Deconstructing "Bobbi with an I"
Phil Vassar, of country music fame, has a new song and music video that's just come out (pardon the pun!), called "Bobbi with an I," which portrays a man who goes to a bar in drag. Here's the link to the video, and the lyrics.
On the one hand, it's great to see the subject of drag/trans issues being addressed so neutrally (as the character is portrayed in such a matter-of-fact manner; there's no judgement placed on him, but there's no real need to show support, either) in an arena such as country music.
However, on closer inspection, a few concerns about how Bobbi with an I is portrayed:
Anyone who has read Julia Serano's Whipping Girl will know exactly what I'm talking about here. In the book, Serano divides portrayals of transwomen into two classes: the "pathetic" transwoman, and the "deceptive" transwomen. What's interesting is that while throughout the video Bobbi is portrayed as the "pathetic" archetype (it is made lyrically and, in the case of the music video, very visually obvious, as demontrated by the complete and deliberate lack of makeup, that this is a man dressing up, ultimately for comedic effect), in one part of the chorus ("you'd better watch how much you drink/she might look better than you think"), the portrayal immediately switches to the "deceptive" archetype.
Furthermore, deeply embedded in the two lines is the strong sense of underlying homophobia, as it implies that if one were to find Bobbi sexually attractive it would mean that such a person, presumed to be a man, would be finding another man attractive and thus homosexual (and that's definitely a bad thing in the song's eyes, or the lines wouldn't be couched inside of a warning)! In the video, that homophobia is reinforced by the image of one of the bar patrons shaking his head in disgust and walking away.
Further to this, an underlying current of transphobia is demonstrated in the video prologue, when it's revealed why Bobbi appears at the bar in drag - not necessarily because he might enjoy dressing up, but in fact, it's because it's what it takes for him to get free drinks! Aside from from her appearance, it's clear that he's "just one of the guys," which is also demonstrated in the video by his choice of washroom, the large cigar he smokes, and the way he hits on the women in the bar.
Overcompensation is another underlying theme within the song. Lines such as "A linebacker, a quarterback sacker/Yeahhh Bobbi he's as strong as a mule" and "You never would guess/He benches 335" (as if a woman could never bench that much?) are used in this song to reinforce Bobbi's ultimate masculinity.
It should be noted that, as the lines "He's been known to knock a few teeth out/If you ask him for a beauty tip/So we live and let live" imply, the only reason Bobbi is not teased, assaulted or worse, is because people know that Bobbi will fight back - and win. If Bobbi were less impervious, it's clear that Bobbi would not be so safe from transphobic violence.
Yet transphobic violence is clearly overlooked in this song, at the same time. Bobbi has no fear of being assaulted when she goes in the men's washroom. At worst, a man comes running out screaming "Hey there's a chick in the men's room!" at which point, his warning is dismissed: "We just smile and say/No that's just Bobbi with an I" - were Bobbi less overtly masculine, this would not be the case.
Ultimately this song doesn't do anything to help the trans/queer communities in terms of awareness, as it just builds on age-old stereotypes of trans people, and reinforces the transphobia still embedded into country music culture. I'll give this song and music video a big thumbs down.
On the one hand, it's great to see the subject of drag/trans issues being addressed so neutrally (as the character is portrayed in such a matter-of-fact manner; there's no judgement placed on him, but there's no real need to show support, either) in an arena such as country music.
However, on closer inspection, a few concerns about how Bobbi with an I is portrayed:
Anyone who has read Julia Serano's Whipping Girl will know exactly what I'm talking about here. In the book, Serano divides portrayals of transwomen into two classes: the "pathetic" transwoman, and the "deceptive" transwomen. What's interesting is that while throughout the video Bobbi is portrayed as the "pathetic" archetype (it is made lyrically and, in the case of the music video, very visually obvious, as demontrated by the complete and deliberate lack of makeup, that this is a man dressing up, ultimately for comedic effect), in one part of the chorus ("you'd better watch how much you drink/she might look better than you think"), the portrayal immediately switches to the "deceptive" archetype.
Furthermore, deeply embedded in the two lines is the strong sense of underlying homophobia, as it implies that if one were to find Bobbi sexually attractive it would mean that such a person, presumed to be a man, would be finding another man attractive and thus homosexual (and that's definitely a bad thing in the song's eyes, or the lines wouldn't be couched inside of a warning)! In the video, that homophobia is reinforced by the image of one of the bar patrons shaking his head in disgust and walking away.
Further to this, an underlying current of transphobia is demonstrated in the video prologue, when it's revealed why Bobbi appears at the bar in drag - not necessarily because he might enjoy dressing up, but in fact, it's because it's what it takes for him to get free drinks! Aside from from her appearance, it's clear that he's "just one of the guys," which is also demonstrated in the video by his choice of washroom, the large cigar he smokes, and the way he hits on the women in the bar.
Overcompensation is another underlying theme within the song. Lines such as "A linebacker, a quarterback sacker/Yeahhh Bobbi he's as strong as a mule" and "You never would guess/He benches 335" (as if a woman could never bench that much?) are used in this song to reinforce Bobbi's ultimate masculinity.
It should be noted that, as the lines "He's been known to knock a few teeth out/If you ask him for a beauty tip/So we live and let live" imply, the only reason Bobbi is not teased, assaulted or worse, is because people know that Bobbi will fight back - and win. If Bobbi were less impervious, it's clear that Bobbi would not be so safe from transphobic violence.
Yet transphobic violence is clearly overlooked in this song, at the same time. Bobbi has no fear of being assaulted when she goes in the men's washroom. At worst, a man comes running out screaming "Hey there's a chick in the men's room!" at which point, his warning is dismissed: "We just smile and say/No that's just Bobbi with an I" - were Bobbi less overtly masculine, this would not be the case.
Ultimately this song doesn't do anything to help the trans/queer communities in terms of awareness, as it just builds on age-old stereotypes of trans people, and reinforces the transphobia still embedded into country music culture. I'll give this song and music video a big thumbs down.