In a recent interview with People magazine, international pop star Ellie Goulding (whose recent album Delirium just hit stores) knocked it out of the park with an accurate commentary on sexism rampant in the music industry.
“It annoys me that guys can easily write about one-night stands, but if a girl writes about one? God, that’s terrible, you know?” Goulding said of the double standard female musicians face.
While Goulding did admit that there have been “a lot of positive changes in the music industry,” she insisted that it continues to be a male-dominated profession, despite the fact that female superstars like herself, Taylor Swift, Selena Gomez and Adele (just to name a few) continually top the charts.
Goulding raises a great point that others like Swift and Adele have also echoed on multiple occassions. Of course, the music industry is not the only one to experience the double-edged sword phenomenon; just recall a month ago when Jennifer Lawrence spoke out against the pay gap in Hollywood and was simultaneously praised and berated for doing so.
While it may seem incredibly frustrating and facepalm-worthy to collegiettes around the country and globe, Goulding’s point about ongoing change is reason to be optimistic. Will sexism continue to persist in the entertainment business? At least for now, probably. But it’s also people like Goulding and Lawrence that are reason for us to be proud and hopeful for a brighter future. As long as they—and others—continue to rally for feminism, we all stand a chance to live in an equal society.