Gender Roles in Today's Society

When I studied sociology, we learned about a woman named Margaret Mead. She was a cultural anthropologist. She was very well known for her book called "Sex and Temperament in Three Primitive Societies". In this book, she compared the gender roles from three different cultures in New Guinea. The first tribe was The Arapesh, and both men and women were peaceful, they didn't like conflict or anything hard and aggressive. The next tribe was the Mundugumor, they were the complete opposite. Both men and women were very aggressive, hard and had warlike tempers. The last tribe was completely opposite from them both. They were the Tchambuli. The men were the feminine ones, they gossiped, and was very much focused on their appearance. The women were masculine ones, not focused on beauty or gossip, just working hard to provide for their family. 


I know you're probably reading this like "what's good with this mini lecture?", lol but I promise you that I do have a point. I'm going to be real honest, what made me think about this specific topic was because some men that I know, don't know and heard about act like some bi**h a$$ dudes in the uno dos. For some reason, that topic made me think about what we learned in sociology. From there, I just thought about the similarities between the two. It was interesting to me because I never looked at it from this point of view before. 

I know that we're used to seeing the gender roles being male = masculine, the providers and the head of the household. Female = feminine, the ones that takes care of the family. But times has really changed. I'm not even talking about sexuality, but gender roles period. I know we all watched movies where the men saves the women. Now, it's looking like it's the women that saves the men lol. How I see it is that a man should be strong, not even physically but you know, they have that man thing going on lol. A woman should be delicate, have that soft touch that draws a man in. What man wants a female to be a "thug"?. None that I know of!

One thing that I observed over time is that a lot of men gossip. Let me type that again GOSSIP!!! Not ALL but some do, and I have to give them that -____- look. Oh trust and believe that it's not cute when women do it,but you expect that from them. When a man does it, for me it takes away from their manhood. Some are very focused on beauty and fashion. It's nothing at all wrong with that, you have to maintain yourself and when you look good, you feel amazing. BUT there is a BUT... If you take longer than me to get ready, we have some technical difficulties. I'm just saying though! 


A lot of men are domestic, being the house husband, as the women go to work and become the bread winners. That is so similar to the Tchambuli tribe. I kind of like this arrangement because it gives a chance for the females to have that life outside of being a mother/housewife. Also, it allows the men to spend more time with their children and have them create that bond that is rarely seen these days.

Don't think I forgot about the females, because I didn't. I'm getting to them right now. There are plenty of females that are so hard and aggressive that they walk around looking like pitt bulls. *Not saying they look like a dog, but they look so mean and angry like they are ready to fight anybody that breathes in their direction* Just relax your face ma and smile a little bit, it doesn't hurt. Maybe they think that is cute, I have no idea. 


Another thing that I see, is an increase in single parent households, forcing a woman to play a man's part. Meaning they have to possibly work more hours, or doing more of something just to compensate for the absent parent. That makes a woman less dependent on a man and more independent. But the negative thing about that is, when they ever do find a partner, their mindset is changed and they wouldn't know how to let that man be a man because they was so used to "acting" that. At least that is what I think, I swear that i'm a therapist :)

The Amazing Diane Warren

My very first blog should have been on this topic!! I don't know what I was thinking.


Diane Warren is somebody that I was encouraged to research about in my music electronics class two semesters ago. When I looked her up, I was in AWE. She has her own music publishing company named REALSONGS, which was one of the top five. How many females do you hear about in the music industry that has their OWN SUCCESSFUL business?? Hmmmmmm i'll wait......... Diane has won countless amounts of awards and wrote for various people, in a variety of genres. She wrote Toni Braxton's "Unbreak my Heart", Reba McEntire "What If?", Xscape "The Arms of the one who loves You". She has written for Beyonce, Akon, Celine Dion, etc. Everything from writing #1 hits for movies, such as "Rhythm of the Night" For "The Last Dragon", to Aerosmith's "I Don't Wanna miss a thing". Just to name a few. I can't even type out EVERYTHING she has produced because she has done A LOT!! When I type A LOT I mean A LOT!!! You don't believe me, then just GOGGLE her :p


Point blank, I want to be like Diane Warren when I grow up!! *Not exactly like her, I want to be MusicniQ* lol She is truly amazing, incredible, creative and very versatile in her craft, which is what I aspire to be. She has written many songs that are CLASSICS!!!! She wasn't just a here today, people forget about you tomorrow type of person. Her lyrics live forever. I want to have that kind of an impact with my songs one day. I also look up to her because she is a woman that has established herself in the music industry. Like Diane, I want to open my own publishing company. She didn't  have that support from her mother on her "come up", but she did from her father. That is kind of like the same situation I was in when I first explained to my mother my choice of career. Reading her success story and her musical accomplishments just gave me that drive, like I can do anything I want to do by taking a RISK. By working hard, staying dedicated and keep pushing forward no matter what, even if people don't agree with some of your decisions. As long as you have faith in yourself and that hunger, it will happen. 


