She allows girls world wide, including myself, to feel this power. I personally, fully agree with what Beyoncé is trying to channel within this song, and many other songs of hers that may bring her feminism into question. A lyricism of empowerment that made her feel as she says “gangsta.” “Bow down, bitches” is a lyrical explanation of what’s wrong with assuming that being feminist requires one to follow a script, and not your own heart. She claims it was the side of her that she felt she needed to defend it was motivation a burst of anger she wanted to express, for her “haters”. Beyoncé addresses the ambiguity of the line “bow down bitches” in the article Beyonce Explains Bow Down. The sexiness, the confidence, and the strength portrayed in her work is one that many females perceive as admirable, empowering, and liberating. Feminism is meant to be all inclusive, Beyoncé, in this specific song, in many other songs, and in her mannerisms, is pro-woman without being anti-man. If Beyoncé claims she is a feminist, well then, who are we to say that she isn’t one? Feminism is not a one size fits all, unilateral movement with specific guidelines. She is able to both own and express herself, who she is, in a culture that works against such ideals. Now, Beyoncé is an artist who is most definitely not afraid to express her sexuality through her music, however the sexuality that she conveys is one that she owns as a strong independent woman. 'Put a group of men together and they will not talk about women at all, they will just talk about their own stuff.'Īdichie concluded by saying, 'We women should spend about 20% of our time on men, because it's fun, but otherwise, we should also be talking about our own stuff.Much criticism targeting Queen B, Beyoncé Knowles, arose after the release of her new single Flawless. While the song is feminism based, with samples by acclaimed feminist writer Chimamanda Adichie, some critics argue it is in fact counter feminist as the bridge of the song states “bow down, bitches” repetitively. Put a group of women together and the conversation will eventually be about men,' she said. 'We women are so conditioned to relate everything to men. I am very taken with that.'Īdichie continues: 'Still, her type of feminism is not mine, as it is the kind that, at the same time, gives quite a lot of space to the necessity of men.'Īdichie made it clear that 'men are lovely, but I don't think that women should relate everything they do to men: did he hurt me, do I forgive him, did he put a ring on my finger?' Perhaps an obvious reference to Beyonce's 2010 Grammy-winning Song of the Year, 'Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)'? 'She portrays a woman who is in charge of her own destiny, who does her own thing, and she has girl power. 'Her style is not my style, but I do find it interesting that she takes a stand in political and social issues,' the Americanah author told the newspaper. Adichie points out that 'with this song, she has reached many people who would otherwise probably never have heard the word feminism, let alone gone out and buy my essay.'Īdditionally, Adichie may not always agree with Beyonce's politics, but appreciates her level of political engagement. To be clear, Beyoncé did ask Adichie's permission before using her quote in her music. Beyoncé may have quoted Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's TED Talk in her song 'Flawless,' but the Nigerian writer doesn't necessarily agree with the singer's style of feminism.Īccording to Vulture, in a recent interview with Dutch newspaper De Volkskrant, Adichie discusses how her work was already well-known before Queen Bey gave it her golden touch and isn't thrilled with the implication that she should be thankful to the singer.

Beyonce flawless feminist