Earlier this week, I posted a clip in which Lady Gaga makes some very important and valid points about double standards that are very much in line with feminist ideals, yet balks at actually adopting the label “feminist.” Amy sent me an article in which she changes her tune regarding the label “feminist.” From the article:
“During nearly two hours of conversation, she not only reiterates her assertion of total originality but also finesses it until it’s both a philosophical stance about how constructing a persona from pop-cultural sources can be an expression of a person’s truth — à la those drag queens Gaga sincerely admires — and a bit of a feminist act.‘I’m getting the sense that you’re a little bit of a feminist, like I am, which is good,’ she said. ‘I find that men get away with saying a lot in this business, and that women get away with saying very little . . . In my opinion, women need and want someone to look up to that they feel have the full sense of who they are, and says, ‘I’m great.’ ‘
Gaga’s casual use of the term ‘feminist’ was interesting; like many female pop stars, she’s rejected the term in the past. But she’s evolving. She is growing “more compassionate,” she says, and focusing more on ideas of community, especially the one formed by her core fan base, a mix of gay men, bohemian kids and young women attracted by Gaga’s style and her singable melodies.”
“I feel like we, collectively, tend to give too much credit to people in the media and then get pissed when they don’t live up to our standards. Is she a feminist icon? I’d say no. At least not yet. But should we flog the girl for being young and publicly maturing into her beliefs on complicated subjects like feminism? I don’t think so.”
“[It] was an issue at my record label. I fought for months, and I cried at meetings…The last thing a young woman needs is another picture of a sexy pop star writhing in sand, covered in grease, touching herself.”
On being a role model:
“The truth is that every bit of me is devoted to love and art and I aspire to try to be a teacher to my young fans who feel just like I felt when I was younger, I felt like a freak. I guess what I’m trying to say is I wanna liberate them, I wanna free them of their fears and let them know they can create their own space in the world.”
Lady Gaga is kick ass in many, many ways. She’s outspoken and vocal about her beliefs, but what she has to say is worth listening to, unlike people like Megan Fox. I look forward to continuing to listen.
I'm Britni, a snarky bitch and generally awesome person. I write about sex, love, and bullshit. If sex-positivity, discussions about BDSM and kink, queer issues, and topics that are completely inappropriate by society's standards make you uncomfortable, then this blog is not for you.
Good Vibes 
7 Comments
Lady Gaga is always so amusing to me. She's so out-there and awesome. She's definitely not one of those women that you see sitting around and accepting everything that's going on.
This makes me happy. I have a very strange relationship with Gaga; I like some of her songs but don't really know a whole lot of them because I don't listen to the radio but I'm very drawn to her personality and outlandish presence. Amanda Palmer is also obsessed with her and discusses her often and it makes me think a lot about Lady Gaga's place in art, music, commercialization, and merchandising. She's a very smart lady and knows what she's doing, Ms. Gaga does and I definitely appreciate that this is someone who has mainstream success but is actually truly talented and has meaningful, interesting things to say. She fucking rocks it out on the piano and she's really just a breath of fresh air, even if sometimes I wonder how I really feel about her.
What would you suggest I download to get more into her music. I know the one song of hers I don't like is Disco Stick but other than that I've only heard like three of them. Suggestions?
I'm for equality and yet I am not a feminist. You can be for equality and not be a feminist. I doubt I will ever be a feminist or proclaim to be one.
I wonder if Gaga changed her tune for her own reasons or if she felt external pressure to call herself a feminist.
Eliot, She doesn't strike me as the type to identify as feminist to fold to pressure.
If you are for equality, yet don't like the label feminist, I would love to hear what it is about "feminist" that rubs you the wrong way. Please to explain?
the thing that blows my mind about Gaga, is that she is only 23. I don't know many 23 year olds who can speak so eloquently and intelligently as she. Not to mention this passionate drive she possesses and genuine kindness.
xo mina
The shiny pink lips, slightly parted looks sexual to me on her cd cover. Just less overt.
Nothing wrong with a tease.
I love everything about Lady Gaga despite the fact that she falls far outside of the genre that I usually listen to (metal).
What I love most about her is probably the fact that she is an actual musician, and a good one at that. I am crazy about her over-the-top performances, as well. I love a good entertainer, and we've been sorely lacking one in mainstream music.
Also, she's a weird, Italian girl from the northeast… just like myself.