A stereotype of males’ domination upon females in a relationship. In other words, it is a biased character of men and women.

Objectifying both women and men in terms of their nature, desire and personalities by using metaphorical languages. (e.g. beast and fish) Women are compared to animals/preys that can do nothing but to be hunted by males. 

Linguistic features: 
On “Animals”, Maroon 5’s lead singer utilizes a lot of imagery, particularly referencing the animal kingdom to illustrate his relationship with his partner.

The chorus, which carries the theme of the song, sees the singer claiming to prey on his partner, hunt and eat her alive. Here he likens their sexual encounter to the way a predator catches its prey. He also mentions smelling her scent, likening it to how most animals can track their prey miles apart through scents.

Negation is often used to emphasize women are in a passive situation and they cannot say “no” in most situations when facing males’ power.

The use of pronoun “you” refers to females while the use of pronoun “I” refers to males. In this song, “I” occurs more frequently than “you”, which means male is in a dominant position. Female, however, is defined as “other” in relation to male.

Visual and lyrics relationship: 

There is a meat shop in the video. Meat probably implies sexual desire or related scenes, which is also shown in the script. Male butchers cutting meat is also a demonstration of males’ masculinity. 

Baby, I'm preying on you tonight
Hunt you down eat you alive

Just like animals

Like animals-mals

Maybe you think that you can hide

I can smell your scent for miles

Just like animals

Like animals-mals

Baby I'm

So what you trying to do to me

It's like we can't stop, we're enemies

But we get along when I'm inside you, eh

You're like a drug that's killing me

I cut you out entirely

But I get so high when I'm inside you

Yeah, you can start over you can run free

You can find other fish in the sea

You can pretend it's meant to be

But you can't stay away from me

I can still hear you making that sound

Taking me downrolling on the ground

You can pretend that it was me

But no, oh

Baby, I'm preying on you tonight

Hunt you down eat you alive

Just like animals

Animals

Like animals

Maybe you think that you can hide

I can smell your scent for miles

Just like animals

Animals

Like animals-mals

Baby, I'm

So if I run it's not enough

You're still in my head forever stuck

So you can do what you wanna do, eh

I love your lies I'll eat 'em up

But don't deny the animal

That comes alive when I'm inside you

Yeah, you can start over you can run free

You can find other fish in the sea

You can pretend it's meant to be

But you can't stay away from me

I can still hear you making that sound

Taking me down rolling on the ground

You can pretend that it was me

But no, oh

Baby I'm preying on you tonight

Hunt you down eat you alive

Just like animals

Animals

Like animals-mals

Maybe you think that you can hide

I can smell your scent for miles

Just like animals

Animals

Like animals-mals

Baby, I'm

Don't tell no lie, lie, lie, lie

You can't deny-ny-ny-ny

The beast inside-side-side-side

Yeah yeah yeah

No girl, don't lie, lie, lie, lie (no girl don't lie)

You can't deny, ny-ny-ny (you can't deny)

The beast inside-side-side-side

Yeah, yeah, yeah

Yo

Whoa

Whoa

Just like animals

Animals

Like animals-mals

Just like animals (yeah)

Animals (yeah)

Like animals-mals (yeah)

Ow

Baby I'm preying on you tonight

Hunt you down eat you alive

Just like animals

Animals

Like animals-mals

Maybe you think that you can hide

I can smell your scent for miles

Just like animals

Animals

Like animals-mals

Baby I'm

Don't tell no lie, lie, lie, lie

You can't deny-ny-ny-ny

The beast inside-side-side-side
Yeah yeah yeah

No girl, don't lie, lie, lie, lie (no, girl don't lie)

You can't deny-ny-ny-ny (you can't deny)

The beast inside-side-side-side

Yeah, yeah, yeah

Males think that kind of girl they want is a "virgin and a vixen." They request that girls must be clean and honest. They can not have any sexual experiences before.

However, they do not use the same attitude to request themselves. They are" always playing  dolls" and "Looking for their  Barbie,"

but they do not perfect as Ken. Also, they want to have the option of choosing "eyes are brown or blue." We can see that males always want to exercise power and control over women. 

 

Females are always expected to be as perfect as Barbie. Females should be in the hands of males.

Males want females to have "Different ass and bigger boobs." Also, they expect girls to be "Curvy  like a cursive font." They also think that females should "Need someone who falls apart" and "So he can play  Prince Charming". We can see that males always expect females should be weak and like a little bird relying on people.

“This ain't build a bitch (a bitch)

You don't get to pick and choose

Different ass and bigger boobs

If my eyes are brown or blue”.

So, for the girls, people always judge their appearance, in terms of ass, boobs and the list goes on. Females need to fulfill lots of criteria to meet the standard of “beauty”, which is kind of objectifying women. 

Boys:
In the music video,there are so many men queuing up for the girl-making shop and they can choose what hair color and body shape they want. This is as same as the lyrics:

“The boys are always playing dolls

Looking for their Barbie

They don't look like Ken at all

Hardly have a heartbeat

Need someone who falls apart

So he can play Prince Charming”

Therefore, it shows that men always have the power of judging and choosing what kinds of women they want. They even do not need to take it seriously as they are just “playing” girls and the image of playboys is built. 

I feel a bit disappointed when I listen to this song because gender stereotypes and sexism still exist all round the world. But I’m glad that there is a song to bring the message that sexism and gender stereotypes are the problems that we should not neglect.

You don't get to pick and choose

Different ass and bigger boobs

If my eyes are brown or blue

This ain't build a bitch (a bitch)

I'm filled with flaws and attitude

So if you need perfect, I'm not built for you (yeah)

Bob the Builder broke my heart

Told me I need fixing

Said that I'm just nuts and bolts

Lot of parts were missing

Curvy like a cursive font

Virgin and a vixen

That's the kind of girl he wants

But he forgot

This ain't build a bitch (a bitch)

You don't get to pick and choose

Different ass and bigger boobs

If my eyes are brown or blue

This ain't build a bitch (a bitch)

I'm filled with flaws and attitude

So if you need perfect, I'm not built for you (one, two, three, ooh)

La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la

La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la

The boys are always playing dolls

Looking for their Barbie

They don't look like Ken at all

Hardly have a heartbeat

Need someone who falls apart

So he can play Prince Charming

If that's the kind of girl he wants

Then he forgot

This ain't build a bitch (a bitch)

You don't get to pick and choose

Different ass and bigger boobs

If my eyes are brown or blue

This ain't build a bitch (a bitch)

I'm filled with flaws and attitude

So if you need perfect, I'm not built for you (one, two, three)

La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la

La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la

La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la