Throughout the song Chasing After You by Ryan Hurd, there are multiple feminine and masculine stereotypes that can be found embedded within the lyrics.
Masculine stereotypes:
Always catch me when I’m not that strong
- Meaning men are always supposed to be strong and not show emotion. They are supposed to be the breadwinner for a family and be someone to lean on.
Then I wake up with you on my chest
- These lyrics also show that the man is supposed to be comforting to the girl and is supposed to make all their worries go away.
You got a way of making me forget
- These lyrics are significant because it is typical to hear a guy say. She took my breath away or they can’t think straight when they are talking to a girl they like or are attracted to.
Guess I love chasing after you, mm, mm, yeah
- These lyrics reinforce the idea that a guy is supposed to chase after the girl. Such as calling first and asking them on dates, even asking them to marry them, this is all done first by the man.
Feminine Stereotypes/ Counter Stereotypes:
Girl, with you the answer’s always yes / Every time you call
- These lyrics show a woman reaching out to a man and asking to hang out or be with them, which is counterstereotypical to what women are taught or think. They believe that they should not have to chase a man, whether this is asking them out on a date or texting first, they always wait for the man to do so. Therefore the girl calling the guy is counterstereotypical.
This song reinforces the stereotypes that are set for men and women in society because they illustrate relationships and how they are supposed to be. The interaction between men and women is consistent with those that we see in different forms of media. Specifically older movies, that the guy has to support the girl and they are supposed to ask them out or interact first.
Shared by: Meg Lamers
Image Credit: https://tasteofcountry.com/ryan-hurd-maren-morris-chasing-after-you/