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Oct 15th

10/15/2013

 
Charlotte Church has spoken out against women acting the role of sex objects. She says young female singers are coerced into the role by male executives during the making of videos. She made her comments during BBC 6 Music's annual John Peel Lecture. When the same thing happened to her eight years ago, she felt extremely uncomfortable. The star said young female artists were routinely "coerced into sexually demonstrative behavior in order to hold on to their careers".

The music business is "a male dominated industry with a juvenile perspective on gender and sexuality" and increasingly wants "sex objects that appear child-like", Church claimed.

The star accused record labels of encouraging young singers "to present themselves as hypersexualised, unrealistic, cartoonish, as objects, reducing female sexuality to a prize you can win".

"There are countless examples from the last few years of songs that have been in high rotation, that have little to no artistic worth, but are just plain rude."

Listen to the pure voice of Charlotte Church singing Ave Maria at 14 years old. Beautiful.

My husband and I watched the X-Factor singing competition on Sunday night. The featured star who sang to fill in time while the votes were being accounted wore a little split shift, exposing both sides of her body all the way from her ankles to her bottom. I think she wore a skin colored garment above. But what was the need to wear such a revealing outfit on a show that children watch? In one of the male groups, a contestant continually gestured at his crotch. I find this behavior uncomfortable to watch. Although they might not have young and desirable bodies, some of the female voices, especially of the older contenders, are wonderful. How far will they get in the competition? What IS the X-factor?

Which would you rather enjoy? The voice of an artist or a performance that makes you cringe?

Sophie Bowns link
10/14/2013 08:33:21 pm

I hate X Factor, it has become a joke of a programme and the standard of the singing is abysmal!
I always go to see people because they are talented! I had the privilege of seeing Jesus Christ Superstar (the arena tour) on Friday and I was blown away by the magnificent cast (particularly Jesus - Ben Forster) I have never heard such incredible live vocals!

Francene Stanley link
10/15/2013 03:11:58 am

I loved the old musicals too. We saw that show first time around in the 70s. Wonderful

Waiwai link
10/14/2013 10:43:14 pm

I enjoy listening to singers with their beautiful voices, they are the real singers.

Amy link
10/14/2013 10:49:06 pm

Francene,
It makes me sad on these girls' behalf: that they let themselves get roped into these displays (they could say no) and that they have so little respect for themselves. Imagine if they actually held to personal standards and would only perform in a way that was respectful not only to themselves but to the audience. The music would be the important thing, not the desire to titillate or shock. Now that would be a change, wouldn't it?

Francene Stanley link
10/15/2013 03:12:51 am

If only the rest of the population thought the same way.

Andrea link
10/14/2013 10:54:03 pm

I have never watched X Factor. It's never appealed to me at all. I would much rather watch or listen to someone who is genuinely talented than ridicule or whatever happens on the programme. That would make me deeply uncomfortable and is probably why XF has never appealed. I do find it worrying what you are saying here about Charlotte Church. I think that the industry and its portrayal of women is getting a little better, but obviously there is a lot more that could and should be done. At the end of the day, it's down to us as the consumers of this sort of thing to stop creating the demand and then these programmes and others like it just simply won't be made. As long as we give our tacit approval by watching they will continue to be made. If I was watching anything on TV that was making me feel uncomfortable, I would simply change channels, or turn it off.

Francene Stanley link
10/15/2013 03:15:38 am

The contestants are encouraged, not ridiculed. But they also fall under the programs executives. So far, nobody's done anything they would be ashamed of. Boy bands all over make gestures I don't like. If only others saw things the same way.

Cindy link
10/15/2013 12:26:20 am

I'd rather here a good voice. Personally, I think all the hyper-sexualized videos just distract from otherwise good songs. Plus let's be honest. Who cares how sexy they are when you are listening to Spoitfy, Pandora or the car radio? You can't even see them.

Francene Stanley link
10/15/2013 03:17:51 am

I guess we could close our eyes. But I think the X Factor is all about the complete image. And--I must say this. I never objected to Elvis's thrusts. Nowadays, I'm not keen. Time has changed me.

Alana link
10/15/2013 09:06:17 am

I don't watch any of the music competition shows any more. I watched the X Factor (yes, we have it in the States now) perhaps one time. More and more the modern music industry does not interest me.


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    Author

    Francene Stanley, author of many published novels. If you like my writing, why not consider purchasing one of my books? You'll see them on the sidebar below.
    Born in Australia, I moved to Britain half way through my long life.

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