Jayelle Gerber’s “Double Standard” Challenges Music’s Perception Of Women
Jayelle Gerber – Photography by Erica Vincent
Jayelle Gerber has had enough.
The songwriter-artist has always let her passion for music lead the way in her life, but this International Women’s Day, Gerber is pulling back the curtain on the challenges women in music face. Her latest single, “Double Standard” eloquently criticizes what audiences, peers, and sometimes even listeners believe women in music need to be, look like, and achieve. Fusing her edgy influence with a classic pop-rock sound, “Double Standard” is a hot new take on exactly how women are working harder to get their seat at music’s table and why the expectation for them to do so is outdated.
“Everybody gets an opinion / Everyone but me,” Gerber sings on the track, as her voice tells the story of frustration and perseverance. Co-written with fellow female songwriter Mel Johnson, the song’s instrumentals are also born out of female artistry, highlighting the talents of musicians Sabrina Winter and Alex Windsor.
"I've always been incredibly passionate about the movement for gender equality,” explains Gerber about her inspiration behind creating the track. “This song was born out of that passion, as well as a deep-seated frustration with the struggles of being a woman in our society. I think rage can be a powerful thing, especially when it's utilized in a productive way. This song is all about constructive anger and making some noise to motivate change."
To further her mission, Gerber is also using her latest release to brings awareness to women in the music industry on International Women’s Day. Partnering with Gritty In Pink, the passionate women behind the Shiragril stage who featured female-fronted bands at Warped Tour, Gerber is launching a social media challenged titled the #doublestandardchallenge which encourages women to share sexist comments or remarks that have been said to them. These comments all reflect the kind of double standard women are expected to achieve on a daily basis and to celebrate the release of her new song and a month honoring the legacy of women, Gerber hopes that being vulnerable about the roadblocks women face can help women find strength in each other.
“Women in music are strong, resourceful, and tenacious. ”
Gerber’s career in music has been filled with both challenges and once-in-a-lifetime experiences, and despite the things that get in her way, the artist draws motivation from the inspiring women around her to keep creating.
"Being a woman in music has been a double-edged sword for me,” she tells Amplify Her Voice. “On one hand, being a woman in the music industry is an uphill battle. I've often dealt with microaggressions such as assumptions that I didn’t contribute as much in the songwriting process as my male co-writers or professional opportunities that ended up being cleverly disguised ploys for men to pursue me romantically. I've also felt a huge pressure as a woman to present myself in a certain way on social media when my male counterparts only seem to be required to log on and post the music they're making. However, on the other hand, I think I've flourished in the communities for women in music that I've been a part of. I've grown so close to so many amazing and powerful women through the challenges that connect us, and for that, I'm really thankful. Women in music are strong, resourceful, and tenacious. I'm in excellent company."
“Double Standard” is available for streaming on all music platforms. One of the best ways you can support women artists is to support their music! Join the #doublestandardchallenge and tag Jayelle Gerber on social media to celebrate International Women’s Day today and all month long.