![]() In the end, Beyoncé’s lyrics about turning her cherry out and eating her skittles aren’t threatening, because her sexuality is traditional, even marital. Samson of “MEN.” Such empowerment is really only acceptable in the context of marriage. But I’m not sure that our culture would find the same lyrics as celebratory and non-threatening if sung by single Rihanna or exploratory Lady Gaga - or even, say, the gender-bending J.D. When Beyoncé sings about receiving oral sex in “Blow,” it isn’t seen as garish or trashy it’s empowering and unabashedly feminine. In “Drunk in Love,” Beyonce reclaims her sexuality and drunken messiness as her own. Throughout her entire visual album, Beyoncé sings about her sexual empowerment and self-discovery. True feminism seeks to upend patriarchal systems of power, but Beyoncé’s version only serves to reinforce traditional stereotypes about sex and beauty and further heighten the impossible expectations of women. In the end, it hides true feminist growth by folding discussion and dissention into a glossy, perfect package. But this is exactly why Beyoncé’s particular brand of feminism is so problematic. Her connection to feminism seems bold, fun, empowering and (somewhat) intellectually grounded on its surface. ![]() And actually, at first glance, Queen Bey seems worlds away from the desperate antics of Miley. I can’t blame Beyoncé for a larger cultural trend that seems to cheapen feminism with packaged sexuality and watered down intellectual appeal. When she bends over in a desperate attempt to win the attention of the much-older (and married) Robin Thicke, it becomes clear that her sexual aggression is no more empowering than a teenage girl’s discovery of cutoff jean shorts and crop tops. Because feminism is more complex than Beyonce writing about the pay gap or singing about the pain of beauty in “Pretty Hurts.” It actually becomes troubling when self-declared feminist Miley Cyrus superficially proclaims power over her sexualized depiction in the media - because the message doesn’t match the act. The real issue with the celebrity endorsement of feminism as sexy is that it drapes a blanket over the complex realities of being female today. Highbrow feminist pillar Cosmopolitan magazine finally declared itself to be “deeply feminist.” And the Financial Times declared that “Feminism is back in Fashion.” The danger with this surge in superficial lady-power is not so much that feminism runs the risk of suddenly going back out of vogue, which it does. In 2013, we saw the likes of Miley Cyrus, Lady Gaga, Selena Gomez, Lorde and Claire Danes proudly proclaiming themselves feminists (see: Jezebel article). Carter jumping on the metaphorical bandwagon. Over the past 10-15 years, feminism has been considered a “dirty” word, but it is now undergoing a cultural renaissance, with Mrs. ![]() Instead, Beyoncé’s strand of feminism is safe. And, while this is a seemingly great contribution to the cause, she is no riot grrl or pussy riot member. She published a (rather dull) article entitled “ Gender equality is a myth” on Maria Shriver’s website and publicly declared that she is a capital-F feminist on the cover of Ms. And even beyond “Flawless,” Beyoncé seems to be proudly exploring her relationship to feminism. In the lyrics to “Flawless,” Beyoncé demands that we “Bow Down Bitches.” Even more noteworthy, she includes an excerpt from Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s definition of feminism from her groundbreaking 2013 TEDx talk. Here, we see Bey as assertive, powerful, even a bit aggressive. And don’t get me started on that sassy hand flip. Beyoncé’s eyes pierce the camera defiantly, her ratchet Houston side seems to surface and she widens her perfectly toned legs to the music video equivalent of a power stance. But the video portrays more than just another pretty face. She is the embodiment of physical perfection. Her lips are dark, her eyebrows are perfectly arched and her skin is, well, flawless. Her plaid shirt is buttoned to the top button, a thick gold chain hangs over her collar, and her ripped jean shorts seem to transition solely to black mesh somewhere along the path to her exquisite derriere. Her blonde wavy locks are effortlessly tousled in a state of post-sex frenzy. More specifically, obsessed with her video “Flawless.” In it, Beyoncé is immaculate. While Beyoncé has always been a fixture of fabulosity, it wasn’t until her latest album that I was sold.
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