Pink's 'Stupid girls' (2)



 
 
Pink’s ‘Stupid Girls’ music video demonstrates her rigid beliefs of feminism and what it means to be a successful woman.
 
The dominant reading of the video engenders the values which adheres to second wave feminism. This is portrayed as Pink questions ‘what happened to the dream of a girl president?’. She evidently believes that women have succumb to being the unintelligent and unresponsive members of society who concern themselves with their appearance rather than their education. She actively seeks for the women who are independent and hold leadership qualities but apparently fails to find them. Additionally, the woman on the surgery table is presented to be vulnerable and isolated. This is portrayed through the markings on her body and her fearful facial expressions. She is clearly subjugating herself to society’s version of a ‘perfect’ woman and in doing so, subjecting herself to the pain cosmetic surgery prescribes. Pink’s disparaging behaviour is representative of second wave feminism as feminists strived for liberty in relation to the negative stereotypes that demolish a woman’s potential.
However, a post-feminist reading of this music video offers a different perspective and criticises Pink for her apathy.
Pink’s video proposes a dilemma whereby women have to choose to be either attractive and unintelligent or intelligent and ugly. There can never be a circumstance where a woman is both attractive and intelligent simultaneously. This is illustrated when the woman in the car is oblivious to her surroundings and is taking pride in her appearance despite running over people. The same woman is shown to be walking foolishly and running into closed doors pervading her lack of intelligence. Some viewers may argue that Pink completely neglects feminist attitudes here and coheres to a patriarchal view of women. These ideologies tried to be combated by second wave feminists but have obviously not been destructed completely as women still believe in them.  Post-feminists may also argue that Pink is perversely ridiculing these women when in reality, it should be the patriarchal system that should be criticised. These women aren’t to be blamed for their lack of intelligence and rationality because the patriarchal system raised them to be this way. Pink’s lack of consideration and empathy doesn’t make her better than the patriarchs who confine women to their stereotypes. Instead, Pink chooses to label these girls as ‘stupid’ which expresses her derogatory attitudes.
 
Furthermore, Barthes action code is indicated by the young girl who drives the narrative. Her decision on whether to conform to society’s version of a perfect woman or Pink’s version of the perfect woman help to bring the narrative forward. The two decisions are based upon Strauss’ establishment of binary opposites as the angelic decision would be to conform to Pink’s version of a perfect woman and the devilish decision would be to conform to society’s version of a perfect woman. Either way, the girl would still be conforming and may not know who she really wants to become.
 
To conclude, Pink’s video is controversial she degrades women who have been condemned by a patriarchal system and have no idea what independence and leadership is. Her lack of remorse presents her narrow minded attitudes.
 

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