Feminism to post-feminism.

By Shannon Jones

Definition of Feminism:  

The advocacy of women's rights on the ground of the equality of the

sexes

Feminism in the music industry:

• There are many songs in the 90’s and on that are about women and their power

• Queen Latifa ‘U.N.I.T.Y’, Salt ‘n’ Pepper ‘Ain’t Nothin but a She Thing’, Spice Girls ‘Wanna Be’, Alicia Keys ‘A Womans Worth’

• Pink ‘Stupid Girls’, Lily Allens ‘Hard Out Here’ and ‘22’, Christina Aguilera ‘Can’t Hold Us Down’

Beyonce as a Feminist icon?

• Some of Beyonce songs in the past have shown that she is a feminist

• These songs include: Destiny’s Child ‘Survivor’ and ‘Independent Woman’, Beyonce’s ‘Run The World (Girls)’

• She portrays the image in her songs that women are strong and don’t need men

• However her recent album ‘Beyonce’ has portrayed the image that it is important to be what a man wants

Beyonce’s Beyonce Album

• Her songs such as ‘Partition’ and ‘Blow’ encourage the fact that womens bodies are at the hands of a man.

• Many of her music videos for some of her previous empowering songs have Beyonce in skimpy clothing as well.

• So is she a feminist or not?

Flawless

• Her song ‘Flawless’ which is on the most recent album features a section of a feminist speech by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, showing her support for the feminist movement

• However, the song itself is about Beyonce being ‘flawless’ instead of what her previous songs were about being loved ‘flaws and all’

• The video yet again, shows her wearing very short shorts but she’s also wearing a buttoned up shirt, covering most of her up. Feminist or not?

Overall

• Feminism was very popular in songs from the 90’s and have continued to be popular now

• There are many songs that have promoted feminism.

• Beyonce was seen as a strong feminist leader but now many people wonder where this leader has gone