By this time, I’m fairly sure that everybody and their dog has heard Meghan Trainor’s song All About That Bass. And you should have, because it is ridiculously catchy and fun and I listened to it about five times in the row just a few minutes ago because I love it.
It’s sung by a girl who is not a skinny teeny thing, and actually that’s the first thing she says: “I guess it’s pretty clear I ain’t no size 2,” which is AWESOME, because music and people everywhere need to see more of that.
BUT.
As ridiculously catchy and fun as it is, it is also problematic from a feminist perspective.
See, the very next thing Meghan Trainor says about not being size 2 is that she can “shake it like [she’s] supposed to do.”
Wait. We’re SUPPOSED to shake it? Why? I can’t walk like that – I feel stupid and then I fall over.
I, personally, love the chorus, about how her momma always told her not to worry about her size, because body positivity, yay!
And then we lose it with the next line: “Boys like a little more booty to hold at night.”
So it’s ok to be fat so long as the boys still like your body!
*facepalm*
And it’s weird, because one thing she repeats several times is “Every inch of you is perfect from the bottom to the top.”
But only if the boys like your booty?
Pros: Wildly singable, catchy phrases. Plus size singer.
Cons: Conflicting info on if you are attractive or not, depending on your butt. Still gives male opinion of your looks priority over how you feel about yourself. I also have concerns over the portrayal of people of color in the video.
Feminism grade: C
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