Beyonce has become a prominent role model for women and embodiment of feminism in our generation. Although lately the focus in her music has been on embracing her black roots, there are feminist lyrics everywhere. Everything about Beyonce displays a fierce, independent persona. Feminism is entwined in almost every one of Beyonce's songs. Here are some examples.
1. "Pretty Hurts"
"Pretty Hurts
Shine the light on whatever's worse
Perfection is the disease of a nation
It's the soul that needs surgery"
Beyonce understands that everyone has body image issues in some way and describes society's unfair expectations for women to be perfect.
2. "Flawless"
"I took some time to live my life
But don’t think I’m just his little wife
Don’t get it twisted, get it twisted
This my shit, bow down bitches"
Beyonce is telling women to never just be someone's wife, despite the inherent societal standard that women should aspire to get married while men should focus on their careers.
In addition, Beyonce incorporates an interlude by Nigerian writer and feminist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie into "Flawless." The song excerpts the writer's TED talk on feminism:
"We teach girls to shrink themselves, to make themselves smaller
We say to girls: 'You can have ambition, but not too much
You should aim to be successful, but not too successful Otherwise, you will threaten the man.'
Because I am female, I am expected to aspire to marriage
I am expected to make my life choices always keeping in mind that marriage is most important
Now, marriage can be a source of joy and low and mutual support
But why do we teach girls to aspire to marriage and we don’t teach boys the same?
We raise girls to see each other as competitors
Not for jobs or for accomplishments, which I think can be a good thing
But for the attention of men
We teach girls that they cannot be sexual beings in the way boys are
Feminist: a person who believes in the social,
Political, and economic equality of the sexes"
Beyonce wants to show people that she can be empowered and sexy at the same time, telling women to refuse to let the world see them as a sex object.
In Beyonce's newest album, the stunning visual album "Lemonade", Beyonce emphasizes the importance of loving yourself first and foremost. "Lemonade" resides in a land of no men. God is referred to as a 'her', and Beyonce intersperses writing of the British-Somali poet Warsan Shire throughout the album. Here are some important words:
1. "It's not my responsibility to be beautiful. I'm not alive for that purpose. My existence is not about how desirable you find me."
2. "Document the moments you feel most in love with yourself- what you're wearing, who you're around, what you're doing. Recreate and repeat."
3. "I am a lover without a lover. I am lovely and lonely and I belong deeply to myself."
These lines accentuate the importance of self-love and recognizing beauty in all its forms.
