I chose "Black Eyes, Blue Tears" as the first song on my playlist because Shania sings about breaking out of her abusive, controlling relationship. She says that she's not going to stand being beaten and controlled, a common expectancy of women's roles in a relationship.
"I'm Just a Girl" is also about breaking out of the stereotype of women being refined and pretty.
"DateRape" is about a guy taking advantage of a girl, and using her for his personal satisfaction. "Love Story" shows a picturesque idea of how love should be. The guy is the charming, daring prince, and the girl is the lovely princess. This song just strengthened the stereotype of how love should be. "Warning" also shows some stereotypes of women; "batt your eyes girl", "seduce a stranger". "The Waitress" is full of objectifications of women. They are "hot" and have big butts, and charm the guys with their looks. Both "Like a Boy" and "If I Were a Boy" show how women view men's actions and behavior towards them. They both talk about what things would be like if the roles were switched. "No Woman No Cry" includes the stereotype that women are emotional and need to be comforted when they are. "Complicated" is about the girl being confident in herself, while the man is the one changing himself to fit in or be someone else. I included this song at the end because I think it sends a message that men can be affected by their surroundings and change themselves.
My taste in music has indeed changed in the recent years. I used to listen to main-stream music. Now, I mainly listen to indie, and underground music. Both of these, I find, to be less focused on material objects (yes, including women and their bodies), and more focused personal struggles, including love, and overcoming those problems. At the time, I didn't think about all the degrading things that are said to and about women in the main-stream songs. I still can't believe they play these songs on the radio! What does that say about America?
In chapter 7 of Feminism is for Everybody, Hooks discusses the issue of class in the early feminist movements. Before this class, I didn't know that this was even an issue. I did know that working class women were involved, but I didn't realize that the upper class women were the prominent women. I feel bad that the working class women had to work, and working wouldn't set them free, like the upper class women. I also don't like that the class issue was mainly white supremacy, and that many women were left out of the movement.
In chapter 16, Hooks talks about lesbianism, and how it ties into the feminist movement. I was surprised that in her black hometown community, being gay was more accepted than being lesbian. It seems like the opposite in my community today! I know that when a girl is a lesbian, or bisexual, a guy finds it attractive. When a guy is gay, he is excluded extremely from his peers, and considered dirty and weird. I also was surprised when Hooks said that the majority of lesbians aren't even involved with the feminist movement, for one reason or another. If anything, I thought they would be the ones involved the most!
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