Songs for a Healthy Body Image

Baby Got Back - Old School Players

Beautiful - Christina Aguilara

The Voice Within -Christina Aguilera

Listen - Beyonce

The Beauty in Ugly - Jason Mraz



The songs I chose represent just a small fraction of what I think music should be to represent a healthy body image. I chose "Baby Got Back" because although it is dirty, it promotes a women with a larger bottom which is exactly what I have. Usually in music videos you see women who have no curves but then here is a rapper who talks about how he likes curves, especially butts. It's like the anthem for curvy women everywhere.



I used to play the song "Beautiful" on repeat because of its meaning. It really hits on a bunch of different insecurities that people have, and yet tells you that you are beautiful despite all flaws. It came out about the time that I was going through high school, which is a very difficult period and very awkward.



"The Voice Within" empowers women to listen to themselves. It talks about a young girl crying because she doesn't think herself worthy, but the song encourages the girl to stop crying and believe in herself. I think we have all had those moments where life seems impossibly hard, but this song reassures that there is hope in the future, and life does get better.



Dreamgirls takes place in a very male-dominated time and progresses through the 60s and 70s where women begin to gain a voice. At first, Beyonce's character is completely subservient to her husband, but he treats other people terribly. He is her manager, so essentially he controls her. This song is a very pivotal part in the movie because she decides to take control of her own life and tells her husband to listen to her. Most women need to be encouraged to speak up more and let themselves be heard in their relationships.



"The Beauty in Ugly" was written for the show Ugly Betty. The premise of the show is about a not very pretty girl who tries to break into the fashion world. The song Jason Mraz wrote is encouraging women to stand tall even though other people call them ugly and to see the beauty in ugly. Although women have been told they are beautiful, there is probably a time in everyone's life when they have been told they are ugly. This just empowers them to fight back.



My musical tastes have definitely changed over the years, evolving into a more healthy soundtrack. I refuse to listen to rappers who degrade women and show them in a negative light in their music videos. I see how men go around and sing these songs and it's so sad. This music shouldn't even be made. I only want to expose my children to music that will teach them to respect the opposite sex, regardless of their gender.