Have you ever questioned why women in the film and music industry receive more discrimination than men do? Women face more criticism since they have higher standards from the public perception and personal lifestyle. Even with public figures speaking out, demanding lessons to be taught, misogyny continues in the music industry.
Today, women’s mental health is now being attacked when misogyny becomes a battle.

 A person who has spoken in the past is Selena Gomez on how women receive their criticism on Jay Shetty’s podcast “On Purpose.” “From my perspective, it’s pretty wild. I don’t think this is news to anyone, but women clearly face much harsher judgment… from how they look to what they wear and beyond.” More than men, women have spoken out about the struggles they have, judgment is on every scale of their body, actions, and voice.
Constant body image has been a huge issue in the music industry. Alessia Cara and RAYE; two known music artists, have made awareness of this issue releasing their songs “Scars To Your beautiful” and “Body Dysmorphia.” Women are often pressured to look a certain way for public image. A push and pull between looking thin but not too thin or a doll toy but not over sexualized. In these social standards women are now being seen as figures of beauty and based on only what the public wants them to be. With this criticism, it also affects how people perceive artists, changing people’s thoughts and attitudes persuading them in the wrong way.
These problems are not just affecting their own music, but also their self-image on tour. Touring images have been criticized from outfit change to setlist and even vocal performances. Women are constantly judged for how they act, sing, promote, or dress, which makes it difficult to carry confidence to perform. During Doja Cat’s “Tour Ma Vie tour” fans criticized her for not doing outfit changes or releasing hits, due to the current debut performance of her fifth studio album “VIE” not meeting the expectation of her previous albums “Scarlet” and “Planet Her.” Due to the criticism, Doja Cat responded “And I’m not you… costume monkey… You are not the artist; you are the watcher,” suggesting her audience to keep their opinions to themselves as she is the one who performs the way she wants to. Similar criticism happening to Sabrina Carpenter during her “Short n’ Sweet tour” with her older audience commenting on Carpenters 80s sensual over the top theming as younger audience do attend her shows. On an interview with Time Magazine, Carpenter commented, “You still get the occasional mother that has a strong opinion on how you should be dressing. And to that I just say, don’t come to my show and that’s ok.” This is a common opinion woman do share on tour.
Unprofessionalism have also been a problem on how people perceive the music industry. Commonly journalist and paparazzi disrespect and treat woman as sources for money. An example of one is the Pitchfork review on Madison Beers third studio album “Locket” by Grace Robins-Somerville. This evidence shows more of her looks and style outside the album instead of the album itself. Robins mentioned “Beer, whose discography to date can feel like a lowest common denominator of trends as if pop records could develop Instagram Face.” Even with other artist such as Halsey being dissatisfied by Pitchfork’s unprofessionalism on X (formally Twitter). “Can the basement that they run pitchfork out of just collapse already.” Paparazzi have been reported attacking and assaulting woman, following them to their homes and into restaurants. Britney Spears lost her aunt in 2007 and shortly after was bombarded by paparazzi, even explaining she was out her mind with grief. “With my head shaved, everyone was scared of me… Flailing those weeks without my children, I lost it, over and over again. I didn’t even really know how to take care of myself.”
With similar reports up to present days of artists dealing with pressure and assaults by unprofessional journalists. Which leads into assault, assault has been one of the most overlooked problems in the industry. Rihanna and Chris Brown have been one of the biggest examples over the years. In 2009 Brown nearly killed Rihanna and was convicted for felony assault. Upon release Brown still committed these crime by violating his probation up until 2023. Brown has still been supported and selling out stadiums. With audience s around the world using Rihanna’s excuse of forgiving him, stating how “it was years ago” or “to not drag it.” Why is assault not taken seriously? Assault is looked over with a popular phrase “Boys will be boys.” Dua Lipa and RAYE have spoken about this creating songs like “Boys will be Boys” and “Ice Cream Man.” When a man assaults a woman, its often turned into viral memes such as Jeffery Epstein or P Diddy. Proof that assault isn’t taken seriously.
But with misogyny, it also comes with resilience, showing that the façade men have over them they’ll still disprove the fact that they’re singled down to just being woman. Misogyny will still continue if we don’t act. Despite misogyny women still continue to strive and empower, taking over the music industry. Constantly releasing music to let their voices be heard and advocating for feminism against misogyny. Spreading awareness on issues that not just woman suffer from but to resolve the issues that are regarding our newer generations and persuading audiences to think more about their ethical actions towards woman.