Publishing date: Mar, 08, 2022
It’s International Women’s Day, a day focused on celebrating and supporting women, which naturally includes being the ultimate hype girl for your friend’s latest selfie. The theme for International Women’s Day 2022 is #BreakTheBias. It’s all about acknowledging the biases that make it difficult for women to move forward and being proactive about doing the work to level the playing field. This IWD, I want to highlight some women in the music industry who are breaking the bias every day and working to empower women both within and beyond the music industry.
Lizzo
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If you ever need a pick-me-up, look no further than Lizzo’s music. She is the queen of pop anthems that make you feel like you can take on the world. She highlights intersectional feminism and fights for the equality of all women, with a specific emphasis on the black and LGBTQ+ community. She promotes self-love and has shown time and time again that we are ALL worthy of feeling Good As Hell.
Kesha
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Kesha has taught all of us an important lesson on resilience and courage. She’s been through hell and back and is still able to share her story with a beautiful openness. Her 2017 album Rainbow is about coming out on the other side of trauma, and proving to yourself that it gets better. Kesha is a ferocious survivor and has shown that there is immense power in vulnerability.
Janelle Monáe
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“We come in peace, but we mean business. And to those who would dare try and silence us, we offer you two words: Time’s up.”
PERIOD. Janelle Monáe delivered one of the most inspiring f*ck the patriarchy speeches at the 2018 GRAMMYs. She’s been a consistent voice of support in the #TimesUp and #MeToo movements and is paving the way for female musicians to come by tirelessly advocating for equality and respect for women in the music industry.
Missy Elliot
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Missy Elliot established herself during a time when the hip-hop and rap industry was dominated by men, and the notion of feminism wasn’t really on the radar of mainstream media. Despite the obstacles of being a woman in a male-dominated scene, Elliott fought for her career, producing empowering feminist songs and asserting herself in front of the camera as a Black female rapper who is unapologetically herself. She championed body positivity, promoted self-love, and reclaimed the female body in rap.
Lilyisthatyou
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Lilyisthatyou is a newer artist than some of the others on this list but she represents the future generation already occupying space on our feeds and playlists next to bonafide stars like Olivia Rodrigo. From her viral TikTok hit “FMRN” to her more recent “Purity”, Lily uses her lyrics and platform to break the stereotypes placed upon women by misogynistic ideals. In “Purity” Lily brazenly sings about how sex and purity have nothing to do with each other tackling the taboo of female sexuality. Her vulnerability online and in her lyrics inspires females everywhere to be themselves and embrace the uniqueness of their identity.
While International Women’s Day is a great opportunity to celebrate the women in your life, it should also be a reminder to give women everywhere a platform to speak, provide a listening ear, and most importantly, challenge your own biases on what it means to be a woman. I encourage you to take time today to thank the women around you, hug them a little tighter, and think of more ways we can champion each other. To the strong, fiercely independent, and loyal women out there breaking the biases and defying the odds every day—keep on fighting the good fight.