Meghan Trainor: Positive Feminist Role Model Or Sexist Regressive?
The world of pop music must seem very confusing for “All About The Bass” star Meghan Trainor this week. Meghan was undoubtedly one of the biggest breakout stars of 2014, as her hit song shot to No. 1 in over 50 countries. Trainor was widely praised for championing a positive body image for curvy women though some felt that her lyrics objectified women.
This week, 21-year-old Meghan released a new single accompanied by a 1950’s style video. The video of the song, called “Dear Future Husband” has been attacked by fans and critics alike as being sexist. Metro goes as far as to ask “is Meghan Trainor’s ‘Dear Future Husband’ the most sexist music video ever?”
OK! Magazine is equally scathing and leads with the headline “Dear Meghan Trainor, thanks for sending us back five generations,” and points out that social media has been on fire with criticism of Meghan all week. In the video, Meghan is seen scrubbing floors and baking whilst pouting seductively into the camera. The song is a catchy and upbeat pop tune but many fans have claimed that the song reflects outdated gender stereotypes.
Meghan Trainor sings lines demanding that her future husband brings her chocolate and flowers, opens doors for her and treats her like a lady. Fans have objected to lyrics like “if you’ll treat me right, I’ll be the perfect wife, buying groceries, buy-buying what you need.”
Meghan continues “Open doors for me and you might get some kisses” and “After every fight, just apologize and maybe then I’ll let you try and rock my body right.”
Many music fans took to social media platform Twitter to criticize Meghan Trainor condemning her lyrics as sexist and regressing back to the 1950’s.
After being widely praised for challenging stereotypes in “All About The Bass” Meghan is now being criticized for reinforcing gender stereotypes and for making it more difficult to achieve gender equality.
This is not the first time than Meghan Trainor has been criticized for some of her lyrics though. Even “All About The Bass” was criticized in some quarters as anti-feminist because it objectified women by portraying their bodies as something for men to enjoy.
Meghan was also criticized for ill-judged comments about eating disorders. The Mail report that in an interview Meghan was asked if she had ever been anorexic or bulimic and she replied saying that she had tried it once but “didn’t have the strength to make it through to dinner.”
What do Inquisitr readers think? Is Meghan Trainor’s video sexist or is it a misunderstood sideways swipe at sexist attitudes? Let us know what you think.
[Photo by Isaac Brekken/Getty Images]
