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Essential Question
How did female Country and Tejano artists approach the issues of feminism and Women’s Rights in the 20th and 21st century?
Overview
In this lesson, students will examine the lyrics and context surrounding five Country and Tejano songs about feminist issues: Loretta Lynn’s “The Pill,” Dolly Parton’s “9 To 5,” Margo Price’s “Pay Gap,” Selena’s “Si Una Vez,” and The Chicks’ “Not Ready to Make Nice.” Through the lens of these artists and these songs, students will consider the ways Women’s Rights expanded over the latter half of the 20th century in America, and discuss the ways in which gender equity is still a work in progress.
The second half of the 20th century brought in waves of change for women. New freedoms such as the availability of oral contraceptives and those offered by the Equal Rights Amendment were fought for and won. Times were changing rapidly, and American’s varied perspectives on these cultural shifts were reflected in the music of the period.
Country and Tejano music often articulated the progressive social gains and political fights women were engaging in during the late 20th and early 21st century. In 1975, Loretta Lynn made waves with “The Pill,” a song celebrating the newfound freedoms granted women by oral contraception. In 1980, Dolly Parton’s “9 to 5” became an anthem protesting the exploitation and harassment of women in the workplace. In the early 1990s, Selena almost single-handedly took over the previously male-dominated genre of Tejano. In 2003, The Chicks created controversy by publicly expressing their opinions of the Iraq War. Finally, Margo Price’s “Pay Gap” from 2017 addresses the issue of equal pay for equal work and how wage discrimination against women still persists well into the 21st century.
Each of the above songs provides a window into the moment in which they were created, and the experiences and feelings of those who experienced them. Looking through that window, students can use these songs to explore the ongoing struggle for gender equity within U.S. politics, culture, and history.
Objectives
Upon completion of this lesson, students will:
- Know (knowledge)
- The significance of the Women’s Rights movement as an historical event
- The response to the Women’s Rights movement in the United States
- How musicians can use their platform to speak to social and political issues
- About the work of musicians Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, Margo Price, Selena, and The Chicks
- Mastery Objective:
- Students will be able to consider the complex ways American people viewed feminism and the women’s rights movement throughout the second half of the 20th century and into the 21st century by examining its representation by Country and Tejano artists.
Activities
Entry Ticket Activity:
- Have students interview an adult they trust, asking three major questions:
- Do you remember a time when contraception was taboo? How did you learn about birth control?
- Growing up, did you know of any women in your life who worked? What sort of jobs did they have, or why did they not have a job? What were your observations of their work life (or lack thereof) like?
- Have you ever felt you were silenced, or couldn’t participate in a conversation or activity because of your gender?
Motivational Activity:
- Have students report on their entry ticket interviews.
- Ask students to share their own perspectives to the above questions. Do their views and experiences differ from their parents? Or are they the same?
Procedure:
- Tell students they will be exploring how female Country and Tejano musicians incorporated the issues they just discussed into their music, and how this music was received by the public.
- Play Clip 1, Loretta Lynn, “The Pill,” which shows the onset and growing popularity of the birth control pill’s effect on culture. Ask students:
- What “Pill” is Lynn referring to in this song? Why might it have been described in the clip as a “revolutionary technology”?
- Why might Chely Wright describe “The Pill” as the “soundtrack for every housewife in America?”
- Pass out Handout – Song Lyrics. Ask students to read the lyrics to “The Pill” silently. Then ask:
- What message do you think Loretta Lynn is trying to send with this song?
- Throughout the lyrics, Lynn refers to herself as “this chicken.” What do you think she’s trying to say by using that kind of language?
- Who do you think the intended audience for this song is? Why?
- In the clip, Ann Powers argues that much of women’s liberation was rooted in the availability of contraception. What lines in Loretta Lynn’s song support Powers’ belief?
- In the clip, Chely Wright mentions the song was “controversial.” Why might have a song about contraception been controversial in 1975?
- Show Image 1, Loretta Lynn on “The Pill.” Have students read the quote, then ask:
- How does Loretta Lynn describe the reaction to her song?
- For her, why was the song not played on the radio? Why was it popular with women and not men?
