1. Kevin McDevitt
Women’s Studies
Analysis Paper- One of the goals for this course is developing the ability to
apply concepts from the course to the content of your lives. This assignment
asks you to take a critical look at an everyday event or a text by analyzing
from a feminist perspective some lecture, film, TV episode, poem,
advertisement, interaction, style, technology, document or website. Your task
is to “unpack” the text – looking at the ways that it does or does not support
the equality of women and other historically oppressed or alienated groups.
In performing this task you will want to analyze the context in which it exists
(how is it framed, advertised, and attended) and you’ll want to pay attention
to the reception of the event or text by audience members or attendees. You
will need to bring in ideas from the readings for this course, as well as
outside readings if appropriate (at least 5 sources total) and to provide
specific evidence to support your argument about the object of analysis.
Length 6-8 pages.
The beauty stereotype in women
Beyonce Knowles may be one of the most influential women in today’s society. Girls
and women of all ages aspire to make some of Beyonce’s traits and mannerisms their
own. In Beyonce’s hit album, Beyonce, it is clear to the listener that Beyonce is more
than aware of the issues with the way women are depicted in society. She does not only
write songs about the issues with beauty, but voices to the public about being a feminist
and the gender inequalities that women are still plagued with in 2014. Beyonce’s self-
entitled album, and fastest selling record in iTunes history, has sold over one million
albums in less than a week. ‘The Queen of Music’ ignited a powerful debate about her
brand of feminism, and the album has been praised as a “feminist manifesto for black
womanhood” (policymic.com). However, the album does not restrict equality and
respect to black women alone, but to all women.
Beyonce is an inspiring, iconic woman, who believes in gender equality, and that
women as a whole need to step up and take the lead. She quotes, “We need to reshape
our own perception of how we view ourselves. We have to step up as women and take
the lead. I guess I am a modern-day feminist. I do believe in equality. Why do you have
to choose what type of woman you are? Why do you have to label yourself anything?”
(Knowles, Beyonce) Not to mention, Beyonce’s track 11, Flawless features a minute
and a half excerpt of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s feminist empowerment speech of
Nigerian author, Adichie. The album’s press release states that the album is “a non-
linear journey through the thoughts and visions of Beyonce.” The music videos, which
includes videos that Beyonce directed herself, were filmed across the world, including
New York, Los Angeles, Paris, Brazil, and her very own hometown of Houston, Texas.
Considering Beyonce’s viewpoints and outlook on society and how it still oppresses
women, were the locations chosen to film her videos merely based on the locations
scenery? I think not. Beyonce has continuously spoken out, and has been a role-model
2. to women for many years, encouraging women to have a voice. That is, ALL women,
not just women in the African American culture. One could argue that Beyonce chose to
make her videos across the world in order to symbolize gender equality everywhere.
The musician even states how visual music truly is to her, “I see music. It’s more than
just what I hear. When I’m connected to something, I immediately see a visual or a
series of images that are tied to a feeling or an emotion, a memory from my childhood,
thoughts about life, my dreams or my fantasies. And they’re all connected to the music"
(Knowles).
NPR, National Public Radio: News and Analysis, non-profit media organization
that serves as a national network of 900 public radio stations in the United States, came
out with an article on December 13th that discusses Beyonce and whether or not she is
a feminist. Could Beyonce, the amazingly talented musician who has performed at two
inaugurations, be this generation’s most influential and popular feminist? The album
cover is a complete contradiction to what the songs in the album portray. The cover is
literally Beyonce’s backside with beaded, bejeweled, arrays of g-srings. The album
cover is her butt; which feminists have openly claimed, is “just another tired example of
a woman performing for men” (Holmes). Anna Holmes the self-proclaimed feminist and
founder of the women’s website Jezebel feels that it is not every day you see women in
bodysuits in pornographic poses writhing around on cars, so the album is a
performance for the benefit of men. So why does Beyonce’s proceeding tracks depict an
unjust society with men constantly in the authoritative hand?
Maybe because Beyonce’s videos are not degrading, they are symbolizing
women empowerment. Professor Brittney Cooper, who studies black feminism, agrees.
“I think it’s risque. But I think she’s asking us to think about what i means for black
women to be sexual on our own terms” Cooper says. Writer Samhita Mukhopadhyay
claims, “the album made us feel really, and that’s powerful. That means something.
