Reflection 4: I'm Just a Girl—On '90s Feminist Anthems

It was in the '90s that the third wave of feminists came of age. This time, it was young Gen Xers who embraced a more socially, racially, and sexually diverse feminism than previous generations—and music was quick to take notice. From Pop to Hip Hop to Country to Rock and R&B, 1990s female artists saw unprecedented exposure and success. Their bold songs about sexuality, infidelity, sexism, and self-esteem were soon staples of '90s radio. By the end of the decade, not only had women produced five of the ten best-selling albums, but VH1 celebrated female artists with their annual Divas Live showcase, while the all-woman Lilith Fair blazed trails on the summer tour circuit.  

Below is a list of '90s feminist anthems. For this reflection, examine four of the following songs. In your analysis, consider what the story they are telling. Who or what are they challenging? Finally, how do female artists in today's musical ecosystem compare to those of the 1990s?

Choose four of the following to explore:

1. Wilson Phillips, "Hold On" (1990)
   
2. Tori Amos, "Silent All These Years" (1992)
3. En Vogue, "Free Your Mind" (1992)
   
4. Mary Chapin Carpenter, "He Thinks He'll Keep Her" (1993)
5. Bikini Kill, "Rebel Girl" (1993)
   
6. Queen Latifah, "U.N.I.T.Y." (1993) 
7. Liz Phair, "Girls! Girls! Girls!" (1993)
   
8. Salt-N-Pepa, "Ain't Nuthin' But a She Thing" (1994)
9. 7 Year Bitch, "The Scratch" (1994)
   
10. Des'ree, "You Gotta Be" (1994)
    
11. Madonna, "Human Nature" (1994) 
12. Jody Watley, "When a Man Loves a Woman" (1994)
    
13. Veruca Salt, "Seether"  (1994) 
14. Selena, "Si Una Vez" (In Spanish; 1994)
    
15. Hole, "Violet" (1994)
16. Alanis Morissette, "You Oughta Know" (1995)
17. Jill Sobule, "I Kissed a Girl" (1995)
    
18. No Doubt, "Just a Girl" (1995)
19. Spice Girls, "Wannabe" (1996) 
20. Natalie Imbruglia, "Torn" (1997) 
    
21. Fiona Apple, "Criminal" (1997) 
22. Meredith Brooks, "Bitch" (1997)
23. Shania Twain, "Man, I Feel Like a Woman" (1997)
    
24. Erykah Badu, "Tyrone" (1997)
25. TLC, "No Scrubs" (1999)
26. The Chicks (née Dixie Chicks), "Goodbye Earl" (1999)
27. Destiny's Child, "Bills, Bills, Bills" (1999)
28. Le Tigre, "Hot Topic" (1999)
29. Whitney Houston, "It's Not Right, but It's Okay"
    
30. Jennifer Lopez, "If You Had My Love" (1999)
    

Mechanics:

• 1.5 pages in length
• MLA Style

Due: Wed 11.4 (via Canvas)