- Why is Lynn comparing “The Pill” to another song “about making love in a field?” What is the purpose of this comparison?
- What do you think Lynn’s principal argument is in this quote?
- Play Clip 2, Women in the Workplace. Ask students to discuss in group:
- According to Susan Douglas, what kind of factors contributed to women entering the workforce in the late 70s and early 80s?
- How do the people featured in the clip talk about the conditions for women workers in the 1970s and 1980s?
- What was the organization “9 to 5”? How was it formed?
- In the clip, Jane Fonda says women are joining together because they’re mad. Why do you think this might be?
- Show Image 2, “Female to Male Earning Ratio, 1960-2016.” Ask students:
- What data is this chart presenting?
- Does this information surprise you? Why or why not?
- How have wages improved since the 1960s? How have they not?
- What is the relationship between men’s and women’s earning ratios today? Do you think this difference is fair?
- Show Image 3, “Women’s Earnings as a Percentage of White Men’s Earnings, by Race.” Ask students:
- What is this chart presenting?
- In your own words, can you summarize what this graph is showing?
- How would you summarize the data presented in both of these graphs?
- What factors do you think contribute to why equal pay still does not exist today?
- Play Clip 3, Dolly Parton, “9 to 5.” Ask students:
- According to the various people in the clip, what was the 1980 film 9 to 5 saying? Why was that considered important?
- Have students read the lyrics to “9 to 5” in Handout – Song Lyrics. Then ask:
- How would you describe the mood of this song?
- Is there a message to the song? If so, what is it?
- What is being described in the first verse? What function do you think that verse plays in the song?
- What is being described in the second verse? What function do you think that verse plays in the song?
- What are some of the issues presented in the song? Is there a solution offered?
- Are there any lines in the song you find particularly powerful? Why?
- Is this a song that applies specifically to women? Why or why not?
- Nearly 40 years later, Country music artist Margo Price released her song, “Pay Gap” in 2017. Play Clip 4, Margo Price, “Pay Gap.” Ask students:
- What might be some similarities between this song and the two songs you’ve heard already?
- Have students read the lyrics to “Pay Gap” in Handout – Song Lyrics. Then ask:
- How would you describe the mood of this song? Is the mood expressed more in the music or in the lyrics of the song?
- Is there a message to the song? If so, what is it?
- From whose perspective are the lyrics written?
- Considering the data you examined earlier in Image 2 and Image 3, what might the lyrics mean by, “Rippin’ my dollars in half.”?
- What American history is being referenced in verse 2? How might that relate thematically to the issue being raised in the song?
- Are there any lines in the song you find particularly powerful? Why?
- Is this a song that applies specifically to women? Why or why not?
- “Pay Gap” was released 37 years after “9 to 5.” What might this say about the working issues affecting women in the 20th and 21st Century?
- Pass out to students Handout – Introducing Selena (alternatively, teachers can lead students to TeachRock’s Trace It Back entry for Selena, which also contains a video of Selena performing.) Ask students:
- What is one thing you learned about Selena, based on the handout?
- As a male-dominated genre, What difficulties might have Selena had to overcome to achieve her level of popularity within the Tejano music scene?
- How might Selena’s success relate to data on pay gaps presented in the previous images?
- Have students examine the lyrics to “Si Una Vez” in Handout – Song Lyrics. Ask students:
- What is the mood presented in this song?
- Do you think this song presents a woman’s perspective? In what way?
- Prior to Selena, Tejano music was largely male-centered. How might this song have broken tradition in the Tejano Genre?
- Play Clip 5, The Chicks Speak Out. Then ask students:
- According to the clip, how did The Chicks create controversy in 2003?
- What was the response to Natalie Maines’ stated opinion on the U.S. invasion of Iraq?
- What were some of the gendered ways The Chicks were harassed in the clip?
- Do you think the The Chicks were more vulnerable to backlash because they were women? Why or why not?
- Ask students to read the lyrics to the 2006 song “Not Ready To Make Nice” in Handout – Song Lyrics. Then ask:
- What is being described in this song?
- What do you think this song’s message might be? Why might Natalie Maines have wanted to write about her experience?
