Femme and Fury: Examining Patriarchy Through the Concept of Feminine Rage in Music

This article delves into popular music by female singers that discuss and probe into the norms of patriarchy. It aims to explore and showcase the female perspective on the male-dominated society through songs that express dissatisfaction and anger at the existing norms and expectations placed upon women. It inquires through two well-known and well-loved songs by singers known to call attention to the existing societal framework through their music. Decoding the songs—‘Just a Girl’ by No Doubt and ‘Labour’ by Paris Paloma—we mean to explore the themes of gender and gender roles presented through lyrical analysis and visual exploration of the accompanying music video. Through literary analysis, this article aims to investigate feminist songwriting and discourse about women’s voices in music and the impact of social media in popularising the themes present in these songs. They range from stereotypes that bind women to certain expectations of beauty, clothing or behaviour to norms that force certain roles and identities on the female entity by the community. It explores the reactionary tone of feminist music to express the need for change in the existing society and the genre of feminine rage to explore sexism and objectification, along with the infantilisation and danger that women face in everyday life. It platforms discussions regarding the freedom of choice that a woman holds and allows for inquiry about the state of women in contemporary society. Through an in-depth analysis of lyrics, this article dives deep into the use of music to protest against and bring attention towards gender dynamics and explore social commentary through songwriting.