Beyonce Patriarchy

“Money gives men the power to run the show. It gives men the power to define value. They define what is sexy. And men define what is feminine,” (Beyonce’s Fierce Feminism). The idea of an overpowering patriarchy in society is still present today and necessitates the advancement of feminist beliefs and major girl power. A feminist could be described as someone who believes in political, social and economic equality of males and females alike. Feminist Annette Kolodny, believes that feminism is about “establishing, reflecting, and maintaining an asymmetrical relationship between women and men,” (Handout). In her song, If I Were A Boy, Beyonce analyzes what happens in a tense relationship between a male and female. She sings about what it would
Beyonce is an African American artist who has focused on “themes of economic empowerment and independence for women” since the beginning of her career (No Mere Pop Star). She has been praised and beaten down for “[celebrating] bodies that aren't traditionally regarded as desirable under racist, colonialist, patriarchal standards and [holding] up supportive friendships between women as important” (No Mere Pop Star). She had a desire to work her way up in a male-dominated R&B and pop music industry, and she has, all the way up to becoming the Queen herself. She is a unique modern-day feminist in that we see her breaking away from traditional views of feminism and instead being “an independent woman [who] also craves traditional marriage and motherhood” (Beyonce’s Fierce Feminism). Her interesting perspective on feminism allows her to comment on themes of independence, beauty and women’s sexuality through her music. Critics have said that her performances embracing feminism “[aren’t] just about de-stigmatizing the term, but also challenging feminism to be broader, deeper, and more inclusive” (No Mere Pop Star). With her history as an advocate of feminism, it is not odd to see her singing a song that is meant to break the marginalized barriers between women and their
Through this song, she attempts to break those barriers and create a freedom for all women to do what they please. I think that this song is not just trying to reach out to women, but also to men who are listening. The song is calling out men and pushing them to realize their contradicting actions and the barriers those actions create between them and their women. It is important for women to realize how strong they are and the abundance of power that they do hold when it comes to being a