Interview script

Plain Jane, a 24-year-old singer-songwriter from London, is the star that everyone is talking about. Having recently been voted ‘best female role model’ by RealMusic Television, her hugely anticipated album ‘Independent Woman’ did not disappoint her enthusiastic fans. Climbing up to the top of the charts, she has been likened to the controversial success of Madonna and Lady Gaga with the fresh excitement of contemporary artists like Miley Cyrus. Behind all the fame however, there’s a woman criticised and discriminated against for her body image. Plain Jane tells Melody Magazine how she receives daily hate comments on YouTube telling her she’s ‘too masculine’ and ‘not sexy enough’. Plain Jane gives Melody Magazine and our eager readers a fiery response,“Enough is enough! Stop sexualising women and likening them to voiceless objects of sex!”

Q: What’s the significance to your stage name, ‘Plain Jane’?

A: ‘Plain Jane’ is the term used about women who are categorised as unattractive and boring. It basically means ‘average’ and is a term based entirely on physically appearance and first judgments. My question is, how can you judge someone by their body and appearance when this doesn’t tell you anything about the person? I’m not one of those girls who get naked for the camera, yet I consider myself an outgoing and confident lady. I chose this name because it encapsulates the generalisations of body image by our generation. Some people may thing that I look ‘plain’ and boring on the outside, but on the inside I am strong, talented and independent- and at the end of the day, that’s all that matters.

Q: What points are you trying to get across to your fans in your recent music video, ‘Lady in a Lad’s World’?

A: I wrote ‘Lady in a Lad’s World’ to show that women are just as powerful, independent and talented as men, and also to show how the sexualisation of genders can really affect people. I decided to play the roles of both male and female characters to reflect how women can have masculine traits and men can have feminine traits- and still be beautiful. I want society’s warped image of beauty to be abolished, as well as sexualised misconceptions of women in this industry. Therefore, I challenged the objectification and sexualisation of gender through my music video. I’m not what is categorised as ‘a conventional beauty’ and people criticise me for being too ‘masculine’. So what? I love the way I look and that’s all that matters. Should I succumb to the ‘sexy’ stereotype that the media forces women in the music industry to be? No. I refuse to, and other women should do too. I chose this controversial approach because overt gender sexualisation is an issue, and I feel women in music videos are especially subjected to this.

Q: Why has your music video has caused such uproar of controversy?

A: Has anyone noticed how male produced videos are extremely suggestive? They say actions speak louder than words, and in the case of music videos, actions suggest women passively do whatever men want them to do. Women are just objectified for their bodies and barely have a voice or identity. I wanted to create a music video where the stereotypes of women’s primary purpose of being ‘sexy’ and ‘there to please’ are scrapped. We deserve to be credited for our talents rather than be objectified for our bodies and scrutinised for our sexuality. This is why my music video has caused so much controversy; people are shocked that there are no rigid gender roles or stereotypes.

Q: How have you responded to the positive/negative attention brought upon by your controversy?

A: Some people may be shocked at the way I dress and how I ‘lack feminine qualities’. I am walking proof of the fact that women don’t need to strip sown and expose their bodies to get attention in the music industry. When my producer told me I needed to take my clothes off and ‘act more sexy’ for my male fans, I fired him. I strongly detest misogyny and will do all in my power to discourage it. I’ve received lots of positive media attention by representing something new, fresh and exciting in the music industry, and I’ve also recently been voted one of the top female role model for young teenagers. Women shouldn’t be discriminated and objectified by their bodies and it’s important that young children do not grow up to be desensitised to this issue. Women shouldn’t have to feel like ‘sexual objects’. Everyone needs to be aware of the overt sexualisation of gender that takes place in the music industry, and music videos like Robin Thicke’s ‘Blurred Lines’ encapsulates this disgustingly, over-sexualised music culture.

Q: Why do you think gender roles are so defined in the music industry?

A: The representation of men and women is something that has stemmed from society ideals. Society tells us to expect people to looks/act/dress one-way or the other. You’re either categorised as completely masculine with strong muscles and flashy suits, or you’re ultra feminine and have the perfect boobs, bum and face- in that order! The music industry is so influenced by these gender stereotypes. Women, in particular, are used for their bodies to attract male audiences and producers believe that women have to dress half naked in order to receive any sort of attention or recognition as a female artist or music video dancer. Apparently if you’re not ‘sexy’ you’re not selling. This needn’t be true. In my music video, ‘Lady in a Lad’s World’, the women tale on the ‘masculine’ role, being dominating and intimidating, while the men are portrayed as weak, dumb and sexy- the typically ‘female’ stereotype. I did this to subvert how the music industry exploits gender sexuality, using it as a means to sell, and also to demonstrate how these gender stereotypes are old-fashioned and sexist. Beauty is becoming plastic and artificial because the media and music industry conform to stereotypes and unrealistic perceptions of beauty. Women are stripped of the freedom of being more than a pretty face and a sexy body.

Q: Why do you think you have been voted #1 Role Model for Teenagers in the RealMusic Television awards, 2014?

A: Through my lyrics and music videos, I discourage the objectification of genders by abolishing the overt sexualisation that you see all over music channels such as MTV and Viva! I wouldn’t want my children to grow up influenced by these overtly sexual and objectifying music videos because this leads to the backwards mindset of sexualisation/discrimination of genders being accepted and becoming ‘normal’. In the long term, this creates a shocking desensitisation to contemporary issues, for example teenagers being brought up thinking it is acceptable to take advantage of women due to their ‘purpose of being mere sex objects.’ This needs to change. The music industry needs to realise that their stereotypical and sexist misrepresentations of gender can mentally and physically affect young generations. Children look up to the people they see in music videos. I am an artist who subverts the concept of ‘using sex to sell’. My focal point isn’t my body. My focal point is my talent.