Female Popstars: are they our role models?

Everyone has a favourite – Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Rihanna – to name just a few. It is undeniable that these women can sing – but when did it stop being about the music and more about the image? And is that image something we girls should aspire to copy? You’ve probably heard about the story when Rihanna was kicked off a field in the UK while shooting her music video for ‘We Found Love’, because the farmer did not approve of her being topless on his land. If not, it’s likely that you’ve seen Katy Perry’s most recent album cover for ‘Teenage Dream’, where she is shown to be nude with only a few wisps of cloud covering her modesty. When did everyone become so naked?! Rihanna and Katy Perry are without a doubt beautiful women, and very talented, too. So I don’t see why they feel they should take off their clothes, or wear very few of them, in order to look and feel attractive; because they already are. Worse, young girls who look up to them think that they ought to do the same. In a time when women are still fighting for equality, surely this sets us back – if we are objectifying ourselves by exposing so much of our bodies, then clearly men will be objectifying us too. These popstars justify their latest songs, videos, and outfits by saying that they are ‘expressing their sexuality,’ which is all very well. Except, there is more to women than just sexuality. There is more to be expressed than our image: perfect make-up, stylish clothes, great hair. We have beauty and strengths in so many other ways. It’s these ways in which yes, we should be inspired by female artists today. Those women who have worked hard to get where they are today; the ones who followed their dreams. Those women who are independent and fierce, who give us music that makes us wanna dance and be happy. We can aspire to be like these women. Only, we’ll do it while keeping our clothes on.