Whereas the rest of popular culture may not have that impact on us as young women of
color.” Mukhopadhyay uses the term ‘us’ as a representation of all women of color, but
through an analytical perspective, Beyonce did not just want to reach out to influence
women of color, but instead women as a whole. Referencing a quote stated previously,
Beyonce asks women, “why do you have to label yourself anything?” Further, why does
Beyonce’s album impact women of color, rather than women in general?
Beyonce’s beliefs, and values of women creating a voice for themselves is not
restricted to women that label themselves as women of color. “Your self-worth is
determined by you. You don’t have to depend on someone telling you who you are”
Knowles says. This very quote argues against the feminists who write, and speak about
how her album impacts “us” and makes “us” feel sexy. Why do these women need
Beyonce to determine their own self-worth? Women, living amongst each other in a
harmonious society, should have confidence in themselves. They should not segregate
themselves and label themselves as the people who were impacted by Beyonce’s
album. All women, and men should be affected by her album. I am a white male and I
felt influenced by Beyonce’s songs. Her lyrics have opened my eyes to see just how
critical women are with themselves. But, for good reason. As girls are raised, they are
continuously seeing, hearing about, being influenced by beautiful, supermodel-esq.
celebrities, and role models. Girls begin at an early age to idolize women, to the extent
of wanting to be exactly like them. But what determines beauty? In Beyonce’s song
Pretty Hurts the singer/songwriter portrays the outlook of a young girl raised by her
mother. The first lines in the song go: “Mama said, You’re a pretty girl. What’s in your
head, it doesn’t matter. Brush your hair, fix your teeth. What you wear is all that
matters.” The lyrics can be literally translated to depict a girl who was raised to value
beauty. Her thoughts and opinions do not matter because she is a pretty girl. Her
mother teaches her how all that matters in life is how she cleans up, dresses, and looks.
The following line, “Just another stage, pageant the pain away” can be heard in several
3. ways. Without looking up the lyrics, one might hear ‘just another stage, patchin’ the pain
away’... however, the clever lyric purposely uses pageant in a strategic manner.
When you think of Miss. USA, what comes to your mind? Could it possibly be
terms such as: perfection, beautiful, skinny, vapid, air-headed, dumb, toned, unfair,
lucky, stereotypical? Does that relate to your vocabulary while watching the Miss
Universe pageant? These are some of the first thoughts that may come to one’s mind
while watching these women put themselves out there, on live television, in a
competition to be crowned as Miss Universe. However, we know nothing about them.
We hear their opinions and answers to political questions, we judge their every
movement, every single step, and hope to find a flaw in what seems to be the most
perfect person. Let’s take the winner of Miss USA 2013, Erin Brady. Erin Brady, formerly
known as Miss Connecticut, is obviously beautiful. Would you like to know why she is
beautiful? Brady grew up in an abusive home, and overcame the stereotypes and odds
against her to become a woman who represents integrity. She turned her situation into a
positive by becoming an advocate for children in similar situations as her own alcohol
related, abusive experiences. She graduated from Central Connecticut State University
with a degree in Finance and a minor in Criminal Justice. Brady is currently a financial
accountant for Prudential Retirement in Hartford. She is working in the direction to get
her MBA to get involved with Pension Risk Transfers. Brady has openly revealed she is
a people person, and would much rather talk to someone in person as opposed to
tweeting or facebooking others. This alone is a concept that has gotten distorted over
the last 15 years, and in my opinion is an admirable quality to have. Brady is the first
woman in Connecticut to ever be crowned Miss USA. Miss Connecticute USA 2013 was
her second attempt at the state title. Would you like to be inspired? Erin Brady
overcame her mother’s messy divorce to her alcoholic father by working 12 hour
waitress shifts to pay for college to get her honors degree in finance. Brady moved out
on her own at 18, taking her younger sister under her care. Brady has spoken out about
her past and said that life has been a struggle ‘but it shaped who I am.’ That is self-
determination, that is admirable, that is having value, self-worth, integrity, that is an
advocate for people as a whole; that is beautiful. Despite the hardships she went
through, she showed incredible drive and commitment to better herself, which is
something that all women, and men can learn from.
