I'm sharing this article NOT because it knocks on Taylor Swift, but because it talks about feminism in country music and throws some props to my girl Miranda Lambert. Certainly, there is sexism and some old-school stereotypes in the genre. I think there is an overarching theme of men respecting the women (at least a little more than in pop or rap music) and women being tough and independent, not running around in lingerie.
Some of these revenge songs also make me think. Most songs I know about getting revenge on cheating or abusive partners are sung by women, about men OR by women, about women. I'm hard pressed to think of a man who sang about shooting his cheating wife. BUT, I could name you a whole score of women who sang about killing abusive fathers, boyfriends, etc. or the woman responsible for their husband's infidelity. Is it okay for women to advocate violence and men to shy away from that? Or is that just a product of history, where men have beleaguered and belittled women for years? Are women just taking their justice?
