Yes, folks, it's time that I write a post about everyones favorite pop-singer Ke$sha (real name Kesha Rose Sebert, the $ is added for stylization to her performer name).  Full disclaimer, I am a huge Ke$ha fan and my friends and I made a kick ass video to Tik Tok, check it out:



There are several issues that Ke$ha brings up around teen sexuality and sexual identity. In some ways, people who immediately disapprove of Ke$ha show how conservative and backwards American culture is when it comes to sex.

Many of Ke$ha’s songs talk about having sex, partying, drinking, and generally living a carefree and fun, crazy life. She comes across to some as irresponsible, sex crazed, and stupid. Adults think that teen girls will become more slutty if they listen to Ke$ha songs, and Ke$ha has been called trashy, a whore, a slut, etc, because she sings about clubs and sex. But is Ke$ha a bad role model, and is she just a regular pop star who uses sex appeal to sell songs? Maybe.

I think something else is going on, however. Ke$ha is proud of her confident, sexy image as a star, and in person she is genuine, very intelligent, and down to earth. She writes all her own songs, and she said in an NPR interview that her album celebrates youth, fun, and happiness. She seems to have a certain sex appeal that she has as part of her performer character, but I think it is an intentional choice to make people more comfortable with confident, sexy women. I talked to some of my friends about what they think of Ke$ha, and they all seemed to get this.

Here is what people I’ve talked with think of Ke$ha. She is not submissive; she comes across like she could kick my ass. She is feisty, and doesn’t conform to the typical sex sex sex female look that we usually see in pop stars. She is sexier then almost every other hot young star (think Megan Fox, Taylor Swift, Miley Cyrus) because she is being herself and is very confident and defiant. She has her own style, and is very proud of who she is. She wears she just wears T shirts “glamours it up with pretty tights and vintage jewelry.”

Good or bad, she certainly does have a noteworthy image as a performer: 

My take is that she pushes the edge of responsibility in some ways with the drinking, but in most ways she is the example of a teenager who wants to have fun and doesn’t let other people judge her. Ke$ha doesn’t make other teen girls more slutty, she makes them more confident. Guys and girls respect her MORE for being herself, writing her own songs, and doing what she wants to do in her life. When people approach Ke$ha’s music and react with fear of a teenager gone bad, they show that many people are simply closed off to people confident in their sexuality.

The Huffington post reports that “she has ignited talk about her sexual preference when she didn’t confirm her sexuality. “I like people. I wouldn’t say I’m gay or straight - I don’t like labeling things anyway. I just like people.” This really shows that Ke$ha is a thoughtful, sincere, open person. I think she can be a positive, confident role model for people. What do you think? Is she a positive or negative influence?

Also, check out my Ke$ha video on Youtube.

-Dan