Benedetta Fabris
Paris Paloma’s new single ‘labour’ has taken social media by storm, with over 35,000 videos using the sound on TikTok.
Female Rage
A preview of the song was released in early March 2023. It quickly gained momentum: women all over the globe used the TikTok sound to share their experiences with misogyny and express their rage. This being the so-called ‘female rage,’ the collective fury of a gender that has been silenced and oppressed for too long.
The song’s lyrics speak to women of all backgrounds and generations. Paloma’s haunting vocals are accompanied by a choir of women, creating a goosebumps-inducing effect:
“You make me do too much labour. All day every day, therapist, mother, maid, nymph then a virgin, nurse then a servant, just an appendage, live to attend him, so that he never lifts a finger.”
Labour in Western Society
In today’s Western society, sexism might not be as blatant as it was in the past, but there are definitely more expectations placed on women than men. Women are said to be natural-born multi-taskers for being able to juggle childcare, food shopping, and housekeeping among other responsibilities. At the same time, they are expected to find the energy to conform to unattainable beauty standards through dieting, cosmetic surgery, and other treatments.
But is this multitasking actually a natural trait? Or are we just used to having to function this way?
“There’s still an expectation for women to have this very traditional archaic role as a caregiver and a servant and a wife and a mother and a homemaker,” Paris Paloma told The Big Issue. “But women have had enough of existing to serve other people.”
Through her song, the British singer-songwriter lends a voice to all the women of the past who haven’t been able to speak out, and inspires present and future generations to fight for equality.
Feminist Anthem
The song’s ethereal sound, which blends elements of dark-pop, folk, and indie genres, perfectly suits its powerful message and evokes something magical and ancestral.
With its poignant message, could ‘labour’ become this generation’s feminist anthem? We think so. We hope it will continue to empower women around the world and help to dismantle the systems of oppression that continue to hold women back.
Featured image courtesy of Lindsey LaMont via Unsplash. Image license found here. No changes were made to this image.
