In the 80’s (in America) women were enjoying some hard-won
equality battles that they achieved in the 70’s. As a result the 1980s in
America showed a massive change in the representation of female identity. This
post will explore the new representation of female identity in the 80’s across
several areas such as female representation in music, employment and fashion.
Music
In regard to representation of women in music it showed
major signs of female strength, boldness and of course independence particularly
from men). An example of this is clearly shown in the 1985 single by
Eurythmics and Aretha Franklin singing lyrics
Now there was a time when we used to say that behind every
great man there had to be a woman
But in these times of change you know that it's no longer true
So we’re comin' out of the kitchen ‘cause there’s something we forgot to say to you
We say, "Sisters are doin' it for themselves."
But in these times of change you know that it's no longer true
So we’re comin' out of the kitchen ‘cause there’s something we forgot to say to you
We say, "Sisters are doin' it for themselves."
Songs that praised female independence were popular among women as many
could relate (and celebrate) to songs such as these about how women worked just as hard as men,
about how they personal goals that didn't involve men, and about how women
maybe didn't even need men at all to be happy.
Fashion
Moving on to fashion, the 80’s introduced lifestyle
choices that came to dictate a woman’s personal taste and social identity. Unlike
the past, no single style or kind of fashion was universally expected for all
women. Mass media such as television,
music, and magazines introduced new styles and attitudes relevant and
accessible to the average American woman. Overall women of the 1980’s were
marked as empowered, energetic, and endearing.
Following women’s
sexual “liberation” during the 70’s, women of the 1980’s were empowered to
cultivate strong identities alongside their male co-workers. For the
working woman of the 80’s, fashion is largely marked by the adoption of
masculine styles through a trend known as power dressing which introduced the
power suit for women which gave women a more business and dominant appearance
within the office, (but still able to remain clearly feminine).
Other television shows
such as “Who’s The Boss” also used power suit iconography to appeal to the new
role of the working mom.
While women were
socially empowered within the workplace, fashion and lifestyle magazines empowered
women to take control of their appetites and activity levels. All of a sudden,
the slender figure desired by much of the female population was confronted with
new emphasis on a particularly toned and athletic physique.
Overall the media's representation of females during the
1980s portrayed female empowerment, independence and most of all equality in
relation to men.
Employment
While there had been major success in
female representation in music and fashion, there was also significant improvement
in the representation and attitude towards working women in the 80’s. In this
the Sun article in the 1990’s it looks back upon female employment throughout
the 80’s. It shows there has been a huge rise in female employment in volume
and in higher professions ‘millions across the United States -- moved into
professional and managerial jobs during the 1980s, the data show’. It also
states that ‘Nationally, the number of working women increased by 27 percent
during the 1980s’.
It also highlights that in Maryland for the
first time, the 1990 census shows, ‘women outnumbered men in Maryland in
"professional specialty" occupations -- a U.S. Census Bureau category
that includes everything from doctors, lawyers and scientists to teachers,
nurses and librarians.’
Nationally, the number of working women
increased by 27 percent during the 1980s, according to 1990 census data being
released today
References:
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