VShe last few days, the gem albums have been released: the Colombian Kali Uchis, the Belgian Shay, the Spanish Bad Gyal. Singers who have the common point of being bad bitches (which can politely be translated as “tough guys”). And we might as well add Aya Nakamura, Rosalia, Cardi B, Megan Thee Stallion, Doja Cat and Nicki Minaj to the list.
The term comes from female rappers, often non-white, from disadvantaged social backgrounds, who emerged around 2010. At that time, the fairer sex only occupied an object position in the rappers’ texts and clips. When, in 2012, the first bad bitch Frenchwoman, Liza Monet, raps her best shot in My Best Plan (6.2 million views), she is cyberstalked and suffers from slut-shaming (in good French, “slut guilt”). In the meantime, other female rappers followed and the #metoo movement took hold.
But what is a bad bitch ? This is an ambitious woman, who is not shy, embraces her sexual desires, like the cellulite and stretch marks streaking her skin. Financially and mentally independent, she never turns her back or gags in front of anyone. Especially not in front of a man.
Dressed sexy, with a denim miniskirt, thong worn high on the hips and plunging neckline, this provocateur doesn’t care about being scanned from head to toe when she walks down the street. On the contrary, when a passer-by to whom she does not tell the time peevishly calls her a “whore”failing to get his attention, she challenges him with her gaze, smirking, as if saying ” Yes and so ? ».
Reversing the stigma of insult
At the microphone of Rawthere “pretty bitch”as Shay calls herself, explains having reversed the stigma of the insult “whore” to make it an accepted claim, “by removing the negative power of this term [utilisé] to take down the women ». Like the African-American community with the word nigger or homosexuals with “faggot”.
But how can she be considered free when she fits perfectly into the dictates of fashionable beauty? Certainly, but she does it consciously, believing that it is good for her career. The example of the reggaeton scene is edifying. Karol G, Anitta, Kali Uchis, Becky G… all these artists know that to “break through”, they must first conform to these standards, which are difficult to achieve without cosmetic surgery. While the success of their colleagues reggaetoneros is not conditioned by their physique (fortunately for them, otherwise many would never have emerged).
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