Determining what is beautiful should be based upon one’s owns views, beliefs,
values, imperfections, and aspirations.
"My message behind this album was finding the beauty in imperfection."
"We need to reshape our own perception of how we view ourselves. We have
to step up as women and take the lead."
''I am a woman and when I think, I must speak."
8. "Power's not given to you. You have to take it."
"Perfection is a disease of a nation."
"He will change diapers, of course he will. He is going to be a very hands-on
father."
4. "The reality is: sometimes you lose. And you're never too good to lose. You're
never too big to lose. You're never too smart to lose. It happens."
"When I’m not feeling my best I ask myself, ‘What are you gonna do about
it?’ I use the negativity to fuel the transformation into a better me."
http://www.npr.org/blogs/therecord/2013/12/19/255527290/feminists-
everywhere-react-to-beyonc-s-latest
Mama said, "You're a pretty girl.
What's in your head, it doesn't matter
Brush your hair, fix your teeth.
What you wear is all that matters."
[Pre-Hook:]
Just another stage, pageant the pain away
This time I'm gonna take the crown
Without falling down, down, down
[Hook:]
Pretty hurts, we shine the light on whatever's worst
Perfection is a disease of a nation, pretty hurts, pretty hurts
Pretty hurts, we shine the light on whatever's worst
We try to fix something but you can't fix what you can't see
It's the soul that needs the surgery
(Uh huh huh)
[Verse 2:]
Blonder hair, flat chest
TV says, "Bigger is better."
South beach, sugar free
Vogue says, "Thinner is better."
[Pre-Hook:]
Just another stage, pageant the pain away
This time I'm gonna take the crown
Without falling down, down, down
[Hook:]
Pretty hurts, we shine the light on whatever's worst
Perfection is a disease of a nation, pretty hurts, pretty hurts (pretty hurts)
Pretty hurts (pretty hurts), we shine the light on whatever's worst
We try to fix something but you can't fix what you can't see
It's the soul that needs the surgery
5. [Bridge:]
Ain't got no doctor or pill that can take the pain away
The pain's inside and nobody frees you from your body
It's the soul, it's the soul that needs surgery
It's my soul that needs surgery
Plastic smiles and denial can only take you so far
Then you break when the fake facade leaves you in the dark
You left with shattered mirrors and the shards of a beautiful past
[Hook:]
Pretty hurts, we shine the light on whatever's worst (pretty hurts)
Perfection is a disease of a nation, pretty hurts, pretty hurts
Pretty hurts, we shine the light on whatever's worst
We try to fix something but you can't fix what you can't see
It's the soul that needs the surgery
[Outro:]
When you're alone all by yourself (pretty hurts, pretty hurts)
And you're lying in your bed (pretty hurts, pretty hurts)
Reflection stares right into you (pretty hurts, pretty hurts)
Are you happy with yourself? (pretty hurts, pretty hurts)
You stripped away the masquerade (pretty hurts, pretty hurts)
The illusion has been shed (pretty hurts, pretty hurts)
Are you happy with yourself? (pretty hurts, pretty hurts)
Are you happy with yourself? (pretty hurts, pretty hurts)
“We need to stop buying into the myth about gender equality. It isn’t a reality yet. Today, women
make up half of the U.S. workforce, but the average working woman earns only 77 percent of
what the average working man makes. But unless women and men both say this is unacceptable,
things will not change. Men have to demand that their wives, daughters, mothers, and sisters earn
more—commensurate with their qualifications and not their gender. Equality will be achieved
when men and women are granted equal pay and equal respect.”
Beyoncé has voiced her frustration with the myth that gender equality has been achieved before,
and now here she is writing in the recently released Shriver Report on the subject. I particularly
like how she emphasizes the need for both genders to reject the status quo as unacceptable and
puts the focus on unlearning old attitudes: “We have to teach our boys the rules of equality and
respect, so that as they grow up, gender equality becomes a natural way of life.”
The report, created by Maria Shriver and the Center for American Progress, concludes
that closing the pay gap between men and women would cut the poverty rate for working women
in half and increase the overall GDP by 2.9 percent. It also highlights how other policy changes–
like paid sick days, affordable child care, and increasing the minimum wage–would help the one
in three women in this country who are living in poverty or are “teetering on its brink.”
