CEBU, Philippines - “All About That Bass” singer, Meghan Trainor, is apparently not all about feminism.
In a September 22 Billboard profile, Trainor fell into the infamous and rather daunting trap that is celebrity feminism. “I don’t consider myself a feminist, but I’m down for my first opportunity to say something to the world to be so meaningful,” the 20-year-old, Massachusetts native said. “If you asked me, ‘What do you want to say?’ it would be, ‘Love yourself more.’”
While “All About That Bass” was hailed by some as the body acceptance anthem of the summer, others have criticized Trainor’s lyrics, saying they encourage body love for larger bodies, but shame skinny ones.
While it doesn’t appear that Billboard magazine explicitly asked Trainor if she was or wasn’t a feminist, HuffPost Women news editor Amanda Duberman poignantly notes: “The dialogue that surrounds the ‘are you a feminist’ question is far more important than whether pop culture icons actually identify as feminists. Every answer given is an opportunity to discuss and clarify the term’s truest meaning, inch the movement into more neutral territory and promote a deeper understanding of its core tenets.”