Abstract
Western Feminism, in its various waves, has always demonstrated political progression and social and economic upheaval through its actvism. What is not often considered when evaluatng the Western Feminist Movement is its use of music to portray the development of ideas throughout the different iterations of feminist discourse, and how impactful the movement was on ordinary people living in Western society. This thesis investigates the utilisation of music as a tool for not only giving women the permission to present their feminist ideologies in an easy and accessible way, but to also provoke a response in those women who are listening to it in the United Kingdom and the United States of America. Chapter one focusses on the First Wave of Feminism, and dissects the different uses of music in presenting the various conflicting opinions about the Women’s Suffrage Movement. Chapter two centres around the Second Wave of Feminism, establishing how different musical subgenres, including punks, singer-songwriters and mainstream pop artists, represented the significance of female liberation, empowerment and sexual freedom through their music. Finally, chapter three examines the Third Wave of Feminism,highlighting the importance of the Riotgrrrl movement in wider Western feminist discourse, whilst also bringing to light intersectionality and queer feminism, showcasing what else needed to be achieved as time progressed into the twenty-first century. Ultimately, the aim of this research is to show how the First, Second and Third Waves of Feminism in the UK and USA influenced and affected music being created in the late-nineteenth and twentieth century, using lyrics as the primary tool alongside other supplementary sources to present this impact and how music and Western feminism co-existed and intertwined.
| Date of Award | 23 Jan 2025 |
|---|---|
| Original language | English |
| Supervisor | Sarah Bastow (Main Supervisor) |