Recently, uprising women in the music industry have had a more risqué theme in their music and performances. These themes may be viewed negatively by the public eye. 

Pop performances are not known for being kid-friendly all of the time, but artists like Sabrina Carpenter have brought risqué performances front and center. 

In August of 2024, Carpenter released her album “Short n’ Sweet,” with a tour beginning that same September. The show involves lingerie, innuendo through humor and song, and a different suggestive position for each show. 

With sexual activities emphasized at a popular artist’s show, should parents allow children to attend these concerts? Is this appropriate for younger audiences? 

I remember my neighbor taking his daughter to see Sabrina’s Short n’ Sweet show. It did baffle me a bit that he allowed her to go, as she is in elementary school. 

I love Sabrina’s music but the show’s constant innuendo cannot be great for young audiences. Most of the songs in the “Short n’ Sweet” album have blatantly sexual meanings. However, this does not only apply to Sabrina’s music. It applies to Chappell Roan and Tate McRae, who are also rising artists. 

Younger audiences exposed to inappropriate music constantly–since these artists have become so popular–pose a threat of becoming desensitized. Objectification increases–especially when it comes to artists who are women–and morality can be affected. 

Scandalous behavior onstage that is accepted as usual would desensitize audiences by generalizing this behavior, blurring lines between appropriate and inappropriate content. 

The mental well-being of adolescents is heavily affected by music. People use music to find emotional expression, relatable content, and keep up with popular artists/trends. Popular performances highlighting raunchy content could definitely have negative effects, as so many people consume popular media, no matter what it is. 

One may argue that artists bringing more risqué content front and center are just having harmless fun. It may not intend to be harmful, but popular music will inevitably influence audiences in all kinds of ways, both positive and negative.

In the past few decades, female pop stars have increasingly embraced a more provocative image and set of lyrics to separate themselves from the traditional mold of female performers. 

Historically, the music industry and Hollywood have been known to impose a firm template for young women who pursue music–usually wanting a relatable, appealing, and innocent image of femininity. 

However, as the industry evolves and years go by, many emerging artists are challenging this mold by having a bolder, more risqué image. This new shift in direction is not because of strategic rebellion against the industry, but more about allowing women to reclaim their public identity and artistry. 

Artists such as Doja Cat, Sabrina Carpenter, and Billie Eillish have redefined what it means to be a female pop star by incorporating explicit themes with suggestive scenarios and raw authenticity in their performances and songs.

Unlike earlier pop icons, who often adhered to industry expectations of innocence and perfection–such as Britney Spears in her earlier years or Taylor Swift in her country-pop phase–today’s artists use provocation as a weapon for empowerment. 

By doing so, they challenge outdated norms and sexism and take control over their bodies, image, and creative expression.

Critics argue that this approach reinforces sexualization rather than dismantling it. However, the difference is in intent and ownership. 

In the past, female artists were often sexualized and mistreated by record labels/industry executives to appeal to male audiences, such as Marilyn Monroe. Now, many female pop stars deliberately embrace provocative imagery on their own terms, using it more for empowerment rather than being subjected to industry norms.

This distinction makes a significant transformation in the music industry, where women are no longer just performers obeying industry expectations, but are able to shape their own narratives.

Ultimately, the rise of provocative female pop stars represents a broad cultural shift toward self-expression and autonomy. Rather than fitting into a clean, marketable image, these artists are rewriting the rules and proving that breaking the mold is not just an option, but a necessity for a new and better shift in the music industry.