The [em]power of Madonna

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I love Madonna.

I love Glee.

And I am OBSESSED with the fact that on Tuesday night these two powerful forces combined.

But even more exciting is that this episode didn’t just focus on the music of Madonna, but the message of Madonna. Be empowered. Be your own person. Don’t settle. It’s a message that is long overdue for some of the Glee clubbers.

With three characters (Rachel, Finn, and Emma) stressing over “losing the big V,” Madonna’s “Like a Virgin” played out during a dream sequence of all three having sex, and then us, ultimately, finding out that Rachel and Emma never went through with it. And you know what? Good for them! You could tell that both women were having some serious internal struggles over whether or not it was the right time, or the right person, to ‘do it’ and to make the decision not to have sex exemplified one of Madonna’s biggest messages: be empowered!

It’s empowering to take control of your own body, whether that means having sex or saying no. Rachel and Emma both respected themselves when they made the decision to continue waiting until they were ready. I am all for being sexually empowered, but being sexual isn’t the only way to be empowered (obviously), and I think Glee did a great job of showing that. Similarly, kudos to Glee for not politicizing the issue of virginity and sex; it was presented exactly the way it should be: as a personal decision that everyone makes for themselves.

I’m also glad to see that the fellas (minus Puck, surprise!) really took on the challenge of changing the way they treated the ladies, making sure there was always a level of respect for not just their talent, but for each individual as a person. I absolutely think the girls should be taking a page out of this book, but getting the guys to step up is a start.

This episode also made me fall in love, even more, with some of its characters.

Here’s why I love….

Tina: “my growing feminism will cut you!” hilarious. Didn’t send the most PC message about feminists, but I still loved it. You go, girl.

Schue: “You took ownership of your body when you said you didn’t wanna sleep with me” Couldn’t be more right, Mr. Schue

Emma: “Look at their role models — you’ve got Britney Spears and her shaved head, Lindsay Lohan looks like something out of Lord of the Rings, Ann Coulter…” So funny, so right. Not only are these the women that young girls are looking up to (scary) but they’re also the women that many young boys are looking at. [[If these women aren’t demanding respect, why should we? If  people aren’t giving these women respect, why should we? ]]

Madonna is sexy. She’s empowered. She’s her own person. She does her own thing. She’s self-made. She demands respect. She’s a role model.

You go, girl. You go, Glee.