Women in American Popular Music

Question 1

Gender vs. sex

Answer 1

Gender- Socially constructed and individually performed

Sex- Biologically Constructed

Question 2

Agency

Answer 2

The capacity of individuals to act independently and make their own free choices

Question 3

Feminism, 1st, 2nd, 3rd waves

Answer 3

1st Wave- Suffrage, property rights, marriage rights, education
2nd Wave- Discriminations, reproductive rights, violence, workplace equality
3rd Wave- Challenged white middle class perspective of first and second wave

Question 4

Misogyny

Answer 4

Hatred, dislike or mistrust of women

Question 5

Sexism

Answer 5

discrimination or devaluation based on a person’s sex

Question 6

Androgyny

Answer 6

Having both male and female characteristics

Question 7

Gender Play

Answer 7

Dressing as the opposite sex and pretending to be another gender

Question 8

Janis Joplin

Answer 8

“Ball and Chain”
Broke gender performance barriers
emulated black blues singer

Question 9

Joan Jett

Answer 9

“I Love Rock and Roll”

first woman to own and found a record label: Blackheart Records

Question 10

Madonna

Answer 10

“Express Yourself”

challenges traditional gender roles: she wears pants, she touches herself, she is sexually dominant over her male backup dancers, she shows her muscles (asserts physical strength), and the lyrics encourage self-expression

Question 11

Annie Lennox

Answer 11

“Sweet Dreams”

Androgyny

Question 12

Janelle Monae

Answer 12

“Tightrope”