Beyonce for Gender Equality

The person, activists I’ve choose that made an impact of gender equity is Beyonce.  Many people may share different views, but I personally think she is the perfect spokesperson for gender equality. For those who don’t know Beyonce Giselle Knowles-Carter is a singer, songwriter, record producer, actress, mom and a wife. She hole many titles as you can see. She was born in raised in Houston, Texas and worked her way up to the top of the charts.  

As a young girl Beyonce experienced depression. After all the struggles of switching companies and her parents getting a divorce. Her breaking point was when a friend and also member of the group, LeToya Luckett decided to leave the group because she was unhappy. Beyonce was devastated and fell into depression which led to her boyfriends leaving her. She stayed for days at a time. Beyonce spoke that it was her mother that helped her through it. Having a strong figure, especially that figure being your mother can make someone be an even better woman and mother. She saw woman as strong creatures and wanted to let them know that.

She addressed gender inequality by calling herself a “modern day feminist”. Many people threw salt on her for that saying she shouldn’t call herself that when she exposes her body in her performances and in her videos. How can one say that when she creates song that are for girl empowerment. She literally have a song titles “Run the World.” It’s sending a message about females that have their own life. That are independent and how we should be more confident in ourselves. Now it wasn’t to put males down or make them feel less about their self. It’s just that people are always coming at females. I know males that also love the song.

Beyonce know the true meaning of being a feminist. And it means believing in equal rights for men and woman. She understands that telling your daughter to be vulnerable and not your son is problem. She understand that a woman making 75 cents to a dollar is a problem.  

TIMELINE

2015 Beyonce and Michelle Obama calls for Gender Equality

2015 The conversation is popular – and yes, mostly thanks to Beyonce.

2014 From dancing in front of bright “FEMINIST” lights at the Superbowl (reaching an audience of approximately 140 million), to featuring the very definition of feminism read by novelist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie smack in the middle of a hit single, Beyonce has put her starpower to use for gender equality.

Now, popularizing the conversation doesn’t mean that feminism itself is popular. We certainly have a ways to go on that front. But I am encouraged by the frequency with which the topic appears in the mainstream media and everyday conversation.

Men and women are uniting behind gender equality

Speaking at Georgetown University’s Own It Summit this past weekend, I couldn’t help but notice the men who had been involved in not only attending the summit, but actually organizing and staffing it.

Women are supporting women

Tearing down other women in the workplace is about as en vogue as shoulder pads. In today’s socially-networked workplace especially, we recognize that the success of our fellow ladies is only good for us.

Intersectionality is everything

As the conversation around gender equality becomes more popular, so too have voices fighting for equality along racial, social, sexual, and economic lines as well. We still have a long ways to go in solving feminism’s white woman problem, but I see more feminists working together across what used to be boundaries.

It’s no longer acceptable to have a conversation about gender inequality without discussing other forms of discrimination as well. And that’s damn encouraging.

Corporate America has bought in

Love her or hate her, the 1%-er perspective of Sheryl Sandberg was exactly what the 1%-er leaders across corporate America needed to hear to get on board with gender equality. Lean In absolutely made the business case for unleashing women’s full potential in the workplace, and since then we’ve seen many of the largest American companies – led by Facebook – instituting policies designed to attract, retain, and develop women leaders.

For all these reasons and more I’m optimistic about the direction we’re heading, though it’s clear huge challenges remain. For starters, it’s time for our government institutions to catch up with these new realities and provide for sane parental leave policies that help women (and men!) lead full lives at home and work.

2014 Beyonce and Hillary “Race is everybody's issue”

2014 Gender Equality is a myth

2014 Flawless song release

2011 Run the World song release

2009 Single Ladies song release

2008 Diva release

1998 She found her real power when she became her own songwriter and she became successful even after her own company didn’t believe in her.

1996 Overcame depression