Throughout history, women have struggled to gain the respect and equality they deserve. Women fought for many years for these rights, and finally gained the right to vote in 1920. Despite the women's rights movement, women are still facing inequality within the business world and in the media. The song "Can't Hold us Down" written by Christina Aguilera, makes direct references to the lack of equal rights between men and women in the world today.
"So what am I not supposed to have an opinion/ should I be quiet just because I"m a woman/ call me a bitch cuz" I speak what's on my mind/ guess it's easier for you to swallow if I sat and smiled." (Aguilera, lines 1-4) Christina opens the song with these lines to give people a direct example of modern day inequality. Some men in this world still do not give women the respect they deserve. They expect women to be seen and not heard. The words point out that if a woman speaks her mind then she automatically opens herself to name-calling and mockery from men. .
"If you look back in history/ It's a common double standard of society/ The guy gets all the glory the more he can score/ while the girl can do the same and yet you call her a whore." (Aguilera, lines 29-32). If you go back in history, certain cultures allowed a man to have three different wives. However, if a woman were to be with more than one man she could possibly be killed. This is still prevalent within some modern societies. Christina Aguilera has undergone plenty of harassment for the sexual image she puts out. However, male celebrities do not seem to be judged with the same criteria.
"So, what am I not supposed to say what I"m saying/ are you offended by the message I"m bringing." (Aguilera, lines 25-26) In the past, conversations were more censored than they are now. There were certain topics, such as sex, that people just did not discuss out loud. Now, many women are bold enough to voice their opinions about specific issues.