For my Portfolio Project I decided I would shuffle all the songs the boyband One Direction has released and select the first 20 that played. Therefore, the first song I will be analyzing is “Steal My Girl”, from One Direction’s album Four. This song describes the boys’ love and affection towards a girl in which they claim ownership of. There is an emphasis on how amazing and perfect this girl is, and they do not want her stolen away.

Previously when I stated that the boys’ claimed ownership of this girl, I was referring to the lyrics, “Find another one ’cause she belongs to me“. Throughout the song they refer to her as “my girl” and suggest that she is theirs and only theirs. This shows the gender roles in which men are seen as the leader of a relationship and that they have more power.

The next set of lyrics that stood out to me are:

Kisses like cream

Her walk is so mean

And every jaw drop

When she’s in those jeans

Looking at these lyrics we can see the sex role perspective come into play. Women are seen to be wanted for the way they look and how beautiful they are. Each of these statements refer to woman’s body and refer to her in sexual way. The phrase, “Kisses like cream” also feminize the woman and show how soft and gentle she is. The woman is not often personified within the song, rather seen as a belonging and an object.

The boys also state within the lyrics that the girl knows that they will never let someone take her away from them. This shows the assertiveness and dominance that the boys are trying to get across. They want to be seen as powerful, strong, and controlling in order to get this girl to want to stay with them. It also shows how the boys are willing to be “competitive” over this girl, which is seen as a masculine trait.

She knows, she knows

That I’m never gonna let another take her love from me now

Overall, we can see that this song follows the Sex Role Perspective when looking at the stereotypical masculine and feminine roles that we have within modern day society.

Shared by: Abbey Gonnering
Image Credit: Pinterest