Music Videos Imagery and Lyrics

            In today’s generation of music, it is very common to see music videos that reverse or challenge gender roles. Pop artists such as Lady Gaga have continually attempted to challenge the cultural norms of our society.  Her career has been met with large amount of appraisal and success but in the same instance, with criticism and disgust.  However, many other artists are continuing to challenge gender roles.  Two such music videos that come to mind are “So What” by Pink and “Self Esteem” by Offspring.

"So What" by Pink    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJfFZqTlWrQ 

"Self Esteem" by Offspring    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkFH0KMO0G0

            “So What” by Pink challenges gender roles because within the video, Pink shows some masculine traits that are not usually associated with women.  When I first watched the video, the one line that stood out to me was: “I’m gonna get in trouble, I wanna start a fight!”  This stood out to me because women usually are not physical or combative like males.  Throughout the whole video, Pink attempts to be free and rebellious after her husband has left.  She wants to start her life all over again and acts destructive.  Several characteristics that challenge gender roles are when Pink was riding a tractor and later, a motorcycle.  Usually males are viewed to ride a motorcycle because it goes with their gritty and tough appearance.  In addition, Pink is seen with a chainsaw and is cutting down a tree with a heart and two names craved into the trunk.  Women are not usually associated with yard work or labor like cutting down trees.  Furthermore, while at a guitar store, Pink is shown playing the guitar and eventually smacking it into the ground.  Once again, this is evidence of her rebellious behavior that reverses the normal gender roles for our society.  Later in the video, Pink chest bumps the guitar store worker in way that shows she does not care about the destruction she has caused or any consequences that may be coming her way.   

            Overall, Pink is transforming gender ideologies.  Along with her rebellious and masculine actions, Pink’s outfits are in contrast to the typical gender stereotypes that our society has come to form.

            While “So What” challenges gender roles, “Self Esteem” by Offspring reverses gender roles.  The lyrics that stand out are, “I took her back and made her dessert / Now I know I’m being used / That’s ok man cause I like the abuse / I know she’s playing with me / That’s ok cause I’ve got no self-esteem.”  The lyrics hint that the male is cooking and taking care of the woman while the woman is abusing and taking advantage of the male.  The male allows it to happen because he has no self-esteem.  In our society, it is usually the female that handles the cooking for the partner.  In addition, the low self-esteem trait commonly afflicts young women more than men.  Throughout our society, it is men that have the overbearing and controlling demeanor over women.  Thus, the gender roles have been reversed in this music video.

            Moreover, another set of lyrics that reverse gender roles is: “Late at night she knocks on my door / Drunk again and looking to score / Now I know I should say no / But that’s kind of hard when she’s ready to go.”  This behavior is more commonly associated with males instead of females.  We usually believe that males are the one’s getting drunk and chasing after women.  As a result, this music video has given the woman all the masculine characteristics while the man displays all the insecure and feminine characteristics.

Thus, it is evident that gender roles are continually being challenged in music videos.