Christina Aguilera is a strong feminist icon. With countless songs regarding feminism and female empowerment, Christina Aguilera consistently emphasizes the importance of respecting women in society. The song Can’t Hold Us Down by Christina Aguilera was released in the year 2002 which was shortly after the third feminist wave that occurred during the 1990s. In the song, she focuses on the double standards pit against women in contrast to men as well as the restrictions women face due to their silencing authorized by men and society.
In the beginning of the song, Aguilera sings “Should I keep quiet just because I am a woman”. This line presents the familiar idea of silencing women and the assumptions that a woman’s word has no value. This idea is not only seen between the exchange of men and women on a daily basis, but it was and is also seen within the cultures of third world families as was discussed in Uma Narayan’s Contesting Cultures. In Narayan’s piece, she mentions how she was taught that “good daughters hold their tongue”, and this phrase alone embodies the circulated idea of women’s silencing in all aspects of a woman’s life (Narayan 398). In regards to Aguilera questioning that she should keep quiet because she is a woman, she later sings “Take a deep breath and say it loud”. This phrase inspires woman that listen to the song to voice their thoughts and opinions because they simply have the right and should not have any fear.
Later on in the song, Aguilera sings “The guy gets all the glory the more he can score, while the girl can do the same yet you call her a whore”. These two lines in the song are powerful because it exemplifies the double standard between men and women presented in our world. It raises the question of why should men be able to do one thing while women are shamed to do the same? Aguilera wants to declare how this idea is a problem and her call to action comes when she sings “All my ladies come together and make a change”.
One main critique of Christina Aguilera’s song is her fail to include and mention the LGBTQ community. Her consistent usage of male and female relations makes the assumption that these acts of silencing and double standards only occur to heterosexual members of the community and exclude other prominent relationships between transmen/women.
Overall, Can’t Hold Us Down presents circulated ideas and focuses regarding the feminist community and calls for female empowerment and confidence.
This song is definitely a great addition to the playlist! I feel like a lot of songs by female artists focus on the double standards that are so obvious in our society. This song, though released in 2003, is still very relatable almost twenty years later. It’s interesting to think about how songs like this one are so empowering when they are released, yet very little changes in society. There is definitely a value to these types of feminist, empowering songs though because we are certainly still singing along to them today. I think they serve more as an outlet for frustration and a way for women to come together.
I like how you mentioned Christina Aguilera’s history of making feminist music, and I completely agree with you! I know a couple of years ago she released a song with Demi Lovato called “Fall in Line”, and both songs seem to have a similar message. You mentioned that the song began with “Should I keep quiet just because I am a woman,” and her song with Demi Lovato talks about standing up and not falling in line, to fight back against men and their oppression against women. However, I do agree with you that she doesn’t discuss about the LGBTQ+ community (which is a common occurrence across several of the songs chosen).
I love how you touched on the double standard between men and women presented in society. Growing up, surrounded by this double standard, it always confused me of why should men be able to do one thing while women are shamed to do the same. I also like that you acknowledged the songs failure to include the LGBTQ community, because I agree that it makes the assumption double standards only occur to heterosexual members of the community. Overall, great job!