Beyoncé as an Advocate for Black Women’s Rights. Who Run the World? Girls?

This paper aims to show how the representation of a black female body in media influences the self-perception of black women in order to call attention to the sexualisation of black female bodies that still prevails in pop culture. Moreover, this paper seeks to shed light to the struggle of being black in a white supremacist culture. Beyoncé is the most influential black pop artist and she struggles to keep a balance between her success and her black cultural identity which causes a discrepancy between her self-identification and her self-representation evoking issues in her authenticity as a feminist. It will hence be analysed in how far Beyoncé manages empower black women through her representation as an artist on stage and off stage and to what extent the pop culture she finds herself in influences this representation. Additionally, it will be examined in how far this influence on her self-representation affects the credibility of her feminist commitment.

In order to do so, the paper subdivides into three main parts. The following chapter will offer a short introduction to feminist thought and especially black feminism, as the latter will be the main focus of the analysis. The third chapter will focus on the perception and status of black culture and bodies in contemporary pop culture. In chapter four, the actual analysis of Beyoncé as an advocate for black women will be provided in three subchapters.

In doing so, her struggle between black identity and white pop culture as well as the consequences for her representation shall be regarded. The first subchapter will have its focus on the black feminist thought of Beyoncé’s songs Formation and Flawless. Secondly, the representation of female bodies in contemporary pop music videos will be analysed by scrutinising Beyoncé’s video for her song Partition as well as the lyrics. Lastly, the influence of white supremacy on Beyoncé’s hairstyle will be examined regarding the significance of hair(styles) in black beauty and culture.

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• 1. Introduction
• 2. Matters of (Black) Feminist Thought
• 3. Blackness and its Role within White Supremacist Music and Media
• 4. In-between Black Identity and White Pop Culture: Whitewashing Beyoncé
  • 4.1 Black Feminist Thought in Formation and Flawless
  • 4.2 Empowered or Objectified? The Female Body in Beyoncé's Partition
  • 4.3 The Significance of Hair(styles) in Black Beauty and Culture
• 5. Conclusion

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This paper aims to analyze the representation of a black female body in media and its influence on the self-perception of black women. It seeks to call attention to the persistent sexualization of black female bodies in pop culture and shed light on the struggles of being black in a white supremacist culture. The paper focuses on Beyoncé as a prominent figure who navigates the tension between her success and her black cultural identity, examining the discrepancies between her self-identification and self-representation, particularly in relation to her feminist stance.

• The impact of the representation of black female bodies in media on their self-perception
• The persistent sexualization of black female bodies in pop culture
• The challenges of being black in a white supremacist culture
• The complexities of Beyoncé's self-identification and self-representation as a feminist
• The interplay between Beyoncé's black identity and her place within white pop culture

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

• Chapter 1: Introduction: This chapter introduces the central themes of the paper, focusing on Beyoncé's conflicting self-identification as a feminist and her sexualized image in media. It highlights the tension between her proclaimed feminist stance and the potential for her representation to perpetuate harmful stereotypes about female empowerment.
• Chapter 2: Matters of (Black) Feminist Thought: This chapter provides a historical overview of feminist thought, with a particular focus on black feminism. It discusses the emergence of feminist ideas during the Enlightenment and explores the three waves of feminist thought, emphasizing the unique contributions of black women to the movement.
• Chapter 3: Blackness and its Role within White Supremacist Music and Media: This chapter delves into the perception and status of black culture and bodies within contemporary pop culture. It explores the challenges faced by black individuals, particularly women, in navigating a white supremacist landscape, highlighting the concept of intersectionality.
• Chapter 4: In-between Black Identity and White Pop Culture: Whitewashing Beyoncé: This chapter serves as the core analysis of Beyoncé's advocacy for black women, exploring her struggle between her black identity and the demands of white pop culture. The chapter further examines the impact of this struggle on her representation and its implications for her authenticity as a feminist.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

This paper focuses on the representation of black women in media, examining the intersectionality of race, gender, and power within pop culture. It utilizes the case study of Beyoncé to explore the complex relationship between black feminist thought, sexualized imagery, and the influence of white supremacy. Key terms and concepts include black feminism, intersectionality, representation, sexualization, white supremacy, pop culture, and empowerment.

Details

• College: University of Bonn
• Grade: 1,0
• Author: Anonym (Author)
• Publication Year: 2018
• Pages: 25
• Catalog Number: V704275
• ISBN (eBook): 9783346202147
• ISBN (Book): 9783346202154
• Language: English
• Tags: Postcolonialism Pop Culture Literature Beyonce Black Lives Matter