Thank You Diane Warren for everything you accomplished, being who you are and just having so much passion for music. Words can't even express how awesome you are!!! 




                                             MUSICNIQ xoxo


                                      

My Community thru My Eyes

I've spoke on this topic many times before, but never how I wanted to. The black community is the only one that I know that does NOT support each other as much as they should. And if people do, it's because they want to benefit from it some kind of way. We are not winning!! It's so much hate toward each other and it's crazy that there is racism within our own community. Yes, skin color does matter to some people. If you're light you're RIGHT, if you're dark you're in the wrong skin. I've heard and read it all. We already have a disadvantage and the fact that our own race is not making it no better at all is just crazy as hell.


 Lack of support. I don't see enough unity, enough love and support. When people do good, look good or whatever, a person is quick to say what's wrong with it instead of just giving props when props is due. I say use all that energy to get your stuff right. Let that be the fuel to the fire. Another thing that plucks a nerve is when people say that person "ain't shit" cause of what he/she is wearing. Why is fashion such an important thing? Why do I have to spend $1,000 on a pair of shoes just for a person to think i'm "cool". I say if you want to impress somebody that bad, use that money to do some shit. Buy a house, buy a car, travel, get some things that is worth it. If you have it fine, do what you do but a lot of people is not living that life so why does that make them less of a person? Shit if you don't like me, you just don't like me and that shouldn't be based on what I wear, but by my character.  And instead of buying all that and going broke and making that designer wealthy, why don't you make your own clothing and BE WEALTHY yourself. Spending all that money on that when people can just invest in themselves and their future. 

A lot of people don't think that music is the cause of certain things happening. I totally disagree. If a person is listening to nothing but shoot em up songs 10, 20 times per day, you are indeed getting BRAINWASHED my friend. IDC, some of these guys rapping about that is not living that life. They are business men making a profit. Some people look up to them so much and think its iight. NA!! And i'm not saying all because a lot of people listen to that kind of stuff on a regular and don't take those words serious, but a lot of people do. I'm not trying to blame certain music for other peoples actions, but that's how it seems in some situations. On the positive side, there are A LOT of artists that give back. Whether it's charities or they're own communities. And many artists makes positive music and use their platform for the better. 


Arabs, Chinese, Spanish, etc people have family owned businesses and they look out for each other. That's why you see them all in one company. They were raised to look out for each other and passed that down to their children and so fourth. I respect that and I've always admired that unity that other cultures have. In most black communities like the one I live in, we are not taught to go for your dreams, make your own business, get a career. We are taught to work hard for somebody else. We are taught to work hard at a JOB *Just over broke*. Or people encourage their children to go hard in sports so they can go pro. What about being a doctor and owning your own clinic or being a lawyer and owning your own law firm. Yea that's hard work too but at the end of the day you know you're going to be successful and do something you love. You won't be working hard just to stay in the same spot. That's like trying to walk down an escalator that goes up. You're not moving!!!


I want to make a change and that's the reason for this blog. But talk is cheap, why complain about something you are not willing to change?  But for now i'm starting with this and in the way I raise my daughter. It always starts in the home! Have to install morals, values, self worth and self esteem in your children or they have no chance. 


I'm missing some more examples I can go on for days. This is just one of those topics that I am passionate about. Some of these examples I heard from other people, I just wanted to add more to what they said because I totally agree. Once again thank you for taking the time out to read this, agree or disagree either way I have #muchLOVE for you :) 




                                   MS.NIQUA xoxoxoxo

Who is........MusicniQ?

Who is MusicniQ?? Well, MusicniQ is fearless. She writes songs that has a lot of meaning and some that might not mean nothing at all. Either way the wind blows, she takes time with all her writings and has so much passion for the art of music.  She wants to be diverse and write for any and every genre of music that is out there. She is far from a one dimensional song writer. MusicniQ is a woman that dreams big and isn't afraid to go after what she believes. She doesn't care about the fame, she just wanna be, she just wanna be successful in anything she puts her hands on. Besides that she is a mother, a daughter, a sister, a granddaughter, a friend, an aunt and most importantly, MusicniQ is ME!! 

What started the MusicniQ movement? I remember having an interest in writing at the age of 13. I would write short stories and poems. I always wanted to publish a poem book *still am one day*, that was a major goal of mines. Writing was just that escape of reality for me. I realized that I could be who I truly wanted to be, I could express myself without feeling like people was judging me. Especially during that time because my classmates would always make fun of me. I had thee worst acne, I didn't wear name brand clothes so I wasn't what children considered to be cool. I never was the one to fit in with the "IN" crowd. So a pen and a pad was always  my best friend. When I entered High School, I used to freestyle little rhymes in my away status' when AIM was popular. Some of my friends would say yo, I wouldn't be shocked if I heard that shit on the radio. *ding* yup that light bulb turned the hell on so quick I tell ya lol. I appreciate my friends that gave me that idea cause I don't even think they know that they were the ones that helped create MusicniQ! 

