Ariana Grande is in the middle of a quiet feminist revolution
Ariana Grande had a major mic drop moment over the weekend, nailing some of the sexism in the music industry and culture at large. The singer took to Twitter and Facebook on Sunday to talk about her relationship status, the way women are shamed for their sexuality, and where she stands as a fiercely independent woman.
“I…do not. belong. to anyone. but myself. And neither do you,” she shared via social media. The comments, in full below, are on the heels of a comment that she is “not Big Sean’s ex. I’m not Niall’s new possible girl. I’m Ariana Grande.”
She goes on to take down the way women are talked about in terms of their relationships, defining them by the men they may or may not be involved with. Grande, of course, is the focus of a lot of tabloid gossip. But for Grande, her love life is far from her top priority.
“I’m currently making the best music I’ve ever made in my life, having the best time of my life on tour with some of the greatest people I’ve ever known, working my ass off every single day, performing/creating for my babes and getting the chance to meet and hug my babes all over the world every day.”
Grande isn’t done there. She links her own experiences with the larger issue of women being defined by their sexuality, and the double standard that exists between men and women. As she says, women who express their sexuality are labeled sluts, while men who do so are celebrated. It’s a huge issue, and one that many women have pushed back against, but society is still far from changing.
“I know y’all already know this but the double standard and misogyny are still present,” Grande says. “I can’t wait to live in a world where people are not valued by who they’re dating/married to/attached to/having sex with (or not)/ seen with… but by their value as an individual.”
She ends her comments with a Gloria Steinem quote: “Any woman who chooses to behave like a full human being should be warned that the armies of the status quo will treat her as something of a dirty joke … She will need her sisterhood.”
YASSS, ARIANA! It’s been amazing seeing more and more young women embrace feminism and speak out against sexism in their fields, and we love that Ariana is such an outspoken opponent of practices she sees all too often. Hopefully the media takes note and drops the questions about her (and every other female performer’s) love lives. They have way more important things to talk about!
