Wendy Shay, a Ghanaian singer, has spoken out against the unequal exploitation and objectification of women in the music industry.
In a recent interview on TV3’s Berla Mundi’s Day Show, the self-proclaimed dancehall queen stated her dissatisfaction with the classification of female musicians as ‘female artistes,’ while their male counterparts are simply referred to as ‘artistes.’
Wendy Shay was an outspoken campaigner for equal treatment, claiming that women in the music industry work just as hard, if not harder, than men and ought to be recognized as artists without regard to gender.
“It’s not right. First and foremost, I dislike the term “female artistes,” because our male counterparts are not referred to as “male artistes.” They are regarded as artists, and we should be regarded as such. “We’re performers,” she suggested.
She emphasized the efforts and dedication of female musicians such as herself and Sister Efya, adding that they put in a lot of hard work and sweat and are worthy of recognition and praise.
“Putting that aside, I believe it is unjust because there are so many hardworking women, such as myself, Wendy Shay.” We have artists working hard, such as Sister Efya. “It’s past time for Ghanaians or this part of the world to recognize the hard work, effort, and sweat we put in,” she said.
Wendy Shay noted that there is still a cultural mentality in this region of the world that links women largely with household responsibilities when discussing the hurdles women face in attaining attention and leadership roles.
She did, however, express hope that as time passes and society evolves, it will embrace women in leadership roles and recognize their achievements in numerous industries, including music.