What Inspired/inspires me? Of course my daughter inspires me to continue doing what i'm doing. It was plenty of times I wanted to give up, I was impatient and was just going to settle for a 9 to 5 life. But then I looked at her and she's so full of joy and energy, just so carefree that reminded me of how I was when I was younger. How I had so many dreams and goals, and I never let any situation stop Niqua from doing Niqua!!  So, I put my game face on and was like it's time to rock out. I made a promise to myself to work hard NOW so my daughter doesn't have to work hard LATER!! Also, when I was going to Queensborough Community College for music, that was one of the best decisions I made. Before, I was like yea I like music and just knew things on the surface. But when I went there, all that changed!! I was introduced to all types of music, a lot of things I thought I wouldn't like, started to become things I couldn't stop listening to. One of my Prof. was interested in me and put me in a concert. Hearing my song, sung for the first time, oh man....It breathed new air into me. I know, I know that shit was SO cheesy but it is what it is! 

What did I accomplish? I accomplished getting over my fear of succeeding and being shy. Now I have no problem with singing my verses and hooks, even if I sound like garbage lol... SO WHAT!!??!! The whole purpose is that things has to get done and I have to take charge. Thinking positive really does go alooooooooong way and being around positive ppl that's DOING the damn thing is key. The company you keep does show a lot about who you are. Your friends are a reflection of you. So if you hang out with nothing but birds, welp you know the rest. I'm learning that you have to dress the part, so you can attract people's eyes. You have to talk the part, so you can keep their attention and you have to BE the part so that you can earn people's respect. 


Where I am now?? I am still in the learning process, grooming my abilities and skills as a writer. I notice myself getting better and better and now certain things just come to me so easy. Been networking with a few ppl and building a team because I know that having a strong team standing next to you will maintain success all around. No matter what some people might say, you can't do it all on your own. 


THE MAIN OBJECTIVES: spread my word through the mouths of other people. I was never the type to want to be in the spotlight, I like being behind the scenes, being in control of a product and having it come out the way I want it. I want to use this as a platform for other things, but that is another topic :) I feel like I am a rose bud just waiting to blossom and spread my sweet smelly goodness around the world. Even though I think roses stink, but still ya'll get what i'm saying : D 




              MusicniQ xoxo

Music to ME!

         Each century we entered a new era of music. From the Baroque period with their loud music and EVERYTHING over the top to the creation of Opera's and Orchestra's. The Classical period where everything was toned down and done to a science, to the Romantic period where people began to actually feel the music and used music as an emotional expression. Looking back at the history of music and how it developed over time is amazing. Then I start to think about the state of music now and hmmmmm... it's not all that great. 

        I'm not going to front, it is some songs out there that's hot, i'm not going to take away credit or bash music because everybody has their own style. But when I think of music and a song, to me it's suppose to make you feel good to your soul, if you play a certain song it takes you to a different place or a moment in time. It captures that mood you was in when you first heard it, or it even makes you think about that someone special or someone that is not so special. When you hear it, you get lost in the words because it's something you can relate to. Each time you play it, you hear different elements that you may not have heard the first 100 times, like a background vocal or a string pluck that went unnoticed. Then you keep going back just to hear that part you just discovered lol. I think that makes the song 10 times better. 

         I am more of a old school chick though. I love me some of that good ol' cookout music that used to be blasting that smooth melody that make you wanna get up and groove. Now it more of that "shake ya ass, booty pop pop pop" music. Let's not get it twisted, I be shaking my ass to it every now and then but the feeling is not the same. Some of the music right now I can't even imagine being passed down from generation to generation. Majority of the shit that gets played, we forget about in like 5 months, let's be honest. Too many gimmicks and NOT enough TALENT!! It seems to me that most ppl don't put soul or thought into music, they to busy trying to make a buck.

          Also, a lot of the music that is popular is brainwashing the younger folks. They see their favorite rapper or singer on the t.v. and think that it's instant fame. Trust me, it's hard work and half the time that shit is RENTED!! All apart of an image that half the time is not even who they really are.  Going on tour, and doing other business ventures is what gets them paid. You don't just hop on a track and oh yea you're rich. And it's no way in hell that in REAL LIFE you can shoot up everybody and do crack and not get arrested. Eventually you're gonna get caught. Making music about negative shit and making it seem like that's IT, is not IT. But wtf do I know?

         On the flipside there are a lot of artists putting soul and that good feeling back into music but it doesn't get played as much as I think it should. Artists that are promoting things other then sex, drugs, bitches and hoes is not getting the shine they deserve. At least that's the way I feel about it. But it's all good because we have writers like myself and lyricists like KimE. that's gon' make a difference one way or another. You have to create ya own wave and not be the splash in other peoples. With this being written, I am done.. over and out

            MUSICNIQ :D