The song that’s everywhere at the moment, circling around social media, magazines and radio stations. Miley Cyrus has produced an absolute banger of a tune, but also what I would call the next feminist anthem. There’s been a lot of talk about who this song is about, and a lot of consensus that it is about her ex-husband: the ultimate break-up song some might say. But what really struck me was her claim to independence with the lyrics, as well as the feeling of empowerment she projects through her lyrics and music video.
Lyrical feminism
Lyrically she claims independence without the need for a man to do anything for her. This feels like a removal from traditional patriarchal constructs that say a woman should rely on a man to have nice things and feel secure. But Cyrus revokes this idea, with lyrics such as ‘I can buy myself flowers, and I can hold my own hand… Yeah, I can love me better than you can.’ A man is not required for her to feel happy, loved and secure.
Performing feminism
But what really strikes me is the music video. Throughout, Cyrus is unapologetically herself. The dancing, the walking, the posing: she radiates confidence and individual expression. She starts by walking up to a house in a gold dress. She walks with power and a sense of commitment, perhaps resonating with her lyrics.
She moves through the house to a pool, which she swims through before dancing more traditionally sexual moves. She lies on her back and performs glute bridges (thrusting?) and then lies on her side and pushes her hips upwards in a sort of circular motion. Again, I take from this is confidence and an ability to show her sexual and feminine power. She presents anger hereafter when she begins working out – with actors that look like she’s screaming and grunting – perhaps an emotion that has typically been associated with men. She expresses her emotion fully and perhaps in what some might call ‘unladylike’ manner. She is claiming power to her individuality, and I would argue, her feminist position.
But the moment that really got me, that really made me smile and feel involved was when she steps out of a bedroom in an oversized suit (supposedly one her ex-husband wore to an event) and lets herself dance freely. With wet hair, she begins dancing around the room in what looks like an unchoreographed manner. She embraces herself (something her ex had previously shut her down for being) and is unapologetically herself.
For me, she resembles what feminism means – to be independent and to be unapologetically yourself; to embrace your individuality and express it however you want. Miley Cyrus has provided us with our next feminist anthem, and I love it.
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Written by Megan Phillips
Illustrated by Francesca Mariama
