NO ONE LIKES A MAD WOMAN....
How Media Capitalizes on the Female Feud
Designed by Izzy Critchfield-Jain Written by Andrea Morales Photographed by Samantha Grobman
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It’s no secret that society enjoys having a front seat to public feuds. People jump at the chance to analyze a new song or read about a feud-fueled interview. We’ve all been there. Personally, reading the lyrics to “Shether’’ by Remy Ma, aimed at Nicki Minaj, was a jaw-dropping moment in my formative years. However, there is something deeply unsettling about how the media purposely pits female artists against each other. It’s one thing when a musician writes about a personal experience and makes art of it, and another when comparisons start being thrown around. I have a few theories as to why women are the prime target for this sensationalism. As any young woman knows, there are certain unspoken rules that we must follow. We must sit, look pretty, and dazzle people with our personalities. If we show an ounce of emotion beyond that, we are seen as “over-the-top,” “too much,”
or—my personal favorite— “unlikeable.” All of which are traits that are commonly used to characterize female artists. The media could never outrightly say that they don’t approve of a woman’s actions, so they take a more subtle approach. They blatantly compare two female musicians, and watch as society tears them apart. If there’s one thing the public will always pay attention to, it’s two women being enraged with one another— the one exception to the unsaid rule. Let’s look at some examples of this reality in action. Famous “feuds” include Lady Gaga vs. Madonna, Nicki Minaj vs. Cardi B., Mariah Carey vs. Jennifer Lopez, and many more. While there may be some truth that these public figures have bitter relationships with each other, there’s no denying that the media does nothing but add fuel to the fire. Just a quick Google search of these names together will show headlines like,
