By Hayley Mireles

It’s been weeks since Olivia Rodrigo released her single, Serena Joy, a song containing an intense political meaning.

She released the song ahead of Daisy Chain Fields, her all-women festival, to raise money and support.

Her decision to release this song is not a surprise, considering she is one of many celebrities who have spoken out against the Trump administration, which used her music to promote its political agenda; additionally, she’s expressed her support for Palestinians in the ongoing war in Gaza.

She has tirelessly used her platform to spread what she believes is right and benefit her community through fundraising, donations, and now her music.

The single does differ significantly from her previous music releases, with her typical style of music usually pertaining to heartbreak, jealousy, or, more recently, ballads exploring feelings of love and dissatisfaction within a romantic connection.

Rodrigo is able to tell multiple stories and messages through her writing. With that said, it’s no mistake that Rodrigo chose to release this song in today’s political climate.

First and foremost, it’s necessary that some context is given to understand the song and Rodrigo’s overall message.

Serena Joy is a character created by Margaret Atwood in her infamous novel, turned TV show, The Handmaid’s Tale. The novel depicts a world where an extreme conservative party overthrows the United States and uses religious ideology to justify reinstating “traditional” gender norms and bring forth their solution to declining birthrates using statutory rape in a practice known as “The Ceremony.”

In the fictional world, Serena Joy is the wife of an incredibly well-known and respected commander who helped create Gilead’s regime. In fact, before Gilead, Serena was a spokesperson for domestic feminism, giving speeches about women’s place in the home and their duties as a wife and mother.

The novel focuses on Serena’s firm faith in Gilead’s cause and does not give much room to suggest she feels different. However, the show suggests subtle changes of heart that contradict her original belief system.

Rodrigo uses the character, exploring Serena Joy’s perspective.

Yeah, it’s all for the cause

For the good of us all

This first part of the verse is a justification for the state of the world. All of the changes that Gilead made to the United States had to happen in order to fix the issues with fertility and reap the benefits. In this case, those benefits are children whom the handmaids give birth to, are separated from, and are given to higher-status Gilead families.

Rodrigo’s writing can also translate to today’s world.

There’s been an influx of mass ICE deportations, officers patrolling the streets and neighborhoods, and separation of family members. Their increased presence in our daily lives is justified by claiming it’s for the safety of the American people, but how good can their actions be if there are people being harmed in the process?

And if you close your eyes

Then it can’t be your fault.

In this part of the verse, Rodrigo calls out those who are complicit in the world around them. She recognizes that many individuals may turn a blind eye, ignoring those who need help or refuse to fight against the opposing side. While complicit individuals may lack support for a conservative belief system, their ignorance furthers a different agenda.

The song’s chorus reinforces Rodrigo’s callout.

Comin’ ‘round, comin’ ‘round

Comin’ around the corner

The beginning of the chorus expresses that there is only so much time left until the tables turn. While these women helped create and support the cause of Gilead, they are still a part of the oppressed group.

In the show, Serena Joy eventually misses her life before Gilead. She misses writing and reading. While she holds strong religious faith, she soon realizes there is no way for her to read or practice God’s word as she had previously, as the women inside Gilead are forbidden from reading.

If they do it to them

They’ll do it to you

If they do it to them

They’re gonna do it to you

The second half of the chorus pertains to Serena’s misinterpretation of her place within Gilead’s society. In the show, she gathers a party of women to try and convince the Gilead Council to allow teaching girls to read in school. In her proposal, she reads a portion of the Bible, believing that she could change the men’s minds and would be immune to any punishment.

Her “radical” ideas are shot down, and her finger is cut off after her act of defiance.

Serena Joy represents a specific type of woman, and Rodrigo uses her to call them out. Her song expresses the harsh reality that many conservative women fail to see. Their belief systems of traditional norms for women may appear safe and inviting and the best path for everyone to follow, yet they fail to realize that forcing their ideology of domesticity removes their right to choose that path entirely.