Intro

With Country Music’s rise in popularity, it is important to note some of the most relevant changes in the music being produced in the genre. This industry is relatively new to the music scene and only began in the 1920s. Since its debut in the music world, Country Music has changed throughout the decades and evolved into what is now known as, “Sixth Generation” Country Music. The most noted difference, becoming more apparent as the genre has progressed, is the themes in the music. Country Music is most famous for telling stories of faith, patriotism, love, sorrow, and of the common workingman. However, the genre is seeing a change in the recent music being produced. It is becoming apparent that lyricists are moving away from the traditional themes of Country Music and introducing its new style, called, “Bro-Country.” This style is defined as contatining lyrics about pretty girls, trucks, beer, alcohol that leads to sex, and scantly dressed women.

According to Neff, “…objectification, was the main form of sexism in country music.”

According to Rogers, “Most people would assume that country is less sexist or has the least detrimental type of sexism within its lyrical content. However, one might also argue that it is more dangerous when sexism is buried within the lyrics. People might think this is “quality” music on the surface and really take the lyrics seriously. The idea that this is wholesome music is really what makes it necessary to study the underlying sexism that exists within it.”

According to Evans, “Overall, it would seem a significant cultural shift has occurred in country music somewhere during the first decade of the 2000s: references to sex, references to substance use (and particularly alcohol consumption) and – not coincidentally – references to drinking in connection to sex all experienced a jump between the years 1999-2003 and 2004-2008. The influence of whatever led to this spike is still being felt, as sex and alcohol references continue to climb into 2009-2013, and possibly beyond. These changes may be emblematic of a larger shift occurring in country music, as country acts fight to maintain their relevance and expand into the mainstream pop/rock market.”

Method
In order to study my hypothesis, I will be looking at country music billboard charts from the past ten years. I will be examining the top ten songs from 2005­2010 and the top ten songs from 2010­2015. In total, I will be listening, reading and watching a total of 20 country music songs. However, I will only be looking at male country artists. Within those songs, I will be looking for what women are called, how they are spoken about, and what they are dressed like. To be more specific, when I speak about what women are being called. Some words I will look for is if the women are being called “baby,” “girl,” “blonde,” “pretty girl,” “she,” or the women will not even have a name at all. Next, I will look at how they are spoken about. I will be looking for females being objectified in the activities that are represented in the lyrics. I will beb looking for lyrics that depict women as men’s property, dancing sexually, and acting in a manner that is overtly sexual. What I mean by this is that I will look at lyrics that show that women are only good to, “drive around with,” “dance with,” “clean,” “sit in the front seat of a car.” Also, I will that sugar shaker,” “just cutting it up,” “shaking that money maker.” Lastly, I will exam how they are dressed in the songs. For example, I will highlight phrases such as, “cut off jeans,” bikinis,” “flip­flops,” “daisy dukes,” “short skirts,” “tight jeans,” and “painted on jeans.” Not only will I be reading and listening to the lyrics, I will be watching the music videos too. I will be noting how the women are dressed and what they are doing in the videos. I will be looking to see if they are dressed in low­cut shirts, tight jeans, short shorts, short skirts, and no shirt/no pants. Next, I will be watching to see what the women are doing in the video. I will be looking to see if they are dancing provocatively, engaging in sexual activity, and drinking heavily.
Lastly, I will compare the music from 2005­2010 to 2010­2015. I will be looking to see if the music these last 5 years is more degrading towards women than in the past. Like I stated, my hypothesis is that women are being discriminated against more in the 2010­2015 time frame than in the 2005­2010 years.

Reference Page

Evans, K. M. (2014). “One More Drinkin’Song”: A Longitudinal Content Analysis of Country Music Lyrics Between the Years 1994 and 2013.

Neff, S. (2014). Sexism Across Musical Genres: A Comparison.

Rogers, A. Sexism In Unexpected Places: An Analysis of Country Music Lyrics.