What’s Wrong With This Picture?
Rihanna just released a new single called Russian Roulettte from her forthcoming album Rated R. I haven’t hear the song yet, but I did stumble upon this image for the cover art of the single. And I have to ask, what was Rihanna thinking?
Seriously, do we really need to see more images of women tied up, wrapped up, injured, suppressed, and dominated?
Coming off the heals of being assaulted by her former boyfriend, Chris Brown, I would have thought Rihanna was in the perfect position to portray an image of strength and empowerment for her many female fans. Instead, between the barbed wire (!) wrapped around her naked (!) body and an antiquated corset, this is just one of countless exploitative images in the media that portray women as victims and sex objects.
What do you think of this new album cover? What message do think it sends to the millions of girls who admire Rihanna as an artist?
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Gloria Miele Said,
October 21, 2009 @ 12:56 pm
What was she thinking, indeed. Really sad and unfortunate that she missed this opportunity to be a good model for young women and break out of her own role as victim. Very sad.
Why Is Rihanna Expected to be a Feminist Icon? - The Sexist - Washington City Paper Said,
October 22, 2009 @ 6:45 am
[…] the millions of girls who admire Rihanna as an artist?” asks Deborah Reber of Rihanna’s barbed-wire cover pic. Anna North of Jezebel wrote that “the song isn’t one I’d want my kids singing in […]
Veronica Said,
October 22, 2009 @ 10:58 am
So sad im a fan of her but with this new song I agree she is not sending the right message.
Bri Said,
October 23, 2009 @ 12:53 pm
That’s ridiculous. Why couldn’t she do something that was empowering? Something that showed her resilience. I imagine a song or two is inspired by the Brown events, and this cover is the antithesis to anything that she would have to say about female strength.
Anna Said,
November 7, 2009 @ 2:30 pm
ummmm well i think that this is a very beautifle picture but it dose indeed send a very bad message
Jessie May Said,
November 24, 2009 @ 8:02 am
Wow, what a disappointment to see this young woman who so many girls look up to, put out an image like this. This image represents violence, disempowerment, objectification, victimization towards women. This is exactly the type of image that we need to start moving away from (and in many cases and parts of the country I think we are). Girls see images along these lines everyday in all of the adds that get into their subconscious minds about what their role is as a woman in our culture. The ideas portrayed in this picture become the norm for many girls and that is very sad! I can only hope that Rihanna doesn’t know better and needs some gender norm/stereotype education and information brought to her awareness.
Kerstin Said,
November 26, 2009 @ 7:18 pm
you know intil the whole chris brown i looked up to her and it is very sad….. this photo says that either she wants to say hey look at me i got over the abuse thing and now im back or it says hey i like my body im not afraid to show it. but i think that it sends the wrong message any where to anyone. you can be comfortable with your body without showing it
countrygl Said,
April 30, 2011 @ 11:20 am
actually, it depends on how you look at it… if you look at it like she’s being suppressed dominated then that is what you see. But what if you look at it differently. View the barbed wire thats tied around her as the issues that have happened in her life, and the arm that is raised as her pulling herself up, and that with the fact that she is standing up shows one with a complete different meaning. It says ” yes i’ve been hurt, yes i hurt, yes its been tough, but im standing, i continue to stand, i hold my ground, and i will not let anything bring me down”