Labour - paris paloma
Labour (2023) by Paris Paloma blew up (at least my) TikTok, especially during International Women’s History Month. The song explores themes of oppression and the female experience, shedding light on the societal burdens placed on women particularly in relationships. The lyrics depict a relationship where the narrator feels trapped and burdened by the expectations and demands placed on her.
The song opens with the metaphor of hanging onto a rope, symbolising the precarious nature of the narrator’s relationship. She questions why her partner holds onto her so tightly while she is simply hanging – this metaphor suggests an unequal power dynamic, many women face. ” This was an escape plan” implies a desire for freedom from an oppressive situation.
The chorus highlights the emotional and physical toll of the relationship. The narrator describes feeling both emotionally tired and physically exhausted, with “bursting capillaries in her eyes” and “calloused skin” on her hands. These images convey the strain and labour she endures as a part of this system. Despite this, she questions whether the end of their love would be the worst thing, furthering the notation that the relationship is a burden and no longer a source of support.
The lyrics also touch on the societal expectations placed on women. The laborious tasks of “tends the orchards, fixes the gables, and fetches the water” being asked as a question both highlights the fact that they’re traditionally assigned to women while suggesting an air of “who else?” These lines reflect the gendered division of labour and the unequal distribution of responsibilities within society. Also, the fact that they’re considerably “medieval” tasks highlights the historical perpetuation of this inequity.
With Paloma adding the lines “If we had a daughter…” emphasises the intergenerational cycle of oppression and abuse. The fear within the lyrics of daughters meeting the same fate and inheriting the same burdens and suffering focuses the audience to the long-lasting impact of oppressive dynamics on women’s lives and the urgency to break free from them.
The bridge itself is quite impactful (and the section which caught my attention on TikTok). The use of repeating lines like “therapist,” “mother,” “maid,” etc. depict the multitude of roles and expectations placed upon women. By choose roles which reduce women to accessories, Paloma is really enforcing the idea that women exist solely to serve others.
There are several themes prevalent in “Labour” which offer a critical commentary on the female experience and shed light on the oppressive forces and societal expectations that women often face.
Oppression and power imbalance
As stated above the song explored heavily the oppressive dynamics within both relationships and society. This is done through the depiction of a sense of entrapment, control and emotional manipulation. Labour furthers this depiction by touching on the transmission of these dynamics across generations. The fear expressed more towards our children compared to ourselves speaks volumes of how as women we are often more concerned with how the world will work for future generations as a lot of us as have accepted this is the way things are.
In the last few years, we have seen so much oppression in regards to women’s rights (especially in the US) and it is so scary to be living amongst it. While I may be halfway across the globe, these changes to policies have real implications. The US has traditionally played an important role in promoting gender equality having influenced and shaped progress made in other countries (including Australia). Changing women’s rights in any country sends a disheartening message and outright fear to other nations and has the potential to undermine the advancements we’ve made so far. The interconnected of our global community means that the struggles faced by women in one country reverberate across international borders.
Of course, there are several other songs that touch upon similar themes to Labour, addressing oppression, power imbalance, and the female experience.
1. The Man, Taylor Swift: Swift’s song confronts gender disparities and double standards. It highlights the privileges and freedoms often granted to men in society, juxtaposing them with the challenges faced by women
2. You Don’t Own Me, Lesley Gore: This song asserts the importance of autonomy and rejects the possessive behaviour often found in relationships. It challenges the power imbalance within relationships and advocates for individual freedom and agency
3. Quiet, Demi Lovato: This ballad addresses the struggles faced by marginalised communities, including women. It speaks out against the silencing of voices and encourages individuals to rise up and fight against oppression.