Like it or not, Beyonce is a feminist.
It’s not what her critics or some by-the-book academic feminists want to hear, citing her sexual nature and a tendency to proudly trumpet her marriage by naming her tour Mrs. Carter. But there are two things critics need to know. First, feminists can be sexual. Just listen to the French bit at the end of Beyonce’s new record “Partition,” which roughly translates to:
Men think that feminists hate sex, but it’s an exciting and natural activity that women love. Secondly, if you ever catch yourself checking Beyonce’s feminism because it doesn’t fit your narrative, read this. But the truth is, she’s always been about female equality. You just weren’t looking hard enough.
Single Ladies
People want to believe that every single girl’s anthem was actually a plea for men to finally settle down and marry them. It’s not. It’s a declaration from women that they won’t sit around in a relationship that isn’t moving forward. It’s also indicating that women don’t necessarily need to be in relationships. If you liked it, you should have put a ring on it…but since you didn’t, I’m out. And yes…it’s OK for me to be single.
Independent Women
Like, isn’t this the most obvious declaration of Beyonce’s feminism? The 2000 song filmed for the Charlie’s Angels soundtrack clearly states that a woman does not need a man to finance her and that she can be the breadwinner in the household. And just look at that gif. Who run the world? Which brings us to…
GIRLS
Another obvious musical example of Beyonce’s feminist nature, where she boldly states that this is a woman’s world. You’re just a squirrel trying to get a nut.
GQ Interview
Beyonce wasn’t shy about the reality of being a feminist in a society strongly influenced by capitalism and patriarchy. She had this to say in her GQ interview earlier this year: “You know, equality is a myth, and for some reason, everyone accepts the fact that women don’t make as much money as men do. I don’t understand that. Why do we have to take a backseat?” she says in her film, which begins with her 2011 decision to sever her business relationship with her father. “I truly believe that women should be financially independent from their men. And let’s face it, money gives men the power to run the show. It gives men the power to define value. They define what’s sexy. And men define what’s feminine. It’s ridiculous.”
Survivor
Don’t act like you weren’t standing in front of your television emulating Kelly, Michelle and Beyonce in all their female prowess while declaring that women could weather any and all situations because hey, we’re survivors, dammit.
Her Own Declaration:
Are you one of those critics that don’t believe Beyonce is a feminist because she hasn’t exactly said the term herself? You’re wrong.
She told the Daily Mail this in 2010: “I think I am a feminist, in a way. It’s not something I consciously decided I was going to be; perhaps it’s because I grew up in a singing group with other women, and that was so helpful to me,” she told the magazine. “It kept me out of so much trouble and out of bad relationships. My friendships with my girls are just so much a part of me that there are things I am never going to do that would upset that bond. I never want to betray that friendship, because I love being a woman and I love being a friend to other women.”
Her All Female Band
Beyonce employs more women than any artist out right now. And her all-female band? Well, they continually KILL IT! That goes for her dancers, background singers and her glam squad too. If that isn’t a testament to her feminism, we don’t know what is. Take a look at the video above.
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