''Labor'': Turning female rage into art

“Labor’’ is an Indian and alternative folk ballad, written by English-singer and song writer Paris Paloma. The hit was released on March 23, 2023, and has over 260,428,966 streams. It is the lead song from her debut studio album Cacophony (2024) and features an acoustic arrangement of bass guitar over a chorus of background singers.   

Becoming an anthem for women, the song rails against gender inequality pointing out the disparity between men and women. The central theme surrounding the song is the emotional but also physical labor of women in society and how this society continues to diminish. 

At its core, “Labor” is a critique of the emotional and physical labor that women are expected to bear in society. Paloma’s lyrics serve as a poignant commentary on gender inequality, spotlighting the disparity between men and women in both personal and societal contexts. The song addresses how despite women’s constant efforts and contributions, they are often underappreciated and taken for granted. 

In society, as in relationships, women are often considered inferior. Referring to women as “girls” is a form of prejudice. Since the beginning of time, men were considered leaders. They were the ones chosen to guide and protect us. But Rick Wilson said, “When authority is total, so too is the madness of the man who declares it, and the potential for abuse of power.” Men have for so long been in powerful positions that they have decided to normalize forms of abused with women being the initial victims. 

 Paloma chants: “All day every day, therapist, mother, maid, Nymph, then a virgin, nurse, then a servant.” The phrase “Nymph then a virgin” refers to the societal pressure put on women to be the perfect image of sensuality and innocence at the same time. In mythology a nymph is a nature associated spirit sometimes associated with sensuality, and a virgin is a representation of pure innocence.  These lyrics emphasize the contradictory expectations society places on women. They demand that you be as pure as a virgin, yet as alluring as a nymph. However, when you embody purity, you’re labeled as overly reserved, and when you embrace sensuality, you’re judged as promiscuous. 

In connection with the theme of societal expectations, Madonna’s famous declaration, “I’m tough, I’m ambitious, and I know exactly what I want. If that makes me a bitch, ok,” from her Rolling Stone interview in 2009 aligns perfectly with the sentiment expressed in “Labor.”  

Women who are unapologetically assertive and ambitious are often labeled negatively, forced to navigate the same contradictions that Madonna highlights. Like the song, Madonna’s words convey the reality that when women challenge the norms, they are often criticized or marginalized for not fitting the traditional, demure image that society expects from them. 

This tension in societal expectations leads to a sense of constant judgment and pressure for women, leaving them in a position where they are unable to fully express themselves without facing criticism. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie captures this sentiment perfectly when she claims, “We teach girls to shrink themselves, to make themselves smaller. We say to girls, you can have ambition, but not too much. You should aim to be successful, but not too successful, otherwise you will threaten the man. If you are the breadwinner in your relationship with a man, you must pretend that you’re not, especially in public, otherwise you will emasculate him.” 

The song, “Labour,” has gained significant popularity on the social media platform, Tik Tok, where women use it to convey their daily battles against the predators who are supposed to protect them, the society that incessantly marginalizes them, and a host of other challenges. 

“Labour” is an undeniable masterpiece that expresses what so many women have kept silent and what some have spoken but were silenced for. I truly believe that this anthem will transcend time and forever remain a symbol of the relentless battle that women continue to fight in society.