POPULARNA GLAZBA I PATRIJARHAT: ANALIZA PJESAMA O MUŠKOJ DOMINACIJI, TOKSIČNIM ODNOSIMA I NASILJU NAD ŽENAMA
MUSIC AND PATRIARCHY: AN ANALYSIS OF THE GLORIFICATION OF MALE DOMINATION, JEALOUSY, AND VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN IN SONGS

Author(s): Ružica Ljubičić
Subject(s): Gender Studies, Cultural history, Music, Gender history, Sociology of Art, History of Art
Published by: CENTAR MODERNIH ZNANJA
Keywords: patriarchy; songs; glorification of male dominance; popular culture; stereotypes; culture of violence;
Summary/Abstract: From early age, individuals shape their attitudes, values, and behavioral patterns under the influence of various social, cultural, and media factors. Alongside family upbringing and formal education, popular culture — especially music — plays a particularly important role in shaping perceptions of gender roles and social norms. As music remains one of the most pervasive forms of everyday entertainment, its influence is often underestimated, despite being powerful and enduring. Popular songs that glorify patriarchal patterns, jealousy, and violence against women are present at social gatherings, in media portrayals, on social networks, and across digital platforms. Within such environments their messages are easily internalized, shaping listeners’ understanding of power, control, and intimate relationships. An analysis of songs such as Garavušo garava (1998) by Miroslav Škoro — whose lyrics „You will be mine or nobody’s” explicitly imply the possession of a woman — as well as songs by female performers such as Ceca Ražnatović, reveals clear patterns of women’s objectification and the normalization of violence. These examples show that popular music does not operate in a vacuum, but rather continues a discourse rooted in prevailing societal attitudes. Such lyrics not only reflect patriarchal structures, but further reinforce them, often romanticizing male domination and shifting responsibility for violence onto women. In this way, popular music functions not only as entertainment but also as a medium for reproducing social stereotypes and values that sustain a culture of violence. Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for fostering a critical approach toward popular culture. The purpose of this study is to analyze the role of song lyrics in this process and to emphasize the need for critical media literacy in education and in raising awareness among younger generations about equality, ethics, and social responsibility.

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