It doesn’t take lengthy for an Olivia Rodrigo album to stipulate a thesis assertion in regards to the expertise of being a younger girl in America.
In actual fact, each of the pop singer’s data begin with a punchy opener that dramatically, energetically calls consideration to the practically unmanageable expertise of girlhood and womanhood.
Her first album, “Bitter,” kicks off with the teenager lady anthem “brutal,” the place Rodrigo shares:
“I’m so drained that I would / Stop my job, begin a brand new life / They usually’d all be so disillusioned / ‘Trigger who am I, if not exploited”
Two years later, with the discharge of her sophomore album, “GUTS,” Rodrigo opens with the sarcastic and all-too-universal “all-american b—.”
She sings, atop a seething electrical guitar: “I am an ideal all-American b— / With good all-American lips / And excellent all-American hips / I do know my place, I do know my place, and that is it”
And, as a lot as her lyrics resonate with all the younger, gutsy feminists on the market, a lot of her actions additionally align with the decision for gender equality.
Whereas Rodrigo continues to make headlines for supporting reproductive well being care and charming followers with new tunes like “obsessed,” right here’s a stroll down reminiscence lane to rejoice the various occasions the 21-year-old star gave us all a lesson in feminism.
Olivia Rodrigo’s historical past of feminism
She introduced the Fund 4 Good alongside the Guts World Tour to assist girls in all places.
At first of Rodrigo’s main, 75-stop “Guts World Tour” in February, she introduced an initiative that will financially assist community-based nonprofits at each cease, championing ladies’ schooling, reproductive rights, and the tip of gender-based violence.
The challenge is known as the Fund 4 Good, and most notably, consists of partnerships with abortion funds throughout the US — a few of which even made headlines for distributing emergency contraception at a few of Rodrigo’s reveals. (Sadly, Rodrigo’s administration nixed this explicit activation, however abortion funds are nonetheless tabling at her U.S. reveals).
On her Canada stops, the singer is donating funds to a community of girls’s shelters, as effectively, aiming to assist girls and youngsters fleeing violent conditions.
She advisable some important feminist studying.
In a livestream final fall, Rodrigo advisable Mikki Kendall’s best-selling ebook, “Hood Feminism: Notes from the Ladies {That a} Motion Forgot.”
“The final ebook I learn is that this ebook referred to as ‘Hood Feminism’ that’s so good. … I actually advocate it,” Rodrigo mentioned within the stream. “It’s, like, a really intersectional feminism ebook. It’s superior.”
The ebook, which is a set of essays by Kendall, explores points which have been glossed over by mainstream feminism, corresponding to meals insecurity, entry to high quality schooling, dwelling wages, and medical care, to color a fuller image of what the way forward for feminism should take into account.
She speaks boldly about reproductive justice at her dwell reveals.
Just a little over a month previous to the Supreme Court docket’s 2022 Dobbs determination, which overturned Roe v. Wade, a leaked opinion from the judicial department made the rounds, indicating what was forward.
Whereas Rodrigo was on tour in Washington DC in Could 2022, she spoke candidly in regards to the projected ruling.
“As a result of we’re in DC, I couldn’t move up the chance to say how heartbroken I’m over the Supreme Court docket’s potential determination,” Rodrigo mentioned on stage.
“Our our bodies ought to by no means be within the arms of politicians. I hope we are able to elevate our voices to guard our proper to have a secure abortion, which is a proper that so many individuals earlier than us have labored so onerous to get.”
Together with in an impassioned speech in regards to the Supreme Court docket with Lily Allen.
In a similar way, in June 2022, simply following the Supreme Court docket’s determination to overturn Roe v. Wade, Rodrigo took the stage at Glastonbury with pop icon Lily Allen to sing Allen’s 2008 hit “F— You.”
Earlier than singing the tune, Rodrigo gave an impassioned speech concerning the Supreme Court docket’s determination, placing reproductive care like abortion entry at risk throughout the nation.
“I’m devastated and terrified that so many ladies and so many ladies are going to die due to this,” Rodrigo mentioned, noticeably emotional.
“I wished to dedicate this subsequent tune to the 5 members of the Supreme Court docket who’ve confirmed us that on the finish of the day, they honestly don’t give a s— about freedom.”
The group cheered enthusiastically and Allen held up her center fingers as Rodrigo rattled off the names of these SCOTUS judges.
“This tune goes out to the justices Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, Amy Coney Barrett, and Brett Kavanaugh,” Rodrigo mentioned, matter-of-factly. “We hate you.”
Within the fall of 2023, she advised the Guardian that earlier than her set — and daring declaration — she thought of her “younger lady followers,” and knew she needed to say one thing.
“That’s truly why it’s so vital,” she mentioned. “I’d love, if I used to be a bit lady, to see somebody arise for future-me like that.”
She has tweeted about social justice points.
Whereas Rodrigo was nonetheless working as an actor with Disney — throughout Donald Trump’s presidency — she tweeted plenty of occasions to categorical her disdain for his management, in addition to reposting messages from activist teams like March for Our Lives.
These have been shared through the top of the Black Lives Matter motion in Could and June 2020.
She additionally posted about her assist of the Black Lives Matter motion, sharing a hyperlink to sources that will assist and amplify the trigger.
“Please proceed to behave and assist,” she wrote in Could 2020. “This could’t simply be a second — this may by no means finish with no battle.”
She collaborates with and helps different girls artists.
From the beginning of her profession, Rodrigo has been vocal about her respect and admiration for different girls within the music business. And as her star energy continues to develop, she is collaborating with them!
From an interview with Alanis Morisette, to performing with legends like Sheryl Crow, and uplifting girls and LGBTQ+ opening acts like Chappel Roan, Remi Wolf, and The Breeders.
She advocated for public well being on the White Home.
The world briefly stood nonetheless when Olivia Rodrigo posted a selfie with President Joe Biden in July 2021, nevertheless it wasn’t your run-of-the-mill celeb selfie. Rodrigo was on the White Home to advocate for public well being, encouraging younger individuals to get COVID-19 vaccines.
As girls — particularly girls of shade — are uncared for by well being care methods, Rodrigo’s inclusion on this marketing campaign signaled a considerate try and fight misinformation and empower people to reap the benefits of a free type of care.
She even joined Anthony Fauci to learn some tweets about getting vaccinated.
“Olivia RodriGO to the vaccine clinic,” she learn, laughing. “The entire humorous puns so long as you’re getting vaccinated. That’s nice, no matter it takes.”
She constantly and unapologetically expresses rage (and pleasure!) as a younger girl of shade.
As a Filipino American, Rodrigo is a logo of a brand new wave of various, chart-topping girls artists. Preventing each patriarchal and white supremacist requirements for magnificence, success, and even how one expresses feelings, her presence goes deeper than a head-banging hit.
The singer unapologetically invitations different girls to really feel and categorical their full vary of feelings, freed from stereotypes or disgrace, particularly with the aforementioned monitor “all-american b—” as their soundtrack.
When the tune got here out in 2023, many younger girls took to TikTok to specific their gratitude that Rodrigo was in a position to so clearly seize the righteous anger many younger girls expertise.
“It’s just like the interior dialogue of a lady … going dwelling and being fully exhausted and full of rage that you must placed on some present [not only] to care for your self and maintain your self secure, but in addition please these round you,” 21-year-old Grace Ogden advised Teen Vogue upon the discharge of the tune.
Header pictures courtesy of Olivia Rodrigo/Instagram and The White Home
