Madonna Is A True Feminist Icon — & You Need To Pay Attention To What She's Saying
Superstar. Chameleon. Truth-teller. Sexually liberated provocateur. Feminist. Mother. Artist.
This list of wholly accurate words and phrases you could use to describe Madonna is long and impressive. But, it's not complete. Yes, she's one of the few modern-day celebrities who can truly get away with a single-word moniker that's universally known and understood in every corner of the globe. But, much more interesting than that is the fact that Madonna has never shied away from the opportunity to evolve — even now, at the stage in her career where most artists would rest on their laurels and coast. Even more interesting still, she's a profoundly thoughtful human being who goes much deeper than you could possibly imagine.
a few quotes:
Do you think stars should have to earn their stripes to be able to project cockiness like that?
“Yes. I think it’s good to earn it. I think everything has to be earned, and, you know, you’re going to accept that kind of energy coming from somebody who’s had a lot of life experience and understand that it’s coming from an informed place, versus somebody who’s just starting out.”
"It is important for them to realize that things that they take for granted weren’t always as they are now. When I was coming up, the gay community was exceptionally marginalized, and if you were HIV-positive, you were treated like you had leprosy. There was a lot of discrimination and a lot of prejudice and a lot of craziness, and also, there wasn’t a cure for AIDS. There was no ARVs. There was no way to keep people who were HIV-positive alive, so I was growing up in a time where people I loved and artists that I admired were dying all around me.
"I think people take it for granted now that if you have HIV, you can live a healthy life. Or, if you’re gay, you can live an openly gay life. These things were not the norm when I was starting my career. And, nor was a woman expressing her sexuality. I mean, now, we have artists like Nicki Minaj and Miley Cyrus, who will very clearly and openly express their sexuality. But, when I did it, I got the **** kicked out of me for it. So, I think it’s important for people to understand that it wasn’t always this way — not for women, not for the gay community. We should all examine, even in pop culture.”
"I think a lot of women who are perceived as being sexually liberated are actually playing into the hands of what men want, what men feel safe with. And, you know, it would be good to know that you could be a viable, successful pop star in today’s world without having a big ass, for instance. I’ve had this discussion with my 18-year-old daughter, who’s said, ‘Mom, what’s going on? It’s like if you don’t have a video where you have a big ass, people aren’t going to watch your video.’ And, you know, it’s interesting for her to make that observation.”
PHOTO: COURTESY OF UNIVERSAL MUSIC GROUP.
“Well, it’s important to be fearless and educated. You can’t just say, ‘I don’t give a ****, and I’m going to say what I want and do what I want and not be informed.’ You need to be consciously aware of what’s going on in the world, and you have to know your worth. Your worth ultimately isn’t on the outside of you, but on the inside of you — because that’s what lasts.
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“Surround yourself with like-minded people. Always aim to be the stupidest person in the room, so that there’s always somebody who you’re looking up to; someone who's inspiring you and teaching you. Also, find something to love about yourself. I mean, we live in a culture that is really focused on self-loathing, and I think it's really hard for young women growing up right now.”
"I mean, if you have a moment of doubt, or if you feel vulnerable, that’s God’s way of protecting you. You need to have those moments, otherwise you just barrel through life without any kind of consciousness. You’d be a robot.”
read the full interview
http://www.refinery29.com/2015/03/83...id=entry_83104