- How do you think being women affected Natalie’s being asked to “make nice”? Do you think a male artist might have had to do the same? What lyrics in particular lead you to this conclusion?
- What audience do you think Maines was trying to reach?
- What argument does she make for not just “shutting up and singing”?
Summary Activity:
- Break students up into groups and display Image 4 – Discussion Questions. Have the student groups discuss and share their thoughts with the rest of the class.
Extension Activities:
- Read Longread’s “Living With Dolly Parton.” Write a short paragraph: Is Dolly Parton an appropriate face of feminism in Country music? Why or why not?
- Read The Guardian’s “Taylor Swift: Trump thinks his presidency is an autocracy.” Write a short paragraph addressing the following question: What factors do you think might have led Taylor Swift to stay silent on political issues for so long? What might have made her decide to speak out?
- Read NPR’s “Priscilla Renea Refuses To Be Quiet About Racism In Country Music” or Essence’s “We’ve Been Here: The Problem With Erasing Black Women From Country And Rock Music.” Write a paragraph summarizing the erasure of Black women from Country and how certain stars have combated their exclusion.
- Write a short paragraph: If you were a famous musician, would you be politically and socially outspoken, based on the clips you’ve watched today? Why or why not? What cause might you stand up for? What criticism might you face? What support?
Standards
Common Core State Standards
College and Career Readiness Anchor Standards for Reading
- Reading 1: Read closely to determine what the text says explicitly and to make logical inferences from it; cite specific textual evidence when writing or speaking to support conclusions drawn from the text.
- Reading 2: Determine central ideas or themes of a text and analyze their development; summarize the key supporting details and ideas.
- Craft and Structure 4: Interpret words and phrases as they are used in a text, including determining technical, connotative, and figurative meanings, and analyze how specific word choices shape meaning or tone.
- Craft and Structure 6: Assess how point of view or purpose shapes the content and style of a text.
- Integration of Knowledge and Ideas 7: Integrate and evaluate content presented in diverse media and formats, including visually and quantitatively, as well as in words.
- Integration of Knowledge and Ideas 9: Analyze how two or more texts address similar themes or topics in order to build knowledge or to compare the approaches the authors take.
College and Career Readiness Anchor Standards for Writing (Extension Activities Only)
- Text Types and Purposes 1: Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts using valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence.
- Text Types and Purposes 2: Write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas and information clearly and accurately through the effective selection, organization, and analysis of content.
- Text Types and Purposes 3: Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, well-chosen details and well-structured event sequences.
- Production and Distribution of Writing 4: Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
- Production and Distribution of Writing 6: Use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing and to interact and collaborate with others.
- Research to Build and Present Knowledge 9: Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.
College and Career Readiness Anchor Standards for Language
- Language 1: Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.
- Language 3: Apply knowledge of language to understand how language functions in different contexts, to make effective choices for meaning or style, and to comprehend more fully when reading or listing.
- Vocabulary Acquisition and Use 5: Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in a word meaning.
College and Career Readiness Anchor Standards for Speaking and Listening
- Comprehension & Collaboration 1: Prepare for and participate effectively in a range of conversations and collaborations with diverse partners, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively.
- Comprehension & Collaboration 2: Integrate and evaluate information presented in diverse media and formats, including visually, quantitatively, and orally.
- Comprehension & Collaboration 3: Evaluate a speaker’s point of view, reasoning, and use of evidence and rhetoric.
- Presentation of Knowledge 4: Present information, findings, and supporting evidence such that listeners can follow the line of reasoning and the organization, development, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
Social Studies – National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS)
- Theme 1: Culture
- Theme 2: Time, Continuity, and Change
- Theme 3: People, Place, and Environments
- Theme 4: Individual Development and Identity
- Theme 5: Individuals, Groups, and Institutions
- Theme 6: Power, Authority, and Governance
National Standards for Music Education
Core Music Standard: Responding
- Analyze: Analyze how the structure and context of varied musical works inform the response.
- Interpret: Support interpretations of musical works that reflect creators’ and/or performers’ expressive intent.
