Stacy’s Mom

Feminism is a necessary and crucial part of the world. Without it, women would not have made as much progress in the equal rights movement. Women would not be able to vote, own property, work, etc. Although women have acquired some victories and triumphs, they are still living in a world that is oppressed by men. Often, these are in more subtle, groomed ways that can be easily overlooked. In this post, I will be using the feminist theory approach to analyze the Stacy’s Mom music video by Fountains of Wayne, which will focus on the sexualization and degradation of women.

First, the video begins by showing the music video’s character, “Stacy,” and her mother. Although Stacy appears to be a prepubescent girl, the video immediately sexualizes her. Stacy is wearing a mini skirt in front of male peers, and is later shown in a bed full of stuffed animals, wearing nothing but underwear and a cropped tank top. It is obvious that she is also wearing makeup to enhance her features and make her appear older. This is a controversial trend that has persisted over the years. An increasing number of young girls turn to makeup, scandalous clothing, and provocative behavior to survive in a world that encourages them to “grow up too fast.”

In addition, Stacy’s mother is also being sexualized. She is dressed in revealing clothing, and it even shows a stripping scene. It is notable that the main character in this music video, who is in pursuit of Stacy’s mom, is a young boy. This is an inappropriate age gap that would be ridiculed if roles were reversed. It also highlights how early toxic masculinity is introduced in a boy’s life.

To continue, there is an underlying theme of entitlement and objectification that allows for the degradation of women. The song sings, “Stacy’s mom has got it going on. She’s all that I want, and I’ve waited for so long. Stacy, can’t you see? You’re just not the girl for me.” This shows the self-entitlement of the main character by assuming that either of the women would be interested in him. It also objectifies the women by not giving them a voice. The mother and daughter are being discussed like two objects whose only purpose is to be desirable and appealing to men. This is also shown via the style of cinematography; the boy is able to do normal tasks such as swimming, mowing the lawn, and standing. In contrast, while the women are doing similar things, the camera zooms in slow on their bodies, focuses on their suggestive facial expressions, and pushes a lustful narrative.

Finally, the immense popularity of this song should be noted. Artifacts represent the truth of their time. By analyzing the sexualization and degradation in this artifact, one can see the progression of feminism and women’s rights. While there is still further progress to be made, it is helpful to reflect on the past, as it helps lead to future growth.

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