Sabrina Carpenter & The Sexualization Of Female Artists

By  JOHANNA HILLMAN ‘28 and DIYA SANDEEP ‘28

“Confidence is the most beautiful thing you can possess,” said Sabrina Carpenter.

And she certainly embodied that quote in the release of her sixth (and newest) studio album, Short n’ Sweet. However, since the release of her single “Feather” last August, Carpenter has faced criticism from parents, fans, and even the Catholic Church — who called the video “violent and sexually provocative” due to an image some have perceived to be hypersexual. Criticisms lobbied at her have included criticisms of her outfits, the beats of her songs, her performances, and her lyrics. Carpenter has responded to these critics strongly, telling them that if they have an issue with her outfits, they can stay home. Is the criticism of Carpenter justified concern, however misplaced it may be, or is it part of a larger phenomenon of the sexualization and paternalization of female artists in the entertainment industry?

Carpenter is far from new to the concept of sexualization, with it stemming from the early days of her career. She’s one more young woman in a long line of former Disney stars that has been constantly scrutinized and objectified by the public. 

This story is everywhere, with the focus on teenagers and intimacy prominent in worldwide media today. Teenage girls have always played a major role in the film and music industry, but in recent years, vulgar comments about their bodies and dispositions have reached an overwhelming high. 

Carpenter didn’t fully escape this wave, with interviewers prodding at her age and one even asking her about sexting when she was still a minor, but she managed to elude the worst of it. However, just a few months after her 19th birthday, she released one of her most suggestive songs at that point, “Almost Love” — toeing the line between being forward and being risqué with lyrics like “the moment when you’re done, but maybe just one more,” which invite listeners to read between the lines.

While stepping into the sexuality that has been formerly pushed on you can be an enlightening experience, it’s best to wait until you’re legally allowed to drink or at least are no longer considered a teenager. While “Almost Love” showcased a bold, new side of her, it may have come too early to be well received by the general public.

Many people believed she was too young to be showcasing herself in that way and pushed back against her new concept, while others argued that was a common complaint towards former child stars that tried to branch out. 

However, Carpenter also happens to be yet another name on the long list of female celebrities whose dating lives have been the subject of media obsession. Like Taylor Swift, Miley Cyrus, and Britney Spears, Carpenter’s romantic life has long been the subject of numerous articles in tabloids, magazines, and online gossip threads. Fans and haters alike have spent much time speculating and attempting to determine, who, exactly her songs are about. This phenomenon isn’t unique to Carpenter, and in fact seems to be intrinsic to the vast majority of journalism focusing on female artists. In 2013, Vanity Fair published a cover story entitled “Taylor Swift And The Growing Of A Superstar: Her Men, Her Moods, Her Music”; note that in the title of this article, what actually made Swift famous (the songs she had written) was preceded by “her men.” Scroll through articles online about Swift published between 2006 and 2015, and you’ll notice a consistent trend: the main subject of almost each one was her dating life. Scroll through the results of the same query for a celebrity like Jake Gyllenhaal, Harry Styles, or John Mayer — all of whom dated Swift during the period of time between 2006 and 2015 — and you’ll find something very different.

The hyperfixation on their dating lives fits into a broader concern for women in the public sphere —  over infantilization and restrictions of creativity. Women have always been objectified, not only by companies but also by fans. However, the same fans are often the first that jump upon female celebrities when they step into a more sensual persona.This particular grievance is especially forced onto those who may have started as a child star or with a more innocent nature. 

With the release of “Short n’ Sweet,” comments criticizing the bold lyrics and concept have become prevalent. The discussion of whether female pop stars are allowed to own their sexuality or be forced to remain stagnant is one that’s been rising with the popularity of Carpenter’s newer music. 

Women like Ariana Grande or Carpenter herself, who seem to promote a more delicate appearance with their slighter statures and softer features are constantly treated like children, with people babying them and their records often trying to feed into the mindset of delusional fans.

This limits their creative freedom as well. While “Short n’ Sweet” may bring an image to mind, it also associates a sound. It’s light, free, retro, and just a little cheeky. The songs are the kind that bring back memories and make people want to dance. The whole album is just fun. And that’s the result of Carpenter being free to express herself however she wants.

She crossed airy melodies, fresh lyrics, and bouncy chords to make music that feels unique to her and displays her personality in a way that we haven’t seen before. To change any part of those compositions would be to remove an integral aspect of Carpenter’s brand, and therefore while the songs may be controversial, they are ultimately necessary. 

Ultimately, regardless of the content of their songs, female artists will be criticized by the media for being overly sexual. From artists like Cardi B who write explicitly sexual songs to artists like Taylor Swift whose lyrics for much of her career did not go past first base, media outlets have poked and prodded into female celebrities’ dating lives, painting images of them as no more than the outfits they wear and the men they date, and Carpenter just so happens to be the latest to experience this very precedented phenomenon.