Representation of Women within the Music Industry

'There is frequently the notion of looking (screens with screens, telescopes, etc.) and particularly voyeuristic treatment of the female body.'
        - Andrew Goodwin in 'Dancing in the Distraction Factory' (Routledge 1992)

This voyeuristic treatment of women is clearly evident in 'Pop' and 'Hip-hop' genres, shown by Beyoncé and Nicki Minaj's videos (below). In both of the videos the women are pictured in tight and revealing costume to emphasise their feminine bodies. However, the shots are voyeuristic and almost predatory, such as the shots of 'Nicki' on the beach in the 'Starships' where it almost looks as if somebody is watching her as she puts on this 'show'. 

This type of treatment of women is reflective on patriarchal society system, as women are not respected equally to men, meaning that they have to become a sex object in order to be noticed. This also means that a lot of female artists rely heavily on being hyper-sexualised female performers to appeal to a demographic within the music industry, which therefore has an effect on younger and impressionable generations that this is the correct way in which women should represent themselves. 

Beyoncé

Nicki Minaj

However, a contemporary Electro-pop artist, Marina and the Diamonds, states in the lyrics of her song 'Sex Yeah' 

Nothing is provocative anymore
Even for kids
No room for imagining
'Cause everyone's seen everything
Question what the TV tells you
Question what a pop star sells you
Question mom and question dad
Question good and question bad

Which evokes the idea that as a result of the hyper-sexualised female icons within society that the sexual imagery is no longer 'provocative' or shocking to audiences, even children. This shows that, sadly, most audiences see this kind of behaviour detailed in Beyoncé's video to be normal and the way in which women present themselves. However, it is a form of oppression within the industry of music due to men never having to reveal themselves in which a way to get attention or sell records. 




Another lyric in the same song is:


If women were religiously
Recognized sexually
We wouldn't have to feel the need to show our ass,
It's to feel free
Been there, done that
Got the t-shirt
Sold my soul
And yeah the truth hurts
Tired image of a star
Acting naughtier than we really are

Which shows Marina's distaste for the way in which women are represented within the music industry, as she does not present herself in the same way. Such as in her video for 'Power & Control' she is represented as the dominant or 'powerful' character and the shots of both characters are voyeuristic, including the male, however the shots of Marina are not sexualised and her dignity is remained in tact. In fact, within the video it is the male whose costume is more revealing than the female's. As Marina's costume is classy and sophisticated, by using the 'little-black-dress', but the male is wearing a tight 'wife-beater' vest top and angrily throwing a ball, representing a hyper-sexualised male by using aggression and the male body as a sexual object and therefore contrasting the generic treatment of women - adding to the feminist edge of the video and Marina's own personal viewpoint on the treatment of women. 

Power & Control - Male Character

Power & Control - Female Character

The lyrics of 'We wouldn't have to feel the need to show our ass, it's to feel free' show that she believes that the only reason that women represent themselves in this way is to have some form of freedom and power because it is the only way in which the media will pay them any attention. Also the line 'Acting naughtier than we really are' show the hyper-sexualised nature of women within the pop music industry and that the sexualised nature of their videos and representation of part of the appeal to certain demographics.