<p>Throughout history women have been subject to oppression by patriarchal society. </p><p>However, there have always been those who have tried to rise against it. This study will shed light upon one example: a female artist who personally defies the patriarchal norms at the same time as her music encourages others to do the same. The musician in question is Christina Aguilera, and the album studied is Stripped. </p><p>What this study shows is that Stripped can be read as a feminist statement. The lyrics deal with two main themes: patriarchal society’s objectification and oppression of women, and the struggles of love and relationships. What these two themes have in common is that they both encourage women to stand their ground and believe in themselves. </p><p>However, the lyrics on the album also suggest that Aguilera is aware of the fact that her message will not suit everyone. She knows that she works within an industry whose goal is to make money out of its artists, and therefore she has to keep repeating like a mantra to herself and to others that she, and her music, is not just a product of this industry. The message her music brings actually matters. </p><p>To come to this conclusion I have examined Aguilera’s lyrics in terms of what messages they bring and who their narratees might be, all in accordance with feminist narratology. Secondary sources from the fields of popular music studies, media studies and gender studies as well as interviews with and about Aguilera and biographies have been consulted.</p>

Throughout history women have been subject to oppression by patriarchal society. However, there have always been those who have tried to rise against it. This study will shed light upon one example: a female artist who personally defies the patriarchal norms at the same time as her music encourages others to do the same. The musician in question is Christina Aguilera, and the album studied is Stripped. What this study shows is that Stripped can be read as a feminist statement. The lyrics deal with two main themes: patriarchal society’s objectification and oppression of women, and the struggles of love and relationships. What these two themes have in common is that they both encourage women to stand their ground and believe in themselves. However, the lyrics on the album also suggest that Aguilera is aware of the fact that her message will not suit everyone. She knows that she works within an industry whose goal is to make money out of its artists, and therefore she has to keep repeating like a mantra to herself and to others that she, and her music, is not just a product of this industry. The message her music brings actually matters. To come to this conclusion I have examined Aguilera’s lyrics in terms of what messages they bring and who their narratees might be, all in accordance with feminist narratology. Secondary sources from the fields of popular music studies, media studies and gender studies as well as interviews with and about Aguilera and biographies have been consulted.

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