The 1960s was a tumultuous decade for the United States. Along with the escalation of the Vietnam War, this decade was rocked by the Civil Rights movement and the second wave of the Feminist movements, creating an immense amount of social tension. As a result, people turned to politically-charged music, predominantly Rock n’ Roll, to release their frustrations. However, an equally important musical genre, Soul, was left in the background. Despite the fact that Soul music was not as popular in the United States, artists such as Aretha Franklin released many politically-charged songs that advocated for social justice. Aretha Franklin, the undisputed Queen of Soul, was one of the most influential and important figures of the 1960s. At the time,
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Franklin is simply asking her husband for a little bit of respect when he comes home from work. In the 1960s, the roles of women in the family were limited. A woman was expected to follow one path: marry early in her twenties, start a family, and devote the rest of her life to raising her children and caring for her family (Reference.com). The typical role of women, staying at home and caring for the children, was not viewed the same as a man who goes to work every day to financially support the family. In this way, women’s contributions to the family and society were largely invisible. So, when Aretha Franklin sang “all I’m asking/ Is for a little respect,” Franklin was essentially letting the world know that without the help of the wife, the burden on the husband to care for and support his family financially would have been unbearable. Therefore, without the support of the wife, the husband would not have been able to reach such a high point in his career. In this way, the world was caught by surprise because not many individuals had dared to question the traditional family structure of the time, especially in such a public manner. As a result, millions of women who previously felt trapped by their role in the family, began to identify with this song as a means to …show more content…
But when [she] recorded it, it was pretty much a male-female kind of thing” (NPR.org). In its most basic nature, “Respect” was a song about the struggle against gender inequality. However, the song also captured the simple demand of the African American community: respect. After decades of being marginalized by society due to segregation and Jim Crow laws, the African-American community became fed-up and frustrated with their lack of recognition and respect. When the U.S. Supreme court released its decision in Brown vs. Board of Education, the “separate but equal” doctrine was declared unlawful. It violated the 14th amendment’s promise of equal protection under the law to all citizens and its impact was felt across the nation, sparking the Civil Rights revolution (United States Courts). In the years that followed, significant civil rights progress was abruptly stopped with the assassination of Civil Rights leader Malcom X and the brutal murder of dozens of peaceful protesters during the Selma to Montgomery march (History.com). Therefore, in the midst of turmoil and chaos, Franklin’s plea to be respected and treated fairly by society was heard across the country. With the support of the African American community behind her, Aretha Franklin became an idol and her hit song “Respect” became an anthem for the
Franklin is simply asking her husband for a little bit of respect when he comes home from work. In the 1960s, the roles of women in the family were limited. A woman was expected to follow one path: marry early in her twenties, start a family, and devote the rest of her life to raising her children and caring for her family (Reference.com). The typical role of women, staying at home and caring for the children, was not viewed the same as a man who goes to work every day to financially support the family. In this way, women’s contributions to the family and society were largely invisible. So, when Aretha Franklin sang “all I’m asking/ Is for a little respect,” Franklin was essentially letting the world know that without the help of the wife, the burden on the husband to care for and support his family financially would have been unbearable. Therefore, without the support of the wife, the husband would not have been able to reach such a high point in his career. In this way, the world was caught by surprise because not many individuals had dared to question the traditional family structure of the time, especially in such a public manner. As a result, millions of women who previously felt trapped by their role in the family, began to identify with this song as a means to …show more content…
But when [she] recorded it, it was pretty much a male-female kind of thing” (NPR.org). In its most basic nature, “Respect” was a song about the struggle against gender inequality. However, the song also captured the simple demand of the African American community: respect. After decades of being marginalized by society due to segregation and Jim Crow laws, the African-American community became fed-up and frustrated with their lack of recognition and respect. When the U.S. Supreme court released its decision in Brown vs. Board of Education, the “separate but equal” doctrine was declared unlawful. It violated the 14th amendment’s promise of equal protection under the law to all citizens and its impact was felt across the nation, sparking the Civil Rights revolution (United States Courts). In the years that followed, significant civil rights progress was abruptly stopped with the assassination of Civil Rights leader Malcom X and the brutal murder of dozens of peaceful protesters during the Selma to Montgomery march (History.com). Therefore, in the midst of turmoil and chaos, Franklin’s plea to be respected and treated fairly by society was heard across the country. With the support of the African American community behind her, Aretha Franklin became an idol and her hit song “Respect” became an anthem for the