Women’s stories matter - they just matter

By Antonio Machado

Copy Editor

The queen bee once asked a poignant yet concise question, “Who run the world?” and the answer? “Girls!”

Her answer was indisputable, because for the last 100 years, incredibly talented women have sung their way into the hearts of society, becoming cultural pillars that shape fashion, language, and at times, the world itself.

These women are known as The Pop Divas, and they are an immutable part of our history - one that needs much more recognition for their impact.

From the early 20th century Maria Callas, to the incomparable Whitney Houston, to the wickedly talented Ariana Grande, and the newly anointed Sabrina Carpenter, these women have decorated each and every decade of the past, pushing the needle musically and culturally, reforming the way society perceives itself.

In a patriarchal society that repeatedly tries to diminish the light inside women while simultaneously saying they are “Too much,” these Divas take the stage and say, “More.” They are able to imbue their ambition with an unabashed, unapologetic femininity, a beautiful form of self-expression that resonates deeply with so many different demographics.

That mass appeal is the precise reason why the Diva is a constant pillar of social and cultural reform, specifically when it comes to women and the LGBTQ+ community.

Amidst the crisis of the AIDS epidemic, some of the biggest pop stars at the time, Madonna and Cher, utilized their immense platforms to advocate for the spread of knowledge and kindness for any affected individuals.

Cher co-hosted the American Foundation for AIDS Research Benefit at the Cannes Film Festival with Elizabeth Taylor in 1998, and Madonna included a pamphlet called “The Facts About AIDS” within the booklet for the “Like a Prayer Tour” in 1989.

The Diva does not just reflect the era they are a part of - they build it. These women are the North Star of culture, pushing every single boundary to reshape the world the way they see fit.

Music has the potential to completely change the way things are perceived. It is a transformative form of art that is interwoven into history. Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way” was not just a pop hit, but a political anthem celebrating queerness.

Just as Madonna’s “Human Nature” (1994) reclaimed her sexual autonomy, Nicki Minaj’s “Anaconda” flipped gender and race paradigms to empower women in a vulgar manner - not exploitative, but a deliberate ownership of hyper-sexuality that changed the standard of the way women could express themselves in music from then on.

These songs sparked controversy, but controversy is an old friend to the Diva. 

Ariana Grande’s “God is a Woman” was deemed blasphemous by the general public, but it was an anthem that expressed pride in women’s sexuality, deeming it divine.

Beyoncé’s “Formation” faced scrutiny for its incredibly pro-Black sentiment, which at time of release in 2016, was not very welcomed.

This defiance of societal standards is an integral part of being a Diva. The term used to be derogatory, utilized to shame women who knew their worth and were not afraid to express it. Now, it’s a term of endearment endowed upon these immensely talented women.

Although many Divas have shaped the world of beauty, be it fashion or makeup, they are musicians first and foremost, and their influence in that realm is far more than anyone might expect.

Dua Lipa’s “Future Nostalgia” alone revitalized disco in the 2020s, completely reshaping the way pop music sounds currently, according to an article by UrbanMusicRadar.

If “Teenage Dream” by Katy Perry was the first Pop Bible, Taylor Swift’s “1989” was the new testament - each one completely overtaking the year they were released and informing the way pop music was made from then on.

When the music scene was completely dominated by Hip-Hop and trap, Ariana Grande combined elements of both in her hit record “thank u, next,” reintroducing pop into the public’s forebrain. 

“RENAISSANCE” by Beyoncé quite literally brought a renaissance to house and ballroom music, a genre and culture that had been for the most part been forced underground since the early 2000s.

These women have always and will always sing for a freer, more beautiful world - one where we are able to express ourselves more freely.

It is imperative that we acknowledge their importance and influence, and continue to platform women whose voices are able to penetrate the public psyche in this manner.

Divas are a reminder that culture does not evolve, but is rather pushed forward by those willing to use their voices.