organisms. This cultural text impacts me, as if no one wrote about the pill and advocated rights on behalf of women in the 1960’s, then today, i and other women my age, would’ve had at least two children of my own. This cultural text impacts every woman's life incredibly.
What, if anything, is valuable about this cultural text? Explain.
When something is valuable, it has great worth behind it. When an individual respects something, it becomes valuable. Personally to me, this cultural text is valuable. This song released in 1975, and tells the story of a women. A women gets married and becomes a wife, trying to meet her husband’s sexul desires. She later then becomes, a mother, not of one child, but of many. A women gets upset with husband getting her pregnant year after year. However, within the song, Lynn introduces and supports the pill. She states that no women, have to suffer anymore, because they got the pill. With this pill women can control their own reproductive choices. The pill is also known as the birth control pill. This cultural text is valuable, as Loretta lynn has tackled a very controversial issue. She was a feminist, who did not hate men, but supported the idea that along with motherhood, women are strong and talented. This song advocates for women because she knew how important this pill was to them. It was important as women assured their husband, they will have time for sex. However, they will not have to worry about getting pregnant. This song is valuable as it played a significant role in creating acceptance for the birth control pill.
How, if at all, does this cultural text reproduce privilege?
A privilege is a right or advantage to a particular set of individuals. This cultural text, The Pill, does not produce privilege to females, or the males. Despite this song coming from a feminist, who is advocating for women's rights, it does not reproduce advantages for women. This song, illustrates the oppression women have to go through just to accepted within the society. . In addition this song does not reproduce privilege for men, as it advocates for women. This song was written and produced in favour for women. As a matter of fact, the society reproduces privilege for men. The society values a mens worth, more than a women’s. Men are seen to be better because they are known to have a significant amounts of skills, are able to think critically and etc. Women are denied the basic rights entitled to them. Furthermore, women are seen as nothing, they have no self esteem, confidence or respect, as compared to a men. An example of this would be, women are seen a sex object for men, and should be available to meet a man whenever, despite their own consent. Women are also left for jobs such as strippers, prostitutes and etc. The society upholds a man’s sex. They never target a man, impose stereotypes, with negatively. They reproduce privilege towards men.
Does context (i.e., the physical setting where the text was produced) and time (1999 vs. 2018) influence our understanding of the controversy produced by this cultural image?
This song, The Pill, was recorded in 1972, and was later released in 1975. During the 1960’s, The Supreme Court allowed women to take birth control. However, despite the agreement of birth control by the SC, many women were still denied access to pills. The context, influences our understanding of controversy produced, as women from the 1970’s were oppressed compared to women of today’s societies. Back in the 1970’s, this song was banned because of denial of birth control pills by many individuals. However, if an song or advertisement, come out today, based upon advocating for women’s rights, every individuals, including the men would support it.