From medieval love songs to modern pop hits, misogyny has been woven into some of the most beloved music in history. How did we get here? And what happens when we sing along to messages that treat women as objects, possessions, and targets of violence?

In this episode, we explore the long history of misogyny in popular music, the harmful patterns hiding in familiar lyrics, and what we can do to challenge the messages we hear. Because loving music and listening critically don't have to be mutually exclusive.

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Sources and Additional Reading:

Anderson, Craig A., Nicholas L. Carnagey, and Janie Eubanks. “Exposure to Violent Media: The Effects of Songs with Violent Lyrics on Aggressive Thoughts and Feelings.” Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 84, no. 5 (2003): 960–971.

Bailey, Moya. Misogynoir Transformed: Black Women’s Digital Resistance. NYU Press, 2021.

Betti, Lorenzo, Carlo Abrate, and Andreas Kaltenbrunner. “Large Scale Analysis of Gender Bias and Sexism in Song Lyrics.” EPJ Data Science 12, no. 10 (2023).

Bernart de Ventadorn. “Can vei la lauzeta.” Translated by Craig E. Bertolet.

Cheyette, Frederic L., and Margaret Switten. “Women in Troubadour Song.” A Journal of Medieval Studies 15, no. 3 (1989): 337–361.

English Broadside Ballad Archive. University of California, Santa Barbara.

Harold, Zack. “Traditional Murder Ballads Reveal a Dark Truth About ‘True Crime’ Media.” West Virginia Public Broadcasting, July 13, 2022.

hooks, bell. We Real Cool. 2003.

House of Commons Women and Equalities Committee. Misogyny in Music: On Repeat. UK Parliament, 2025.

Morgan, Joan. When Chickenheads Come Home to Roost: My Life as a Hip-Hop Feminist. Simon & Schuster, 1999.

Morgan, Joan. “Why We Get Off: Moving Towards a Black Feminist Politics of Pleasure.” The Black Scholar, 2015.

Neely, Kim. “G N’ R Lies.” Rolling Stone, January 26, 1989.

Peters, Mitchell. “Maroon 5’s ‘Animals’ Video Sparks RAINN Outrage.” Billboard, October 2, 2014.

Shanť, Roxanne. Interview with HuffPost. March 2018.

Shanť, Roxanne. Interview with NBC News. August 2023.

“Turmoil for Rap Superstar as Wife Attempts Suicide.” The Guardian, July 12, 2000.

Valenti, Jessica. “Blood, Stalker, Sex, Tragic: Maroon 5’s Animals Video Insults Every Woman.” The Guardian, October 1, 2014.

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About:

Amy McPhie Allebest is a scholar, historian, writer, and independent podcast host. Allebest began the Breaking Down Patriarchy project during her master’s degree at Stanford University in 2020. Her studies there served as the catalyst for the project and podcast. In addition to the project, Allebest is best known for her viral 2016 Medium article titled “Dear Mormon Man, Tell Me What You Would Do.”

The Breaking Down Patriarchy project uses essential historical texts to better understand the origins of patriarchy and to deconstruct its unjust effects on our minds, relationships, and communities. The project envisions a world in which all human beings are able to flourish and reach their unique potential. We strive to include as many voices as possible, and our work is intersectional and inclusive. We are also firmly committed to the well-being of boys and men, and we enthusiastically and gratefully enlist the help of our non-female allies in creating an egalitarian world where everyone can thrive.

Starring Amy McPhie Allebest

Written by Sam Rose Preminger, Amy McPhie Allebest

Videographer and Editor: Ralph Blair