Inside Beyoncé : Conversations About Sexually Charged Feminism

A look at quotes from women writers about Yoncé’s feminism.

Flaunting Feminism - With songs like “Girls (Run the World),” “Independent Women” and “***Flawless,” Beyoncé is being called a modern-day feminist. With the release of her latest self-titled album, women across the nation have been reacting to her music and Queen Bey’s ties to feminism. Keep reading to see how women across the nation are receiving Yoncé’s latest movement. — Dominique Zonyéé (@DominiqueZonyee)(Photo: Courtesy of Columbia Records)

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Flaunting Feminism - With songs like “Girls (Run the World),” “Independent Women” and “***Flawless,” Beyoncé is being called a modern-day feminist. With the release of her latest self-titled album, women across the nation have been reacting to her music and Queen Bey’s ties to feminism. Keep reading to see how women across the nation are receiving Yoncé’s latest movement. — Dominique Zonyéé (@DominiqueZonyee)(Photo: Courtesy of Columbia Records)

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie - An excerpt from Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s TED Talk speech “We Should All Be Feminists”  is featured on Beyoncé’s “***Flawless” track. Here is the excerpt:“Because I am female, I am expected to aspire to marriage. I am expected to make my life choices, always keeping in mind that marriage is the most important. Now marriage can be a source of joy and love and mutual support. But why do we teach girls to aspire to marriage and we don't teach boys the same?”(Photos: Jerod Harris/Getty Images; Courtesy of Columbia Records)

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Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie - An excerpt from Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s TED Talk speech “We Should All Be Feminists”  is featured on Beyoncé’s “***Flawless” track. Here is the excerpt:“Because I am female, I am expected to aspire to marriage. I am expected to make my life choices, always keeping in mind that marriage is the most important. Now marriage can be a source of joy and love and mutual support. But why do we teach girls to aspire to marriage and we don't teach boys the same?”(Photos: Jerod Harris/Getty Images; Courtesy of Columbia Records)

Tanya Steele - In her article “Beyoncé  Serenades Teenage Boys & Black Feminists,” blogger and filmmaker Tanya Steele questioned Beyoncé’s feminist dichotomy, comparing her various sexually charged songs and visuals to her female empowering lyrics. Steele writes, “Beyoncé titillates as she entertains. That is a part of her 'brand.' It's her choice. Her visual is, often, not in sync with her lyrics.”(Photos: Tanya Steele via Twitterl; Courtesy of Columbia Records)

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Tanya Steele - In her article “Beyoncé  Serenades Teenage Boys & Black Feminists,” blogger and filmmaker Tanya Steele questioned Beyoncé’s feminist dichotomy, comparing her various sexually charged songs and visuals to her female empowering lyrics. Steele writes, “Beyoncé titillates as she entertains. That is a part of her 'brand.' It's her choice. Her visual is, often, not in sync with her lyrics.”(Photos: Tanya Steele via Twitterl; Courtesy of Columbia Records)

Melissa Harris-Perry    - On her MSNBC show, Melissa Harris-Perry hosted a panel on Dec. 14 to discuss Yoncé’s modern take on feminism.  Harris-Perry’s panel focused on Bey’s individualism and her “feminist manifesto.” “It’s clear that (on “***Flawless”) Beyoncé is not telling her female followers to ‘Bow Down,’ but to stand up,” Harris-Perry said.(Photos: Larry Busacca/Getty Images for GLAAD; Courtesy of Columbia Records)

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Melissa Harris-Perry    - On her MSNBC show, Melissa Harris-Perry hosted a panel on Dec. 14 to discuss Yoncé’s modern take on feminism.  Harris-Perry’s panel focused on Bey’s individualism and her “feminist manifesto.” “It’s clear that (on “***Flawless”) Beyoncé is not telling her female followers to ‘Bow Down,’ but to stand up,” Harris-Perry said.(Photos: Larry Busacca/Getty Images for GLAAD; Courtesy of Columbia Records)

Samhita Mukhopadhyay - Writer Samhita Mukhopadhyay felt empowered to embrace her sexiness after listening to Beyoncé. “The album made us feel really sexy, and that's powerful. That means something," Mukhopadhyay told NPR. "Whereas the rest of popular culture may not have that impact on us as young women of color." (Photos: Samhitamukhopadhyay.com; Courtesy of Columbia Records)

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Samhita Mukhopadhyay - Writer Samhita Mukhopadhyay felt empowered to embrace her sexiness after listening to Beyoncé. “The album made us feel really sexy, and that's powerful. That means something," Mukhopadhyay told NPR. "Whereas the rest of popular culture may not have that impact on us as young women of color." (Photos: Samhitamukhopadhyay.com; Courtesy of Columbia Records)

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Jessica Valenti - The Nation writer Jessica Valenti appeared on Melissa Harris-Perry’s panel and agreed that Beyoncé’s take on feminism will influence conversations about female empowerment. “I’ve been calling this the album that is going to launch a thousand women’s studies papers,” Valenti said.(Photos: Sylvain Gaboury/FilmMagic/Getty Images; Courtesy of Columbia Records)

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Jessica Valenti - The Nation writer Jessica Valenti appeared on Melissa Harris-Perry’s panel and agreed that Beyoncé’s take on feminism will influence conversations about female empowerment. “I’ve been calling this the album that is going to launch a thousand women’s studies papers,” Valenti said.(Photos: Sylvain Gaboury/FilmMagic/Getty Images; Courtesy of Columbia Records)

Britney Cooper - In her article “The Beyoncé wars: Should she get to be a feminist?” Britney Cooper stands behind Queen Bey identifying as a feminist, while examining the negative backlash Black women have given Bey for her new title. “Since I’m all the way here for Bey identifying as a feminist, I must admit I’ve been taken aback by the sisters who seriously can’t stand Beyoncé,” Cooper wrote.(Photos: Britney Cooper via Twitter; Courtesy of Columbia Records)

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Britney Cooper - In her article “The Beyoncé wars: Should she get to be a feminist?” Britney Cooper stands behind Queen Bey identifying as a feminist, while examining the negative backlash Black women have given Bey for her new title. “Since I’m all the way here for Bey identifying as a feminist, I must admit I’ve been taken aback by the sisters who seriously can’t stand Beyoncé,” Cooper wrote.(Photos: Britney Cooper via Twitter; Courtesy of Columbia Records)

Alyssa Rosenberg - Think Progress writer and commentator Alyssa Rosenberg interpreted Bey’s take on feminism as progressive.  "It makes me feel like feminist culture is at a rich place right now, even if it's a contentious one," Rosenberg said.(Photos: Alyssa Rosenberg via Twitter; Courtesy of Columbia Records)

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Alyssa Rosenberg - Think Progress writer and commentator Alyssa Rosenberg interpreted Bey’s take on feminism as progressive.  "It makes me feel like feminist culture is at a rich place right now, even if it's a contentious one," Rosenberg said.(Photos: Alyssa Rosenberg via Twitter; Courtesy of Columbia Records)