Throughout the decades, singers have been covering the topics that are important to them and their communities. In the case of female songwriters, poets, and musicians, women’s rights and role in society remained significant subjects of discussion. The following analysis of four pieces created by women shows similar ideas and a united call for equality. Regardless of the time or genre – country, rap, poetry, or jazz – women ask for respect from men and talk about their struggles living in a world plagued by patriarchy.
The songs and poems under examination are: “Respect” by Aretha Franklin, “9 to 5” by Dolly Parton, “U.N.I.T.Y” by Queen Latifa, and “Daddy” by Sylvia Plath. While all pieces cover different types of relationships, they all contain the same problem of inequality among men and women. For example, in “Respect,” Franklin describes the household and the gendered roles that are often assigned to men and women at home (Lovejoy, 2021). She asks for “a little respect when you get home,” implying that she feels unappreciated by her partner (Lovejoy, 2021).
Similarly, Queen Latifa sings about domestic abuse and sexual harassment from men on the street. Describing women’s difficulty leaving abusive relationships, she says, “I was scared to let you go even though you treated me bad” (Jones, 2021). The singer then urges other women not to let men mistreat them and to walk away from unhappy relationships or stand up for themselves. In both cases, the women’s stories are relevant today, as gender roles and sexual harassment remain a problem in the household.
Dolly Parton and Sylvia Plath cover two other types of relationships between women and men – in the workplace and family. Parton’s song is much more upbeat, but it still hints at the fact that the singer’s skills and achievements go unrecognized or knowingly ignored at her job (Walthall, 2021). She states that women are “just a step on the bossman’s ladder” (Walthall, 2021). The call for fair working conditions and women’s perception as equals in the workplace is not subtle, and it can be applied to women’s rights today.
The final work by Plath explores the relationship between a father and a daughter, a different dynamic that is affected by the same issues of disrespect and lack of recognition. The author recalls her fear of speaking up in the presence of her father – “I never could talk to you. / The tongue stuck in my jaw” (Plath, 1992). Moreover, his image influenced her relationship with men in adulthood, as Plath “made a model of you,” implying that she married a man who treated her similarly to her father (Plath, 1992). These lines demonstrate that such gender inequality influences women’s entire lives, and they have to work hard to overcome their traumatic experiences.
The analyzed texts fully align with my understanding of the issues that women face every day. They also show that the path toward equality for women is not linear – the songs from the 1960s to the 1990s mirror similar issues and show that women continue to struggle for recognition as equal members of society. The topics described by all four women apply to daily life and cover a range of problems women have in their families, with their partners, and at their jobs. Although the tones of the works differ, they all express the authors’ pain from being disrespected by men. However, the texts are not desperate – the women talk about how they deal with inequality and call upon other women to do the same.
References
Jones, O. (2021). Queen Latifah’s anthem “U.N.I.T.Y.” still spells out a critical message about women’s rights. Consequence Sound.
Lovejoy, H. (2021). The story of… ‘Respect’ by Aretha Franklin. Smooth Radio.
Plath, S. (1992). Daddy. Poetry Foundation.
Walthall, C. (2021). Behind the song: “9 to 5” by Dolly Parton. American Songwriter.