All you hear about, and all you read about, is Gwen Stefani and her “entourage of Harajuku girls”. How she is using them for fame, and how they are not aloud to speak, they are just her “pets”. I personally believe that this is just another scandal caused by the media.
Throughout Gwen’s entire career, she has always dressed funky and crazy. This clearly did not come from the streets of North American. She has always felt the need to be different from everyone else. This is the part that convinces me that she truly does love the Harajuku style from Tokyo. If the Harajuku culture has inspired her so much, than what’s the problem with showing that off? What’s better, her trying to fit into the Harajuku style, or having Asian girls who fit the Harajuku style representing her? It’s just like when a Caucasian guy decides to become a rapper. No matter if he is good or not, he is still looked at as a “poser” just because of his skin tone. So now in this instance, Gwen isn’t being a “poser” per say because she is in a crowd with the Harajuku style, while still holding on to her own. Is our society ever really happy? I don’t believe so, nothing is ever good enough for everyone, and someone always has something to complain about.The media is what makes it look like these 4 girls are Gwen’s slaves. At no point has Gwen ever made it seem that way. If anything, Gwen shows how much she loves them in her songs, her style, her CD, her clothing line, her commercials, and much more.
Gwen created her clothing line “L.A.M.B” which stands for her 4 Harajuku girls, “Love. Angel. Music. Baby”. If Gwen wanted all the attention to go to her, instead of the Harajuku girls, why would she name it after them? People think that she is selfish and she doesn’t want to share the limelight, and that’s why she doesn’t allow them to talk to the publicity, but that is completely wrong. Gwen has stated why she doesn’t allow them to speak, over and over again, yet somehow the media always finds a way to make her look bad. Gwen has stated that “the girls are in my imagination so don’t talk to them” in an interview. If that’s the way Gwen wants to look at it, than there’s a reason for that, and I completely support her on that. Gwen is trying to have a solo career instead of No Doubt, so why would she start up a new group with these girls. Stefani is so inspired by them, that she doesn’t want to share their inspiration, that’s why she wants them to her self, in her head. Gwen Stefani was quoted in an interview with Elle Girl saying “I was trying to write and I just started thinking about going to Japan and how it’s been inspiring me for years. I don’t want to say too much about the Harajuku girls because people should find out about them and see it for themselves.” Which is exactly how I see it, no one really knew about Harajuku girls before Gwen, and now that we see them, people can look them up and learn all about them!
Of coarse there is more than one side to every story, and I do realize how real Harajuku girls have a completely different opinion on this, but I am not sure if I completely understand it. I guarantee that most people in North America had no idea about Harajuku girls until Gwen Stefani brought them into the picture! When was the last time you saw an Asian singer on Much Music... they are just not around here. It is simply how Margaret Cho stated on her blog “At least it is a measure of visibility, which is much better than invisibility. I am so sick of not existing, that I would settle for following any white person around with an umbrella just so I could say I was there… because something is better than nothing.” Margaret Cho is a Japanese Asian American, who is looking on the bright side of what Gwen is doing; she sees no problem with it! Besides, in today’s day and age, aren’t we suppose to be more accepting to different cultures? Aren’t we all supposed to be receiving to others cultures, but as soon as a famous person tries something new, she is ripped apart for it.
Although my opinion on this topic is strongly leaning towards Gwen’s side of things, I can still see reasons why other people get the impression that the media focuses on. Some people truly believe that Gwen is using her Harajuku girls to make more money, which it probably seems that way because of her Harajuku Dolls, etc. I can see how those dolls could have caused a little commotion, as there really is no difference between the Love, Angel, Music, Baby, and the Gwen dolls. Just a slight change in skin tone and more make up on the Harajuku girls, and Gwen’s typical red lipstick on hers. Since there is no real difference, I don’t see how that is a problem, isn’t it better for kids to grow up thinking we are all the same? Instead of asking “mom, why is this Barbie’s eyes so small?” and things like that! Although these dolls may seem like she is using them for profit, think about it this way. Before she had these 4 girls, she had to find a way to support herself, she needed enough money to do everything she needed to do, for music videos, photo shoots, etc. Now she has 4 more girls to spend money on instead of just herself. She has to pay them, pay for their clothing, their make up artists, etc. How would she be able to do that, without bringing in some more cash flow?
People seem to think that Gwen is just exploiting the 4 girls jut to get attention, but I completely disagree. I believe that Gwen Stefani is attempting to get North America to adapt Japanese culture into American pop culture! As for “solving this problem” with Gwen Stefani, I don’t see a way to fix it. No matter what people are going to have different opinions on it. You can’t please everyone, but you can be pleased with yourself and Gwen seems to be very satisfied. Love, Angel, Music and Baby all appear rather happy to be close with Gwen and they imply that they love what they are doing on their personal interviews. I mean, who wouldn’t be happy with this, they’re living the life that they signed the contract for. They’ve become famous, in magazines, on TV, they’re on the red carpet, on tour, getting paid for what they love to do (dancing), and they basically get star treatment, with just the small price of not speaking. So why be against that, they are happy, maybe other Harajuku girls are jealous, maybe they would look at it differently if they were in the girls position. This is something that will never be solved, we won’t be able to find the ‘right’ answer, and it is all based on people’s opinions! And my opinion is that Gwen is doing nothing wrong, they are not her “slaves” or her “pets” they are her inspiration, and Gwen is just the Medias victim. This topic will get old soon enough, and the media will be running to get their hands on more drama.
Work Cited
Unknown Artist. “Gwen & Harajuku girls”. March 13, 2007. Online image. Gwen Stefani i Harajuku Devojke. October 20, 2007.
