Madonna's Speech
Madonna. A name that resonates from generation to generation. A woman who is not only brave but the true definition of a rebel. She may receive awards and break rules, but she has always remained who she is. On December 12, 2016, I watched the Billboard’s Women in Music 2016 event. Madonna, the Billboard’s Woman of the Year 2016, gave a speech at the 11th annual ceremony that made me not only think about the future but look forward to it. She started off with a slightly sexual joke, but then, she went straight to the truth. These were Madonna’s words, “Thank you for acknowledging my ability to continue my career for 34 years in the face of blatant sexism and misogyny and constant bullying and relentless abuse.” Wow, she just came out bluntly honest about what her career has made her endure.
Next, Madonna went on to speak about her initial experiences in New York as a teenager. She was held up at gunpoint, raped on a roof top, and had her home invaded so many times that she stopped even trying to protect herself. So many celebrities’ pasts don’t reflect their present that people tend to forget where they come from. Madonna stated, “In the years that followed, I lost almost every friend I had to AIDS or drugs or gunshots.” She then made a statement that was so beautiful I wanted to pause the TV to reflect, but I didn’t. Here is what Madonna said, “In life there is no real safety except for self-belief.” During this day in age, that is the absolutely true. Nowhere can you feel safe because there are so many dangers in this world. The only way to remain safe is through remembering who you are.
Madonna, the rebel, decided to turn the conversation to how she learned to navigate the music industry just to break barriers. “If you're a girl, you have to play the game. You're allowed to be pretty and cute and sexy. But don’t act too smart. Don’t have an opinion that's out of line with the status quo. You are allowed to be objectified by men and dress like a slut, but don’t own your sluttiness. And do not, I repeat do not, share your own sexual fantasies with the world. Be what men want you to be, but more importantly, be what women feel comfortable with you being around other men. And finally, do not age. Because to age is a sin. You will be criticized and vilified and definitely not played on the radio." Those were all Madonna’s words. I loved every single one because it truly represented how many careers in entertainment work for women. I felt awful knowing how many times I honestly believed that a female recording artist actually wanted to act in this way. Now, I know they were just playing the game.
She recalled the time when a feminist writer stated she set back the feminist movement by objectifying herself sexually. However, Madonna fought back and believed that she was a different kind of feminist. Madonna stated, “I’m a bad feminist.” Now, at this point, I reflected on how I believed female artists should be. I would always get upset when female singers seemed to being flaunting their sexuality because I believed it was not a positive influence to young girls. However, I never realized how those women should be able to show who they are without always being scrutinized for embracing their sexuality.
Afterwards, Madonna explained what women today need to do in order to make an impact. Madonna stated clearly, "What I would like to say to all women here today is this: Women have been so oppressed for so long they believe what men have to say about them. They believe they have to back a man to get the job done. And there are some very good men worth backing, but not because they're men -- because they're worthy. As women, we have to start appreciating our own worth and each other's worth. Seek out strong women to befriend, to align yourself with, to learn from, to collaborate with, to be inspired by, to support, and enlightened by," she urged. Every word she said was so relevant. Women need to lift themselves up instead of tear each other down.
At the end of the speech, Madonna said, “But to the doubters and naysayers and everyone who gave me hell and said I could not, that I would not or I must not -- your resistance made me stronger, made me push harder, made me the fighter that I am today. It made me the woman that I am today. So thank you." I was in awe at how wonderful Madonna’s speech was. This woman has done so much in her long career including winning seven Grammies, breaking records on the Billboard Charts, and becoming the highest grossing solo touring artist in Billboard history with $1.31 billion in total. Her legacy is beyond amazing, and I believe she will remain a legacy for decades to come.
I wanted to end this opinion piece by stating that Madonna is a feminist who young girls can look up to, not just young women. Yesterday, my friends told me, “I was intimidating.” At first, I was so mad that I wanted them to change their definition of me, but then, I took a step back. Why is intimidating such a bad word? According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, “Intimidate means to make timid or fearful.” If this definition is true, that means I have the power to make people feel something. Even though, these emotions are not always seen as the best to have. I believe being intimidating makes me a threat worth investigating, challenging, or even befriending. I embrace the word, “intimidating.” I don’t see the word as hateful. The word is liberating to me. So, I thank Madonna for her speech because now, I see more of myself as a rebel and not as the status quo.
