Women’s Struggle for Equality in Beyonce’s “Lemonade.”

Since the era of slavery, black communities in the United States have been victims of brutality, segregation, and discrimination. Against all difficulties, blacks have struggled for their rights over the years. Black women have it even worse because they are targeted for being both black and female. In more ways than one, the male-dominated society has prioritized men over women. Beyonce's album "Lemonade" depicts the life and challenges of black women, as well as the accomplishments they have achieved over the years of struggle for equality (Reid, 2016).The album “Lemonade” has attracted audiences worldwide due to the unique and specific message that the music video conveys, which is the strength of the black women and their collective effort in the struggle for equality.

I think Black women have been victims of gender inequality for so long, the Music video “Lemonade,” shows the initiative taken by women to stand up against victimization by the male dominated society because no one else seems to be fighting for them.

The music video “Lemonade” features African women of different body sizes and displays their will to work together. For instance, as much as Beyonce is a prominent figure with both wealth and influence, she is depicted as a humble black woman who is still struggling to get up from under the domination of men (Hook, 2016). The bodies of black women display strength and positivity and control in “lemonade” as compared to the traditional depiction of black woman’s’ body which was bought and sold at will. This is a game changer as women in the video have taken charge of their own lives by turning their weakness into strengths. I agree with the effect that the music video has on the view of black women as this is a classic way of transforming weaknesses into strengths and exploiting them. Bell Hook (2016), a famous critic, agrees with the initiative taken by the black women as they fight to take control of their lives through collective effort. Most of the women in the video are displayed as rich and powerful but as the same time rebelling against some form of oppression from the male dominated society.

The visual landscape of lemonade is quite broad thereby making it distinct in some way. It depicts a powerful sisterhood that characterized by unity and will to see change through. In this case, the album “Lemonade” shows the will of the women to rise against inequality and all other forms of victimization that are associated with gender. I agree with the significant influence that this theme has on woman all over the world. Hook, however, disagrees with the dress codes sued in the music video citing that they are indecent and do not portray a good image of women in the current society (Jenkins). She also goes further disagrees with the methods used in the video to advocate for equality such as violence and rage and states that men have been using violence for years but has not done much good. I agree with Hook on both instances. Indecent exposure may mean control of the black woman’s body but at the same time destroys the image that the society has on women’s especially considering the traditional norms and respect placed on the female body. In the music video, Beyonce takes out her frustration by smashing cars; this displays rage and violence which are not quite inspiring to the women. Rage and violence are an indication of losing control which contradicts the overall theme of the music video (Taylor 2017).

Hook also criticizes the way African women have been displayed as multidimensional images of black women; there still is a bigger part of the music video that is stereotypic in the sense that the black woman is constantly the victim. The fact that most but not all the black women are victims will go a long way to show how impartial the music video is on the matter of gender inequality. Also, the women’s struggle in dealing with daily challenges associated with gender inequality needs a strategic plan. According to hook, the “Lemonade” video only displays the fact that women are striving to survive under this oppression of the male dominated society, rather than seek ways to deal with their issues head on. I agree with this assessment as well as the significant effect that the music video has in inspiring women all over the world. The content of the video has a strong message not only to black women but all other women who are struggling to overcome male dominance in the society (Bowen, 2016).

It can, therefore, be deduced that indeed black women have been struggling with both racism and gender inequality for long. The music video “Lemonade” shows the will that women have to rise against inequality with all the tools they have at their disposals such as their bodies and their collective effort.

Work cited

Jenkins, Tatiyana. "A Recipe for Black Girl Magic: A Critical Study of the Mise-en-Scene in Beyoncé’s Visual Album Lemonade as a Radical Representation of Black Women." (2017).

Taylor, Laura-Ashley. "Beyonce Feminism: Feminist Messages' Impact on African American Female Identity." (2017).

Hooks, Bell. “Moving Beyond Pain” Bell Hooks Institute, 2016.

Bowen, Sesali. “Auntie bell, I love you, but you gotta chill,” Feministing,2016.

Reid, Joy-Ann. “Lemonade is a powerful black feminist aesthetic in its own right,” 2016.