Here is a problem American women need to consider

[csziggy]

While looking for a clip of the Helen Reddy song "I AM Woman" I came across a video of Beyonce, Jennifer Lopez, Britney Spears performing a song with the same title. I thought "Great! a remake of that old song."

How wrong I was. Rather than an empowering song enforcing how strong and independent women are, this thing sexualizes and objectifies women, not only in the dance routines of the video, but in the lyrics.

The most coherent verse of the lyrics is:

I mean fashion allegiance is a passion
I built this body to relax in
Try to bring me down Ima get the last laugh in
Don't need to talk I speak with action
I perfected the laws of attraction
Ima whole package plus satisfaction
Better check yourself before you get what you asking
Don't get it twisted give ya boy a passion
RESPECT is all that Im asking
Woman plus life equal alright
but woman no life Id like to see you try

Now compare it to Helen Reddy and Ray Burton's I Am Woman:

I am woman, hear me roar
In numbers too big to ignore
And I know too much to go back an' pretend
'Cause I've heard it all before
And I've been down there on the floor
No one's ever gonna keep me down again

Oh yes, I am wise
But it's wisdom born of pain
Yes, I've paid the price
But look how much I gained
If I have to
I can do anything
I am strong (strong)
I am invincible (invincible)
I am woman

You can bend but never break me
'Cause it only serves to make me
More determined to achieve my final goal
And I come back even stronger
Not a novice any longer
'Cause you've deepened the conviction in my soul

Oh, yes, I am wise
But it's wisdom born of pain
Yes, I've paid the price
But look how much I gained
If I have to
I can face anything
I am strong (strong)
I am invincible (invincible)
I am woman

I am woman watch me grow
See me standing toe to toe
As I spread my lovin' arms across the land
But I'm still an embryo
With a long, long way to go
Until I make my brother understand

Oh, yes, I am wise
But it's wisdom born of pain
Yes, I've paid the price
But look how much I gained
If I have to
I can face anything
I am strong (strong)
I am invincible (invincible)
I am woman

Oh, I am woman
I am invincible
I am strong

I am woman
I am invincible
I am strong
I am woman

What message does this give to our young women? No wonder we are losing ground on women's issues!

For those who want to compare the two videos for themselves:

[elleng]

1. I agree, lots of the b.s. around,

but my 2 daughters, 23 + 27, very interested in the fashion etc crap, are STILL essentially feminists, prolly because of growing up with me, not a flamer but have always walked the walk.

[digonswine]

2. Power through sexiness-

Surely a power, but one built with men in mind. And fleeting--

this insults women and and men. Men are to respect a woman that is attractive and has mastered the art of attraction? I hate that idea for both sexes. We are all diminished for it.

[handmade34]

3. another "I am Woman" (Jordon Sparks)

one review:
"This ‘I Am Woman’ is not the Helen Reddy song from 1971 — thank goodness. In fact, with its high-energy electro sound, it couldn’t be further from that staple of oldies/easy-listening radio.

Oddly enough, this girl-power anthem was written and produced by a guy — Ryan Tedder of OneRepublic, to be specific. But Sparks makes the song her own.

“It ain’t easy walking in stilettos — but somebody gotta do it,” she declares early on, setting the tone for the track."



http://popcrush.com/jordin-sparks-i-am-woman/

but maybe best of all...

[csziggy]

4. The Jordan Sparks song is the same as the Beyonce one

At least the lyrics are, if not the performance. Sorry, but to me that is not a song that implies power to me - it's making fashion the important statement.

A song that is entitled "I Am A Woman" should not be about "girl-power" but about adult female power.

Thank you for the KoKo Taylor one - that one is new to me.

I'm very surprised that no one has done the Helen Reddy version over. It is a powerful song, even if the later Reddy performances of it diluted it's strength and message.

[handmade34]

6. yes...

and noted that the new version is written by a man

[csziggy]

9. I wouldn't have been so upset if the original lyrics were there

Though I would not have been happy if the same or similar soft porn dancing was involved. But this new "I Am Woman" has nothing to do with the original. It made being stylish and sexy the most important values for young women.

Of course, I am an older woman with no children so the only previous exposure I've had to most of these performers has been on commercials or entertainment segments on what passes for news programs.

[lumberjack_jeff]

8. The idea that attractiveness = power

Is an essentially counterproductive idea.

[Avalux]

11. Soo......women have done this to themselves?

I'm sorry, but a song means nothing. It's what parents teach their daughters that counts.

[csziggy]

12. It's what's behind the song and I think it's peer pressure as much as anything

Since a lot of young people are more influenced by their friends than their parents at some point in their lives.

I don't know - I don't have kids and wasn't a very typical kid when I was young. I came to adulthood when women were being liberated because of the wider availability of "The Pill". I thought women had learned not to fall for the old expectations and have lived my life keeping away from what is generally expected of women.

Now I emerge from my cocoon and find that young women are back to big hair, false eyelashes, tons of makeup and generally sexualizing themselves, and it's like a time warp.

[Avalux]

13. It's been difficult to raise three daughters in our society.

Two of them are women now and my first priority was to make sure they grew up with a strong sense of self; educated, independent and able to take care of themselves. It's been a lot of hard work, constantly being 'in their business' while growing up and pointing out what's right and wrong about how women are portrayed in our culture. I've paid attention to what they watch on TV, what they listen to and who their friends are. I initiate conversations that are uncomfortable but necessary. Most importantly, I celebrate their individuality and love them for who they are, not an expectation. My youngest is 16 and now, it's not just me but her older sisters looking out for her. I'm proud of all of them.

Peer pressure is a huge obstacle but let me tell you something. My oldest who is now 26, recently told me she could always hear my voice in her head. When she was with friends and faced with a decision, she'd hear me and it helped her know what to do. That voice was there because I started teaching her when she was very young. By the time she was a teenager, even if she didn't speak to me at times because she was mad, the foundation was there.

So by experience, a parent/parents have a lot more influence than they think, but it must start early.

[csziggy]

14. I'm sure it is difficult

My parents, especially Mom, raised four daughters who all became adults in the 1960s and 70s. Mom raised us all to be self reliant and her constant was to never have to rely on a man to support us. They sent all of us to college and we all grew up to be strong, independent women. We all married but we never had rely on our husband's income - in fact in some cases our husbands relied on ours!

Mom's ideas ran contrary to those of many in the small town where we lived. Other women thought she was hopeless since she never taught us how to do our hair or wear makeup and didn't try to dress us in the latest fashions. We were the oddball girls who were good at science and math and enjoyed school. We also were unusual that we didn't spend our high school years consumed by crushes on boys or planning our lives as housewives once we had bagged a husband.

So while I have not been in your shoes, I can understand a little of what you have achieved with your daughters. I'm sure you are proud of them and that are proud of you - and that they are glad to be your daughters.