Music industry girl bosses Nina Simone, Björk, M.I.A., Lady Gaga and Alicia Keys have proven to the world that women are just as able to succeed at whatever they put their minds to as their male counterparts. Embodying exemplary excellence and strength, these ladies totally rock at what they do, continue to challenge the society’s stereotypes of women and call to attention all the injustice towards women that have been present for as long we can remember.
How do the 5 singers support women’s rights?
1. Showing excellence and the ability to use their reputation as a platform
2. Turning to music to bring attention to various issues
3. Defying gender stereotypes and just doing whatever and whenever they want unapologetically
NINA SIMONE
“To most white people, jazz means black and jazz means dirt, and that’s not what I play. I play black classical music.”
We love Nina because she stood up for her principles, sacrificing her career for activism. She became known as the voice of the civil rights movement with tracks like “To Be Young, Gifted and Black” and “Mississippi Goddam.” These tracks plus “Old Jim Crow,” and “Four Women” take on tragedies brought by racism and stereotypes against African-American women, gaining her recognition for having the most feminist songs that were ahead of their time.
BJÖRK
“I didn’t want to talk about [feminism] for 10 years, but then I thought, ‘You’re a coward if you don’t stand up. Not for you, but for women. Say something.'”
We love Björk because, although she had a complicated relationship with feminism at first, it was never too late for her to change her mind and embrace her mistakes for new principles. From charitable works with UNICEF and supporting liberation movements to actively being involved in the environmental issues in Iceland, Björk uses her position and influence to promote positive change. Since then, she has been an embodiment of feminist ideals, being one of the icons to be vocal about prejudice against women, unapologetically defying gender stereotypes and repeatedly transforming herself.
M.I.A.
“I wanted to see if I could write songs about something important and make it sound like nothing. And it kind of worked.”
We love Maya because of her ability to cause a scene with her socially conscious statements tackling various issues from genocide and discrimination to sustainable fashion, of course, in a form of badass music. Case in point: this “Born Free” music video, inspired by Sri Lanka’s mass killings. She has become a refugee icon, recording demos that address global conflicts, gaining the attention of not only the listening audience but critics as well. Other than her philanthropy and activism, she is recognized for her success as a music video director, graphic designer and fashion designer.
LADY GAGA
“They say that this country is free, and they say that this country is equal, but it is not equal if it’s ‘sometimes’…We need change now. We demand actions now.”
She is often regarded as a pioneer for sometimes utilizing controversy to bring attention to various issues. As a bisexual woman, she is an advocate of LGBT rights and is considered a gay icon worldwide. She attributes her earlier success as a musician to the gay community.
ALICIA KEYS
“We have the potential to help people out of poverty, out of disease, out of slavery and out of conflict. Too often, we turn the other way because we think there’s nothing we can do.”
She started a website called IAAS.com (named after her song “Superwoman”) that serves as a place where women are open to share their dreams, struggles and advice, empowering women online to be superwomen. She has participated in several campaigns and teamed up with Greater Than AIDS, initiated the #NoMakeup movement and protested during the Women’s March on Washington that support women’s rights.
Words by Eunice Honrado and Reena Mesias