Gender inequality and sexism in songs

Gender inequality is a big problem worldwide. Some people think that gender equality is reached. Others can think: "What more do you want? There have been lots of changes." It's true. We've achieved fantastic things talking about this topic. I'm a man (that's evident, haha), but when I see gender inequality on TV, when I see gender inequality in couples, I think: "How can he/she bear that? I couldn't bear it."

So, for those of you who think that gender equality is reached, and for those who believe that there's still inequalities;  for everybody, let's watch this music videos.

DAYS OF THE WEEK

In this song, TV's clowns (Los payasos de la tele), sing: 

"Monday before lunching, 

a girl went to play,

but she couldn't play, 

because she must iron"

The singers repeat everyday of the week saying that the girl couldn't play because she must do the housework, and finally on Sunday, she went to pray. No day says that a boy sweeps,  whashes the dishes, etc. 

So, this song shows gender inequality in the 70's. The housework is reserved for girls, and boys don't do anything.

THE BOY DOES NOTHING

Click in the image to watch the video.

This song sung by Alesha Dixon is a dialogue between a girl and another person. This person asks her if his boyfriend does the housework, and she constantly repeats "no". Finally, she searches for a boy who do the same things that girls. I let you the chrous of this song:
"Does he wash up? Never washed up 

Does he clean up? No, he never cleans up
Does he brush up? Never brushed up
He does nothing, the boy does nothing"

LA MUDA

Click here to listen to the song.

Lots of reggeaton songs have chauvinist songs. An example of them, is La Muda sung by Caly & El Dandee. They show women as servants of men, that always agree with them. Let's see the lyrics of the song:

"I want a beautiful girl that never said anything,that when I go alone in the night, and I return in the morning, said nothing. 
That althought she doesn't like that I had (drank), she said nothing."

When I write the perfect, I'm using the subjunctive: so when I say "that never said anything", I mean "que no diga na'".

BLURRED LINES

Look at this feminist parody, "Defined lines"

Blurred lines is a very famous song. It's sung by Robin Thicke, and the chauvinist message of this song is treated from the point of view of the woman as a sexual object. The video you have above is a feminist parody. Let's read a part of the lyrics of this song:

Obviously, the verb that rhymes with "hug me" is "f*ck me". If you want to see the original song, click here.

I NEED AIR

Finally, I want to put a song against sexism. It's sung by the famous Pastora  Soler, and the song is called Necesito aire (I need air). It tells the story of a girl  who was with a man, and she was always taking care of him. One day, she  decides to live her life because she realises that we should enjoy it, so she goes to  parties and to have fun... I wish every abused woman has this life philosophy!.  Here are the lyrics of the song:

Click in the image to see the lyrics bigger.

STEREOTYPES IN SOME COUNTRIES

All people know that a stereotype is a general idea of a thing, in this case, of a country. 

So, we have to...

This has influence about customs and traditions of countries. Not always stereotypes are bad although we have to avoid them because they make you think about a country and judge it and you will have a wrong idea of that country! 

Now, I'm going to talk about some stereotypes in several countries of the world.



For example, if we talk about Norway, people think on ice and snow and people skiing, because there it is very cold! 


On the other hand, when we say "Netherlands", people think that Dutch people are always smoking marijuana, but it isn't true!

Also, when we are watching TV and you hear "Canada" you think that a reindeer goes to appear, although there are other things in Canada, not only reindeers!

Then, if we talk of Australia, you think that is all full of kangaroos or also, you can think that is face down because Australia is almost in the South extreme of the Earth.

It is very typical to think that in Russia, people always is drinking an alcoholic drink called Vodka but it isn't true!






Also, when we talk about Italy, we think that they are very good lovers, but not all people is good loving! When I think on Italy, I think in pizza too.

Then, if we say "Brazil" we imagine people playing football in the middle of the street or a large queue of people dancing Samba.

It can be that if we talk about USA, we think that the Americans are very fats and they are spying us, but not all people is fat or spy us.

It is very typical talk about South Korea (or also Japan) and you think that people from there are always playing strange videogames.

Finally, if we say "Ireland" we think that all people are drinking bear all the time and they are always drunks but it isn't true.




I hope you've learnt a little bit more about stereotypes of some countries, also I hope that you try to avoid them!!

SONG: Love The Way You Lie

Love The Way You Lie 

Rihanna and Eminem 

Just gonna stand there And watch me burn But that's alright Because I like The way it hurts Just gonna stand there And hear me cry But that's alright Because I love The way you lie I love the way you lie I love the way you lie I can't tell you what it really is I can only tell you what it feels like And right now there's a steel knife In my windpipe I can't breathe But I still fight While I can fight As long as the wrong feels right It's like I'm in flight High of a love Drunk from the hate It's like I'm huffing paint And I love it the more that I suffer I sufficate And right before im about to drown She resuscitates me She fucking hates me And I love it Wait Where you going I'm leaving you No you ain't Come back We're running right back Here we go again It's so insane Cause when it's going good It's going great I'm Superman With the wind in his bag She's Lois Lane But when it's bad It's awful I feel so ashamed I snap

Who's that dude I don't even know his name I laid hands on her I'll never stoop so low again I guess I don't know my own strength Just gonna stand there And watch me burn But that's alright Because I like The way it hurts Just gonna stand there And hear me cry But that's alright Because I love The way you lie I love the way you lie I love the way you lie You ever love somebody so much You can barely breathe When you're with them You meet And neither one of you Even know what hit 'em Got that warm fuzzy feeling Yeah them chills Used to get 'em Now you're getting fucking sick Of looking at 'em You swore you've never hit 'em Never do nothing to hurt 'em Now you're in each other's face Spewing venom And these words When you spit 'em You push Pull each other's hair Scratch, claw, bit 'em Throw 'em down

Learning about Stereotypes

Thanks to "That's English" you can learn more about STEREOTYPES whatching the following video.:

STEREOTYPES

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