Who is running your World?

Last night I was watching American Idol. I am not a huge tv watcher, but on occasion will flip through the odd channel- generally something DIY oriented. So, last night, Matt and I were watching American Idol. And the premier of Beyonce’s new video came on. “Run the World (Girls)” The all together too long clip of this video left me with an ache in my heart, and a sadness for the girls of our world who are influenced by what they see in the media. I am disappointed that a show like American Idol, in which Ryan Seacrest said that very night the contestant Lauren Alaina (now 16) began watching at the age of 6, would put such a video up during their show. I get it that it’s a show centered around the beast that is the ever so fickle music industry. But honestly, when you take into account that the remaining contestants are 16, 17, and 20 years of age, would there not be some consideration into their fan base- I think it’s time to accept that they do not have to be all about the “sex” factor. If that video came on while my 6 year old daughter was watching, I would have turned it off.

The notion that you can prance around in your underwear, as a slutty object for men to lust over, and still maintain your dignity and strength as a woman, or as Beyonce’s song puts it “a girl” is the biggest crock that has ever been bought into by this generation. It is not acceptable to me that these types of artists could actually believe they are promoting women’s value, honor and gifts, instead of completely harming the world’s view and expectations of women in our society today. So, in order to impact the world, I should “shake it” in garters, my underwear and corset? Apparently this is what female sexuality is, and thats what “girls” have to offer. Their bodies.

But wait, we can be sexy and smart. Girls just like to dance, and have fun to a song with a good beat. As a dancer, and dance instructor, I try to be very mindful of the content within a song that has a “good beat.” There are times when I am sitting in a recital, and feel so aware of the songs that are playing. My 3 year old is in the audience! That was just a poorly bleeped out f-bomb, or an entire song with a “good beat”, saying “I know you want me… shake it…” yadda yadda. And if we really want to be so naive to say, oh kids don’t know, they’re not really listening, they don’t know what it actually means- then tell that to my 3 year old who can recite lyrics back to me after hearing them once. Or can recognize  the original version of a song that he heard my brother cover. When he saw a piece of a dance I was rehearsing centering on exploitation, just me, dancing alone, by the story that was told within the emotion and movement, he knew it wasn’t a good one. “Mommy, I did not like that dance. I did not like when you fell on the floor. I wanted you to get up.” This was just a rough rehearsal in a studio… wearing my sweat pants. He felt like mommy was not being taken care of. And he gave me a hug, and I told him I was okay. That sometimes I have to tell stories when I dance, but that mommy was safe and then we danced together.

For girls watching this video- a song calling out to “Girls” who do you think they will think it’s talking to? I know who I think of when I hear the term girl, but lets take a look at the definition.

The word girl defined is:

  •  a female child from birth to young womanhood
  • a daughter
  •  a young unmarried woman
Now there are also informal definitions, similar to those that would be used in the saying “a girls night out” and then there are those deemed offensive, for example, when referring to a servant or slave as “girl.”
I was once a girl. I am now a married wife and mother to two boys. A a giver of care, love and affection.  A woman to be romanced, longed for, and deemed as beautiful. And while I am unique, I am also part of the collective group that is female, feminine; inherent to my very design are the qualities that make me a woman. That is my gender, my sexuality, but it does not mean that it can not be celebrated without  being flaunted in front of all. If I walked into a room, into your living room, in my underwear, would you feel uncomfortable? What if I spread my legs and started shaking my butt in your face. I feel embarrassed just writing the words. But this is what we have allowed into our homes, this is what many of the girls of our day believe will be expected of them, and not just expected, but deemed as a measure of success and strength of a woman. One day they’ll be the “girl in da club” they’ll answer to the “where my girls at?” “Don’t hate because we’re sexy”… Ugh I could just barf. Or cry. Or shout.
I know that we have a strong filter on what we allow our boys to see. I know we can not protect them from everything in this world, but we can certainly have standards regarding what comes into our home. We want to raise our sons to stand up for girls- to be thankful for the mystery that is a women. To admire their strength and protect them in their weakness. I know I am not always She-ra hear me roar, I need to be taken care of. The true warrior in my heart comes out when I believe we are allowing yet another opportunity for children, girls, boys, women or men to exploited. It may be true that sex sells- and while Cosmo may be just a magazine, and  “Run the World” is just a music video- the 100 sex secrets you’ve never heard to satisfy him, or the up close shots of butts and breasts- are simply fuel to groom and condition the generation of tomorrow to buy into an industry that seeks to do nothing more then steal and destroy. To steal the innocence of children, to destroy the value of man and woman, and the true meaning and depiction of love.
I believe we have a choice. I believe that if enough of us begin to question these things, something must change. I believe there is a better message not only for our children, but for the men and women in this world today that need a different reality. What about you?

6 thoughts on “Who is running your World?

  1. I came across this in my Facebook newsfeed. Very thought provoking truth! Thank you for being a voice for young women and standing in integrity when too many of the world have turned that off.

    Lani

  2. Oh mizz ashlea, what a blessing you are!

    you are an inspiration to woman of all ages.

    you are light in so many places that have gone into darkness…

    i love you mz d xo

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