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Celeb News: Annie Lennox On Beyonce's feminism
Member Since: 3/15/2013
Posts: 19,723
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I think that comment is really unfair.
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Member Since: 11/20/2011
Posts: 3,275
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Quote:
Originally posted by Mau ®
Bey may have been singing feminist themes since the "DC days" but until feminism became a real mainstream hot topic did she adapt it to her message. That's what people are saying.
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Well, feminism has never, not been a mainstream topic, in our lifetime, but in Beyonce's case, it is very much a marketing gimmick. Beyonce's feminism never struck me as being suspicious until her GQ Superbowl shoot. I'm a Rihanna stan. So, I don't mind nudity or various states of undress, but Bey's GQ shoot was when it all clicked for me. She uses the term as part of her branding. The GQ shoot had these forced, cheesecake, try-hard, "sexy" poses, but the shoot didn't make her look powerful or in control. She looked like a plaything. Then, next to those poses were these female empowerment soundbites, like that would somehow balance or cancel out the pictures. That was my "Aha!" moment with Bey and feminism. Oh, I get it now. Lip service for the girls, fan service for the boys.
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 186
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I find it so interesting that the major recurring complaint about how Beyonce can't be a proper feminist is always based on what she wears on-stage when performing. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought feminists were all about not judging and condemning women or denying them their agency based on what they wear? Beyonce has donated money, time, her name to the cause of helping young women and girls receive educations. She's helped build facilities for those in need. She's talked openly about gender inequality in the industry and has employed an all-female band for the better part of a decade. So why is it that whenever Beyonce's feminism comes under fire, it's always about what outfit she wore on stage that night. How she can't be a feminist because she wore a leotard. Focusing on what she wears instead of the words coming out of her mouth or the actions she takes...isn't that what misogynists do?
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Member Since: 1/3/2014
Posts: 3,992
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Once again, over 7 pages dedicated to dissecting something related to Beyoncé. The only pop star on this forum that creates so much controversy and doesn't say ONE word.
And no one is saying Beyoncé is THE feminist. Clearly those who are sayif that haven't read the thread because every Hive member has been defending the fact that so many of you are saying Beyoncé ISNT. We aren't saying beyonce is the "holy grail" or the mother of feminism we are saying she has added her piece and instead of joining WITH you dummies and so many others are trying to tear it down.
Fact remains BEYONCE created a new voice for Feminism when it was at its lowest! Since BEYONCE was released last December feminism has been talked about more
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Member Since: 11/23/2011
Posts: 46,048
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Damn, Lennox digging her nails in. She makes all the sense in the world with her perspective.
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Banned
Member Since: 8/19/2013
Posts: 8,254
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Quote:
Originally posted by GrandMomCookies
the fact that Beyoncé had the world talking about feminism is a win for it self
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Where ? Maybe in the US among Beyonce target audience. I live in Europe and feminism has been hot topic here for many years and Beyonce with her new album didnt change anything here.
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Member Since: 11/22/2010
Posts: 1,104
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Quote:
Originally posted by Cakesy
I find it so interesting that the major recurring complaint about how Beyonce can't be a proper feminist is always based on what she wears on-stage when performing. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought feminists were all about not judging and condemning women or denying them their agency based on what they wear? Beyonce has donated money, time, her name to the cause of helping young women and girls receive educations. She's helped build facilities for those in need. She's talked openly about gender inequality in the industry and has employed an all-female band for the better part of a decade. So why is it that whenever Beyonce's feminism comes under fire, it's always about what outfit she wore on stage that night. How she can't be a feminist because she wore a leotard. Focusing on what she wears instead of the words coming out of her mouth or the actions she takes...isn't that what misogynists do?
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Exactly. Thank you.
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Member Since: 2/24/2012
Posts: 30,779
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Annie's right.
Beyonce and many other artists just make use of the word "feminism" for their own benefits.
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 10,745
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Quote:
Originally posted by Cakesy
...isn't that what misogynists do?
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yup
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 43,973
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 8,150
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Quote:
Originally posted by Superpower
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Their sorta obsessed with Beyonce
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ATRL Moderator
Member Since: 3/18/2009
Posts: 35,164
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I love Annie, but I find this perspective very frustrating and limiting.
She's criticizing Beyoncé for selling sex, when the whole point of her feminist proclamation is to declare herself more than that.
It's so easy sometimes for people who take a more academic or radical approach to their activism to dismiss what others are doing. But we should be embracing everyone who is attempting advance the cause of justice.
A female celebrity calling herself a feminist in 2014 is still a tremendous statement. Until that in and of itself isn't a big deal, why does it matter what feminism means personally to Beyoncé?
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Member Since: 3/15/2013
Posts: 3,480
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Lol why can't she just be happy that so many people are now researching and getting educated about feminism, because of Beyonce.
