1 pop-zeitschrift.de Juni 2013 Evelien Geerts Singing sirens. Contemporary pop and rock goddesses and their potentially feminist acts of »chanter hystérique« Introduction: The ambiguous relationship between women’s popular music and feminism There appears to be a discrepancy between female artists in the music industry and popular culture, and the women and men who write about these artists and reflect upon the latter’s creations. Popular female artists often do not like to be associated with »the F- word« (McClary 2000: 1284); being labeled as a feminist is seen as stigmatic because of the many negative associations attached to feminism. Yet, there are female pop artists out there that are reacting against the double standards women have to deal with, and that hence could be seen as feminists. Just recall Pink’s »Stupid Girls« video, in which she reclaimed female sexuality by criticizing America’s antifeminist celebrity culture (Pink 2006). 1 Although »Stupid Girls« was not that well-received in some feminist circles because of its mocking undertone – women that label other women as stupid borders on exploitation, obviously – it in the end gave us a positive message of female empowerment. And the same could be said about the hits »PU$$Y« and »212«, respectively written by Australian- American rapper Iggy Azalea and Harlem rap sensation Azealia Banks, in which both artists touch upon female pleasure and sexuality in an empowered manner (Azalea 2011; Banks 2012). So, at least a part of today’s popular music created by women could be situated in the feminist political domain of fighting for gender equality, equal sexual rights and the freedom of female expression, if it were not for these artists themselves, who are usually wary of being branded as feminists. The aforementioned artists, for instance, have never called themselves feminists, and other American artists, such as hip hop sensation Nicki Minaj and pop icon Lady Gaga, aren’t exactly feminist-friendly either: whereas Minaj on occasions refers to girl power – a cuter version of feminism – Gaga once explicitly stated