The music industry is overloaded with songs about what it takes to get a man, how to be fierce for a man, and how to outshine another girl for a man and I jumped for joy when Meghan Trainer came out with the chart topper "All About That Bass." With a mega following of young girls, I felt a girl power anthem with an emphasis on positive body image for all girls was long overdue... until I listened to the lyrics. Unfortunately, the lyrics give young girls a negative perception of what is expected of them as they grow up with the pressures of today's media driven society. I believe no matter a girls size, self-love is vital to positive self esteem and confidence, however, in the process of lifting curvy girls up these lyrics shame skinny girls with a mantra of so called Girl Power and are shaping girls to believe that pleasing boys comes first.
Yeah, it's pretty clear, I ain't no size two
But I can shake it, shake it
Like I'm supposed to do
'Cause I got that boom boom that all the boys chase
And all the right junk in all the right places
Size does matter, according to the media; however, I love the fact that Meghan is so beautiful and successful and she's not a size two! This is the kind of Girl Power that every girl should see and she wears it so well, but she negates this positive message when she suggests the importance of a girl shaking her body for boys. Any girl, any size has the potential to be successful and have healthy relationships without the use of booty shaking. In my opinion, tips for how to please boys has nothing to do with self-image. One example that comes to mind is Oprah Winfrey... no booty shaking required.
Meghan nailed it with the Photoshop and magazine verse. There is a false definition of perfection for young girls. It's time we girls realize our self-worth and know that beauty is not only reflected from the outside. This is a tough mold to break especially since young girls have constant access to the media with the use of advanced technology, and just another reason why I believe celebrities like Meghan should use their power to make positive change.
I love that Meghan's Mom told her not to worry about her size. I agree with her! Being healthy is most important. The lyric about what boys want to hold at night communicates to girls that a boy's affection will validate their self-worth. It's so important for women to feel confident in themselves, for themselves. Songs like this also promote the idea that men should regard looks as the most important quality in a girl. I'd love to hear a song about a woman's intelligence, her perseverance, or her sense of humor, anything else besides how she can "shake it like she's supposed to."
The stick figure Barbie doll lyric is a complete disgrace to girls who are thin. I have been petite and thin my entire life. I am a natural size 1, meaning that I don't diet or exercise to retain my figure. I find it insulting when you insinuate that skinny girls believe they are fat. I have never thought of myself as fat or communicated to anyone that I feel this way and know many girls who share the same thoughts on this subject. Shaming skinny girls while attempting to lift up curvy girls is telling girls that in order to have self-worth they should tear down one another. This is so frustrating to me because women need to stop judging others in order to feel good about themselves.
As you bring booty back you are shaming skinny girls with naming calling. I might be skinny but I'm no bitch. I am a 19-year old-girl who spends her time passionately empowering young girls to be confident as they are facing the tough pressures of today's society, and inspiring them to work hard at being THEIR best, not what the media shapes them to believe they should be. Dividing girls into categories such as curvy and skinny is exactly what we don't need, so here's a little re-write with a mantra of my own:
I'm bringing confidence back
Go ahead and tell all the girls that
I'm not playing, I think it's time we stop the shaming
But I'm here to tell ya
Every inch of you is perfect from the bottom to the top