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Member Since: 10/19/2010
Posts: 5,260
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White women just don't want any PoC claiming they're a "feminist" if it doesn't match their views.
Tragic. :-/
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Member Since: 3/15/2013
Posts: 3,480
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Quote:
Originally posted by supaspaz
I love Annie, but I find this perspective very frustrating and limiting.
She's criticizing Beyoncé for selling sex, when the whole point of her feminist proclamation is to declare herself more than that.
It's so easy sometimes for people who take a more academic or radical approach to their activism to dismiss what others are doing. But we should be embracing everyone who is attempting advance the cause of justice.
A female celebrity calling herself a feminist in 2014 is still a tremendous statement. Until that in and of itself isn't a big deal, why does it matter what feminism means personally to Beyoncé?
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This. I just can't put my thoughts into words sometimes
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Member Since: 9/1/2013
Posts: 18,649
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mehhhh i can't be mad at her because in some ways she's right. a lot of stars really say they're feminist but never anything more close to controversial than that so it seems kinda cheap, like they don't care enough about it to take any risks, because i doubt they all have these kind of completely uncontroversial views. i mean, every star doesn't have to make a political statement, but you shouldn't make a big deal about being a feminist if you're never going to do anything with the parts that people are already aware of and won't get that angry about.
that said i don't think beyonce is /that/ lazy or whatever you'd call it with her feminism. i think she probably pulls a lot of punches to avoid controversy and that's kinda dishonest but she does seem to at least be seriously dedicated to it. i'm sure she does actually care and isn't just doing it for positive press, but i get what annie's saying and it makes sense, and i wish beyonce take more risks with it.
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Member Since: 9/1/2013
Posts: 18,649
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Quote:
Originally posted by joshsquat
White women just don't want any PoC claiming they're a "feminist" if it doesn't match their views.
Tragic. :-/
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yes, this is definitely about that. because every white person hates literally everything black people do for absolutely no reason at all. there's no way people could ever disagree on anything. it has to be because they're evil and racist. that makes a lot of sense.
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Member Since: 3/27/2012
Posts: 18,963
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Quote:
Originally posted by superben
Annie's right.
Beyonce and many other artists just make use of the word "feminism" for their own benefits.
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Whether this is true or not, the effect it has on the world remains the same.
For example, a singer could go around campaigning for gay rights, human rights, world hunger, etc. (any cause). And someone could argue that they are only doing it for their own benefits, but does that take away from the awareness, money raised, changed laws, etc. that come from it or that inspire other thinkers or people to enact change?
You cannot simply dismiss Beyoncé's feminism by saying that it's for her own benefit, because as most people can agree, her making feminism more accessible is a good thing. And if you do, then you're only acting bitter about it.
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Member Since: 11/30/2009
Posts: 1,256
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Quote:
Originally posted by Summer
Beyonce using feminism was a marketing tool for her album. And the "essay" she wrote about feminism is not intellectual whatsoever.
Annie is correct. People use feminism because its "cool" and radical. The Hive acting like Beyonce is the holy grail of feminism is just disgusting.
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Quote:
Originally posted by Mau ®
Bey may have been singing feminist themes since the "DC days" but until feminism became a real mainstream hot topic did she adapt it to her message. That's what people are saying.
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These posts don't make sense. What KILLS me is everyone saying Bey is only a feminist because it's "cool" to be one now. HELLO. Feminism is only cool right now BECAUSE of Beyoncé and self-titled. No one mainstream was talking about it.
Beyoncé made feminism cool and the new thing then all of sudden other popstars started talking about it.
I'm not going to entertain people saying Bey isn't a feminist. She's been one since day one. You can disagree with some of her views or practices, but it cannot be argued that Bey is the reason why since December 13, 2013 feminism has continued to be debated in MAINSTREAM media consistently. The movement has Beyoncé to thank for that.
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Member Since: 9/1/2013
Posts: 18,649
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Quote:
Originally posted by Crimson18
These posts don't make sense. What KILLS me is everyone saying Bey is only a feminist because it's "cool" to be one now. HELLO. Feminism is only cool right now BECAUSE of Beyoncé and self-titled. No one mainstream was talking about it.
Beyoncé made feminism cool and the new thing then all of sudden other popstars started talking about it.
I'm not going to entertain people saying Bey isn't a feminist. She's been one since day one. You can agree with some of her views or practices, but it cannot be argued that Bey is the reason why since December 13, 2013 feminism has continued to be debated in MAINSTREAM media consistently. The movement has Beyoncé to thank for that.
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um...people definitely cared about feminism before beyonce's album. it's kinda been a major movement for well over 100 years. have you ever even listened to a political debate before? ._.
i mean, she brought some attention to it, but feminism is one of the biggest and most popular political movements, in mainstream media and outside of it. it's not like she did nothing about it, but it's totally ridiculous to act like no one knew it existed before her.
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