Ableism In Music- Man Child By Sabrina Carpenter
- Annie Kroll
- Dec 21, 2025
- 4 min read
I listen to a lot of music while getting ready, and think music is one element of pop culture that can spread information about disability, whether intentional or not. This week, I want to provide an example of ableism in music by analyzing the song "Man Child" by Sabrina Carpenter.
The summary of the song is it is about a man who is immature and not ready for the level of commitment Sabrina Carpenter is looking for. However, this song uses many synonyms that are equated with negative slurs for people with disabilities. In this blog, I will go over those lyrics, explain why it is harmful, and end with a call to reframe disability in pop culture.
Highlighted Verse
Why so sexy
If so dumb
This line equates attractiveness with intelligence. The inclusion of the word dumb is rooted in ableism, because the word dumb originates from slurs for intellectual disabilities. The inclusion of this verse highlights the main message we will learn about in the pre chorus and chorus. This line also furthers a pop culture expectation that attractiveness is an invitation for attention, which furthers the pop culture phenomenon of voyeurism, or any unwanted gaze without explicit consent.
Pre Chorus:
Stupid
Or is it
Slow?
Maybe it's
Useless?
But there's a cuter word for it
I know
The pre chorus uses stupid, slow, and useless to describe a man performing behavior that is not considered to be satisfactory. Stupid and slow originates as words used to describe intellectual disabilities that have shifted as negative descriptors. The inclusion of the word useless furthers the idea that when someone performs unsatisfactory behavior, the connection is drawn to negative depictions of disability. The verse then concludes by highlighting that these traits can be summarized into a category highlighted in the chorus.
Chorus
Manchild
Why you always come a running to me
f*** my life
Won't you let an innocent woman be
Never heard of self care
Half your brain just ain't there
Manchild
Why you always come a running
Taking all my loving from me?
The inclusion of the line half your brain just ain't there furthers the message in this song that undesirable behaviors as associated with disorders affecting intelligence and other parts of the brain. The inclusion of the term manchild furthers the disparaging tone of the song by comparing negative behavior to adults who act like children. While overall the tone of the song is to complain about negative dating experiences, many of the synonyms are rooted in language that have been used as slurs towards people with intellectual and learning disabilities. In a blog about ableist language, I featured many of these words and offered replacements I am trying to work into my vocabulary over time. This song furthers the power our society gives negative perceptions of intellectual disabilities.
I have gone on bad dates, and have had interactions with men that were not necessarily positve. I also very strongly identity as a feminist. However, this song uses ableist lyrics as a writing device to further a message. When people with a large platform push the use of language rooted in ableism such as stupid, dumb, slow, and missing half a brain to directly imply less intelligence as a negative trait, it unintentionally normalizes discrimination for those with disability diagnoses that relate to the origination of the slurs. While it might seem like disability advocacy has drastically improved the lives of many disabled people, we still have a long way to go. I have faced discrimination in my education journey, and it has not been hard for me to find others with similar experiences. I hope media can find ways to positively share disability experiences. I want to end this blog with three pieces of media that speak on disability positively to counteract the messages in this song. If you have any other pieces of media that you enjoy that feature disability positively, please leave a comment below!
This song highlights Avril Lavigne's experience with Lyme Disease, and how she coped with her diagnosis. When I first heard this song I felt moved, even though I do not share the religious beliefs highlighted in the song.
My mom loves this show. It is a documentary about a woman with Tourette's syndrome and focuses on multiple aspects of her life to highlight disability through personal experience. When watching media about disability, I look for media where people with disabilities are featured and included in the process.
This show has had mixed reviews, but I appreciate that is highlight an important aspect of disability- many disabled people desire love and companionship. I appreciate that this message is highlighted through real experiences where people can share their experiences with love.
Thank you for reading about ableism in music, and media that does depict disability positively. If you have any questions or comments, please comment on the blog, reach out at @Anniekrollblog on Instagram or Facebook, or email me at Anniekrollblog@gmail.com. I hope to see you next week!
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