Guitar Strings and Broken Jukeboxes: Applying Feminist Criticism to Classic Country

Abstract

Historically, Classic Country music has reinforced the domestic sphere as the appropriate placement for women. The lyrics of artists such as Conway Twitty, Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, Kitty Wells, and Tammy Wynette, highlight the notions of gendered expectations. These artists act as iconic staples, and their interpretation of country life directly resembles the attitudes of the South. By considering the reactions of several artists during the women’s liberation movement, an area that many scholars have ignored in the past, this essay will argue that despite the advancement towards equality, the female artist is only iconic for her appearance. Providing a brief history of the genre and the totems found throughout the narratives will confirm the distaste some artists have for equality and how lyrical themes even constrict track length for women. Regardless of evolving gendered expectations the genre continues to place men as gods and women as devils.