- Evaluate: Support evaluations of musical works and performances based on analysis, interpretation, and established criteria.
Core Music Standard: Connecting
- Connecting 11: Relate musical ideas and works to varied contexts and daily life to deepen understanding.
Career Technical Education Standards (California Model) – Arts, Media and Entertainment Pathway Standards
Design, Visual and Media Arts (A)
- A1.0 Demonstrate ability to reorganize and integrate visual art elements across digital media and design applications.
A1.1 View and respond to a variety of industry-related artistic products integrating industry appropriate vocabulary.
A1.4 Select industry-specific works and analyze the intent of the work and the appropriate use of media.
A1.9 Analyze the material used by a given artist and describe how its use influences the meaning of the work. ia, and Entertainment |
A3.0 Analyze and assess the impact of history and culture on the development of professional arts and media products.
A3.2 Describe how the issues of time, place, and cultural influence and are reflected in a variety of artistic products.
A3.3 Identify contemporary styles and discuss the diverse social, economic, and political developments reflected in art work in an industry setting.
A4.0 Analyze, assess, and identify effectiveness of artistic products based on elements of art, the principles of design, and professional industry standards.
A4.2 Deconstruct how beliefs, cultural traditions, and current social, economic, and political contexts influence commercial media (traditional and electronic).
A4.5 Analyze and articulate how society influences the interpretation and effectiveness of an artistic product.
A5.0 Identify essential industry competencies, explore commercial applications and develop a career specific personal plan.
A5.1 Compare and contrast the ways in which different artistic media (television, newspapers, magazines, and electronic media) cover the same commercial content.
A5.3 Deconstruct works of art, identifying psychological content found in the symbols and images and their relationship to industry and society.
Performing Arts (B)
- B2.0 Read, listen to, deconstruct, and analyze peer and professional music using the elements and terminology of music.
B2.2 Describe how the elements of music are used.
B2.5 Analyze and describe significant musical events perceived and remembered in a given industry generated example.
B2.6 Analyze and describe the use of musical elements in a given professional work that makes it unique, interesting, and expressive.
B2.7 Demonstrate the different uses of form, both past and present, in a varied repertoire of music in commercial settings from diverse genres, styles, and professional applications.
B7.0 Analyze the historical and cultural perspective of multiple industry performance products from a discipline-specific perspective.
B7.1 Identify and compare how film, theater, television, and electronic media productions influence values and behaviors.
B7.3 Analyze the historical and cultural perspective of the musician in the professional setting.
B7.4 Analyze the historical and cultural perspective of the actor and performance artist in the professional setting.
B8.0 Deconstruct the aesthetic values that drive professional performance and the artistic elements necessary for industry production.
B8.1 Critique discipline-specific professional works using the language and terminology specific to the discipline.
B8.2 Use selected criteria to compare, contrast, and assess various professional performance forms.
B8.3 Analyze the aesthetic principles that apply in a professional work designed for live performance, film, video, or live broadcast.
B8.4 Use complex evaluation criteria and terminology to compare and contrast a variety of genres of professional performance products.
lesson:
Female Singer-Songwriters in the Early 1970s
Grades: High, Middle
Subjects: Social Studies/History
Activities: Musical Analysis, Station Activities, Textual Analysis
What did the success of the female Singer-Songwriters of the early 1970s reveal about the changing roles of women in the United States?
lesson:
The Rise of Disco
Grades: High
Subjects: Art/Design, General Music, Social Studies/History
Activities: Musical Analysis, Role Playing, Station Activities, Visual Analysis, Visual Design
How did Disco relate to the sentiments and social movements of the 1970s?
lesson:
The Rise of the “Girl Groups”
Grades: High
Subjects: ELA, Social Studies/History
Activities: Structured Academic Controversy, Textual Analysis, Think-Pair-Share, Visual Analysis
Were the Girl Groups of the early 1960s voices of female empowerment or reflections of traditional female roles?
lesson:
Soul Music and the New Femininity
Grades: High
Subjects: ELA, General Music, Social Studies/History
Activities: Musical Analysis, Textual Analysis, Timeline
How did Aretha Franklin represent a new female voice in 1960s popular music?