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http://crossmark.crossref.org/dialog/?doi=10.1007/s11199-016-0670-6&domain=pdf
Web End = Sex Roles (2017) 76:188201 DOI 10.1007/s11199-016-0670-6
http://crossmark.crossref.org/dialog/?doi=10.1007/s11199-016-0670-6&domain=pdf
Web End = ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Girl in a Country Song: Gender Roles and Objectification of Women in Popular Country Music across 1990 to 2014
Eric E. Rasmussen1 & Rebecca L. Densley1
Published online: 18 August 2016# Springer Science+Business Media New York 2016
Abstract Although content analyses have examined the portrayal of women in objectifying and demeaning ways in many forms of media, including several genres of music, little research has explored the portrayal of women in country music. The current study content analyzed the lyrics of 750 country songs popular in the United States across almost three decades (19902014) for their portrayal of female gender roles and objectification of women. Findings revealed that country songs from 2010 to 2014 were less likely to portray women in traditional roles, non-traditional roles, family roles, and as empowered than songs that were popular in the first half of one or both prior decades. Songs from 2010 to 2014 were also more likely to refer to a womans appearance, to women in tight or revealing clothing, to women as objects, and to women via slang than songs in one or both prior decades. Furthermore, results indicate that the changes in the portrayal of women appear to be driven by changes in lyrics in songs sung by male artists, but not by those in songs sung by female artists. The present research helps to lay a foundation for future work exploring the relations between exposure to country music, female gender role stereotypes, and attitudes and behaviors related to objectification of women.
Keywords Music . Women . Objectification . Gender roles . Stereotypes
Bein the girl in a country songHow in the world did it go so wrong?
Like all were good forIs looking good for you and your friends on the weekend Nothing moreWe used to get a little respectNow were lucky if we even getTo climb up in your truck, keep our mouth shut and ride alongAnd be the girl in a country song. Maddie & Tae
The hit single BGirl in a Country Song,^ released in July 2014 by female artists Maddie & Tae, rose quickly to the top of Billboards country chart in the United States...