JULIE FROMM / ASST. OPINION EDITOR

The views expressed in the editorial and op-ed sections are not necessarily those of  The USD Vista staff, the University of San Diego, or its student body.

 Clarification: Last week, an opinion published on Page 10 of The USD Vista included a photo of a swastika t-shirt which Kanye West sold on his website. The intention of including this photo was to denounce his antisemitic actions and bring attention to how such hateful art cannot be separated from artists. Since publication, it has been pointed out that this does not promote USD’s mission of creating a more inclusive, sustainable and hopeful world. We understand how such a photo can be triggering or unwelcoming, and that was not our intent. We apologize to those who were negatively impacted by the photo.

As a young woman about to enter the real world, I have been searching for a hero to hold onto — someone strong and confident who I could emulate and aspire to be like. I never thought that that hero would be a five-foot-tall pop star, but when I started listening to Sabrina Carpenter’s music, I was instantly  inspired by her lyrics that defied everything society has taught me to be as a woman. 

It was ingrained in me from a young age that I should be the damsel in distress, the one who needed saving. After any heartbreak, I would wallow in sadness for months and turn to songs that emulated this feeling, like “Forever & Always” by Taylor Swift or “The One That Got Away” by Katy Perry. 

I’d be lying if I said I don’t find myself singing along to songs like these in my car to this day, but I’ve grown tired of feeling sorry for myself and for keeping myself in the scorned-woman-searching-for-a-savior box. I was craving someone who could shatter that illusion, and I found that in modern-day pop stars like Sabrina Carpenter, up-and-coming rapper Doechii and Chappell Roan. It is thrilling to listen to music that defies the stereotype  that women are to be chased by their  love interests and wait around for someone to  come along and give them what they want. Artists  like   Carpenter, Roan and Doechii just go out and get it. 

Chappell Roan breaks through feminine stereotypes in the music industry. Photo courtesy of @chappellroan/Instagram

I started listening to Carpenter’s music this year and instantly fell in love with her attitude towards women, sex and relationships. Her most recent album, “Short n’ Sweet,” flows from one song about a man whose ego is almost laughable, to being so attracted  to  a guy that  she wants to carry his child. As someone who is sex-positive myself, hearing songs from artists  who so willingly accept their sexual nature and aren’t afraid to show it is nothing less than extraordinary. Both Roan and Doechii embrace their sexuality and incorporate it into their music and choreography on stage, demonstrating to women that their sexual desires are nothing to be ashamed of. At a time when women want to be held to the same standards as men, having music that reflects my natural desires for intimacy and power is  exactly   what I need. 

What makes all of these women so incredible is their unapologetic attitude toward their womanhood. Female artists have often taken the route of love songs and ballads of heartbreak. It is the genre of music that has worked for them and has allowed them to work their way up in the industry. But artists like  Carpenter, Roan and Doechii set a new standard for what a woman can and should be in the music world. They sing about enjoying sex and playing the field. 

Yes, each of these artists talk about relationships and heartbreak in some songs, but their music is not defined by their heartbreaks. Doechii’s songs touch on topics like addiction and mental health. Roan’s music describes her experiences  as a  gay woman and many of her songs are revered as queer anthems. Rather  than  just  sitting with the ache of  breakups, suffering and personal struggles, they use it as fuel to push the  boundaries of what a female pop-star should produce. There is sadness, but there is also redemption. 

It is a troubling time to be a woman. There are laws being put in place that remove the power we have worked so hard to attain. The right to receive an abortion has been the topic of heated debates for years. According to the National Women’s Law Center, women in  California  still  make  less  money  than men; for every dollar a man makes, a woman makes 87 cents. Even walking alone at night as a woman can feel highly threatening. I have trained myself to be a people-pleaser and watch what I say in order to appear to be what I have come to know as a “proper” woman. 

When I listen to Carpenter’s music, though, I am inspired to relinquish the hold that I have on myself and simply let loose the way that she does. Roan’s wild outfits with rhinestones and feathers and neon colors make me want to step outside of  my comfort zone and explore expression. At the 2025 Grammy awards, Doechii became the third woman in the history of the Grammy’s to win Best Rap Album of the Year. Watching Doechii accept this award was inspiring and reminded me that there is more than enough room for women to thrive in all areas, whether that is in the music world or corporate America. 

When I listen to these artists and watch their  performances, I feel empowered. I feel more capable of recognizing that my femininity is a strength instead of a weakness. There are actions being  taken  against women in today’s policy that I find frightening, but there are women  in  the   spotlight    who are using their   unique  capabilities as feminine  heroines to break the barriers that have been set in stone for us for decades. 

Sabrina Carpenter performs with her backup dancers on her “Short n’ Sweet” tour. Photo courtesy of @sabrinacarpenter/Instagram