The early 1900s was a time of both social and musical prosperity for not only African Americans, but also women. The blues genre was introduced to the rural south in the 1920s, allowing many African American women the opportunity, through classic blues, to sing about their personal lifestyles, affecting the nation around them. Ma Rainey, along with many others, was able to earn a reputation as a professional singer both on stage and in business, which sparked a revolution for women all over. The blues not only helped women gain respect, but also challenged gender stereotypes, such as sexuality and job placement. African Americans, who sang about slave experiences amongst other topics, created the blues in the rural deep-south states in the
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They would use lyrics and hollering in their songs to show they were a disadvantaged group in American society at the time (class notes). Although some women were silenced and ignored by their male co-performers, Ma Rainey was able to make a name for herself. Known as the “Mother of the Blues” Rainey approached topics with directness and realism, while offering a powerful alternative to the mainstream image of women (PBS). During the 1920s, women were still fighting for equality with men in areas including: suffrage, workplace and sexuality, so singing about these areas was looked down upon. The blues gave Rainey and other women artists a chance to talk about these topics openly and lead the way for other women’s movements. In Rainey’s song, “Prove it on Me Blues,” Rainey talks about female homosexuality and lashes out against bigotry and male oppression (Prove it on me). Previously, if a woman would sing about these topics she would be ignored and disrespected. Conversely, men could sing about what they wanted without getting ridiculed for it such as Muddy Waters’ song “Mannish Boy”, in which he boasts about being a sexual prowess (PBS). This difference is perception of man verses woman would have never been discussed during previous musical eras, but now was challenged through blues female artists. Ma Rainey was one of the first women to bridge this gap in how people treated men artists differently than female
They would use lyrics and hollering in their songs to show they were a disadvantaged group in American society at the time (class notes). Although some women were silenced and ignored by their male co-performers, Ma Rainey was able to make a name for herself. Known as the “Mother of the Blues” Rainey approached topics with directness and realism, while offering a powerful alternative to the mainstream image of women (PBS). During the 1920s, women were still fighting for equality with men in areas including: suffrage, workplace and sexuality, so singing about these areas was looked down upon. The blues gave Rainey and other women artists a chance to talk about these topics openly and lead the way for other women’s movements. In Rainey’s song, “Prove it on Me Blues,” Rainey talks about female homosexuality and lashes out against bigotry and male oppression (Prove it on me). Previously, if a woman would sing about these topics she would be ignored and disrespected. Conversely, men could sing about what they wanted without getting ridiculed for it such as Muddy Waters’ song “Mannish Boy”, in which he boasts about being a sexual prowess (PBS). This difference is perception of man verses woman would have never been discussed during previous musical eras, but now was challenged through blues female artists. Ma Rainey was one of the first women to bridge this gap in how people treated men artists differently than female