I am on a quest to like all women.  Then if we have meaningful interactions that go awry and I am personally affronted, I will stop liking them.  But I’m trying to avoid random snap judgments entirely.  Sad that this is a “quest” and is not just natural, but society is pretty darn good at pushing us to turn on ourselves and call each other bad names for random reasons, as if we are all fighting for this tiny pool of resources or something.  Gotta fight it.   

But Katy Perry sometimes makes this difficult.  I guess she’s an empowering female figure? (I say that with a very questioning tone).  I mean, she is certainly a successful one.  And I do think she is talented!  Great voice, and all that jazz. 

But bah, the opening lyrics to Hot ‘n Cold (which is a rather catchy tune) just drive me crazy every time I hear it on the radio:

“You change your mind like a girl changes clothes”

I am a girl and I only change my clothes once a day!  And sometimes I never even change out of my pajamas (see this entire summer/fall).  Everybody (man or woman) loves a good pajamas-only week once in a while, it’s extremely luxurious.  And most women I know don’t carry around garment racks for costume changes throughout the day.  I’m kind of at a loss to think of situations where women change clothes and men don’t.  I for one think both genders like to keep hygienic and change after going to the gym, change out of stiff work clothes, etc.  I’m not saying changing clothes is a bad thing (it keeps us from being stinky!), but the way she phrases it makes it seem like girls are frivolous and vain or something.  Unless she really means that this guy hasn’t changed his mind in the entire summer that I haven’t left my house or worn real outdoor clothings…then I’m not so sure what she’s trying to say.  It would also be bizarre if she knew my pajama habits. 

“Yeah, you PMS like a bitch I would know”

Interesting.  The “bitch” in question in the lyric is not even a real specific woman she has in mind.  Just someone that Katy “would” know…so it seems like this applies to women in general.  Let’s think through this: Women physically menstruate, and so by definition there is a time every month before their cycle, which is pre-menstrual, and by having this time before their period, they are/become bitches.  Translation: all women (who menstruate) are bitches.  “Stop acting like a woman with a period, boyfriend!  Because they are just whiny and annoying.”  Uncool, Katy.  And by putting it that way, is Katy removing herself from the pool of women with periods (and women in general)?  It’s hard to be an empowered woman when you are actually kind of claiming that you aren’t a woman.  Or is she magically immune to any potential effects that a pre-menstrual period would have on the average human woman (which is sure to make them turn into raging “bitches”)?  How odd.  In some way, she is separating herself by pooping on the rest of us. 

Yeah this is some random ranting.  I just kinda cringe whenever I hear tons of ladies sing these lyrics at the top of their lungs (especially when one of those ladies is me, geebus this song has been stuck in my head all day).  I understand that this will probably warrant quite a few “lighten up, liz!”s, but I’m just pointing out something that annoys me, which is the purpose of this blog.  I still like the lady, just want her to be more aware of what she is saying.  Unless she is very aware…and then I won’t really like her anymore.  

rant by Liz (wearing some hot and then cold, yes and then no rantpants)