In June 2014, Massachusetts native and singer-songwriter Meghan Trainor released her single “All About That Bass.”

It currently sits at Number 4 on the Billboard 100. Since its release, Trainor’s single has received criticism from audiences for “skinny-shaming,” which literally means shaming women for being skinny. The “All About That Bass” music video on YouTube is flooded with angry comments about how Trainor is bashing people for being skinny and supporting the notion that women should base their beauty and image on what men want.

I think the song is great; it’s catchy, and it’s a throwback to the doo-wop style of the 1950s, which makes it fun and creative. People are completely misinterpreting the song. Yes, she does call skinny people a word I’m not allowed to say on here, but right after, the lyrics clearly say, “But I’m here to tell you, every inch of you is perfect from the bottom to the top.” She points out that women who think they’re skinny sometimes think they’re better just because of their body. Trainor does not shame them but instead, is trying to say that even skinny people can struggle with body image issues and self-acceptance.

[one_third]Trainor…is trying to say that even skinny people can struggle with body image issues and self-acceptance.[/one_third]

Trainor is not the first nor only music artist to be criticized for making a statement for women’s rights. In December 2013, Beyoncé released a self-titled album. Through several of her songs including “Partition” and “Flawless,” even though Beyoncé advocates for women’s rights, she was criticized for sexualizing women through her songs. To me, Beyoncé and Trainor are criticized because people have different ideas of feminism. In several interviews, Beyoncé says that she wants women to feel confident about themselves, including in their sexuality. If a woman is confident in her sexuality, it does not necessarily mean she is bending to men’s desires.

There is sadly still a big debate over what feminism really is and what it stands for. Because of these differences, those like Beyoncé and Trainor, who want the same thing as their critics — equal rights for women, get attacked for their expression of feminism. Ultimately, nobody wins.