Throughout the song, We Didn’t Have Much by Justin Moore, there are multiple stereotypes and counter stereotypes by both men and women. These lyrics follow the Sex-Role Theory because it shows how within this song there are many stereotypes that men and women are supposed to follow according to society and societal standards.
Masculine Stereotypes:
Eighteen, left it all behind / Chasing a girl, chasing a dime / Went so far tryna get mine / I can’t see that old porch light / That led me home at night
- The stereotypes found within these lyrics promote the idea that a man has to chase a girl, and they have to be the breadwinner of the family and support them financially and physically. They have to do so at a young age and it was instilled in guys that they have to work hard and be the man of the house.
There was dirt on daddy’s clothes / From putting that bacon on mama’s stove
- The dirt on daddy’s clothes, insinuates that he is doing a hard labor job in order to provide for his family. He does so in order for his wife to then make food for their family.
Feminine Stereotypes:
I can still hear grandma readin’ / That red letter Book of John
- The lyrics, about grandma reading, shows that typically women read more than men and they are supposed to be a stay at home mom and be the women/ lady of the house. And the man is supposed to do hard labor jobs.
Chasing a girl, chasing a dime
- Looking at just this lyric, it shows that the girl is supposed to be well collected and pretty. However, when put with: eighteen, left it all behind / chasing a girl, chasing a dime, it insinuates that the man is chasing a girl and money.
From putting that bacon on mama’s stove
- Continuing on with “mama’s stove” lyric, this insinuates that the woman does the cooking and stays home whereas the man does the hard labor
Shared by: Meg Lamers
Image Credit: https://www.catcountry96.com/2021/08/24/justin-moores-we-didnt-have-much-goes-to-number-1/