Here are some photos of Garvelle Beauvais at a January event. Um… Botox, right? She looks really different to me. This is how she used to look. What’s the difference? It’s not weight gain – it’s ‘Tox and fillers, I think. It’s a shame because she was a beautiful woman and she probably would have looked fantastic if she let herself age naturally. Anyway, Garcelle is promoting something or other (a straight-to-DVD release) and she sat down with the HelloBeautiful blog to discuss some stuff – you can read the entire piece here. She has some stuff to say about the recent trend of shows about “other women” and about sexiness in general. It was during a question about what sexiness means to her now, and she ended up throwing some shade on Beyonce:
Miley Cyrus isn’t the only celebrity who needs to cover up and calm down. According to actress Garcelle Beauvais, Beyonce needs to “take responsibility” for how her newly sexified image is affecting young fans, and stop “everything showing out, grinding.”
“For me, you’re obviously flattered when someone calls you sexy or thinks you’re sexy. I think that’s great. But for me now, there’s so many ways to be sexy without being overt about it. I think you can wear a great short dress, but if you have long sleeves and you’re only showing leg. I think you have to stick to a body part and show that. I don’t think you have to show all of it. As I get older, I still want to be sexy, but I want to do it in a different way. I want to do it in a way that’s more classy. Certain things are just too overt for kids. I love Beyonce. I love her. I think she’s beautiful and talented. But, I think there has to be a fine line where you take responsibility for what you do. I think it’s good to be sexy, but sexy can come across in so many different ways. It doesn’t have to be everything showing out, grinding all of the time.”
Most recently, Beyonce drew criticism for her R-rated chair dance routine to “Drunk In Love” at the Grammy Awards, when many parents complained that the performance was too risqué for young viewers.
[From Radar & Hello Beautiful]
I don’t have a problem with what Garcelle said, if only she had prefaced it more with “this is my opinion and I don’t want my kids to see Beyonce’s business at 8 pm on the Grammys.” Because that really was too much. If Beyonce wanted to give that performance at 10 pm, so be it. But I don’t think she should have gotten that pass just because she’s Beyonce and “she’s married so it’s okay to be hyper-sexualized” (which I’ve actually heard repeatedly as a Bey-defense). But, my defense of Beyonce is that it’s her body and she could do whatever she wants with it, and she can push whatever boundaries she wants to push. No one’s forcing you to watch. But yes, as I get older, I get more and more tired/disgusted with Miley’s tongue and Beyonce’s skimpy outfits and Katy Perry’s… well, Katy’s whole “whipped-cream boobs for children!” thing. The whole thing just makes me crotchety. Get off my lawn!
Here are some photos of Beyonce performing in Glasgow on Thursday:
Photos courtesy of WENN.
I’m going to agree with her a bit. I don’t like any of the new songs from Beyonce. NOT ONE. I don’t like the new look at all. I thought at this point in her career she would be bringing more to the table. I don’t hear anyone I know talking about any of her songs or music. Maybe I’m in the minority. But I think people got all caught up in how stealth she was in releasing the music they didn’t really see how bad the songs actually were. She is reminding me of Kim K and that is not a compliment.
It just seems that all these women think Sexy has to be shaking your butt and being pretty much nude. Then everyone starts to complain about why women are not being taken seriously or given the same chances. The women’s movement has taken 200 steps back. Sad.
I agree with you, and I’m so tired of all the bumping and grinding being presented as liberating, new, “art”, owning your sexuality, and all that other crap. It’s the oldest game in the book, something you fall back on when you don’t have much else to offer. It’s your body, I agree, and I don’t have the right to tell you not to show your breasts and vagina to the world while you’re “dancing” suggestively and pretending to pleasure yourself. But I have a right to my opinion about what you’re doing, and I think you’re hurting women and participating in their objectification, and I think you’re lazy and boring and degrading yourself.
+1,000
Agree 100%
Goodnamesalltaken has summed up the issue here pretty well. What’s left to say?
yes ^^
“I think you’re hurting women and participating in their objectification, and I think you’re lazy and boring and degrading yourself. ” – GoodNamesAllTaken
Drop the mic, GoodNames. *waves*
Not only are GoodNamesAllTaken, but now GoodPostsAllTaken too!!
Yes yes yes.
Agree as well- great comments!
Amen!
It’s interesting how this ‘oldest game in the book’ is always used exclusively for women. Men have been doing the same thing, I gave a list downthread and can add Anthony Kiedis, Iggy Pop and plenty more. A lot of these male artists are very good at what they do, nobody would say it damages their art men’s sexuality or their credibility as a sexual human being yet we judge women on ALL those aspects. Why? Oh because it’s a non-topic. They can do it as much as they want to, they get a free pass. Women however, need to sit down, shut up and conform to your norms which is usually: don’t act so damn sexy. Why is female sexuality threatening? Damaging? Embarassing? The woman is on stage, not in your living room or talking to young kids about her sex life! Why so many negatives when talking about female sexuality. I find that quite scary and upsetting.
Nobody has ever danced naked or shown their vagina so that would be an exaggeration of the real events. Maybe an accidental flash but what you’re describing can be found at other places. Maybe next time use the word you are implying and just call her a whore ok?
How is she hurting women btw? Unless you follow every show, how can you, as a grown woman, be possible influenced by her actions? You did say ‘women’, which implies maturity, not children or teenagers. For the latter, she never marketed herself that way (unlike Perry who had whipcream boobs 🙂 ) and her shows before this album have been pretty tame (she’s no Madonna). She has an adult audience and adults already know about sex and nudity (and let’s be honest, even teenagers and tweens wouldn’t be phased or mystified about this!).
You talk about ‘participating in objectification’, women do that just as much as men. We also hold the Madonna/whore standard as you just proved and it’s our right as women to go against it and do whatever we please despite judgement. I hope B never stops and I hope many women can express themselves without being worried of being labeled ‘ratchet’ or ‘nasty’. Or that we at least will judge men the same way. Equal rights right?
When it comes to men, I think of Ricky Martin or Timberlake as acting “sexy” ( granted, they weren’t naked all the time, but their act was aiming for “sexy”). Kiedis or Iggy were naked, but not sexy. They were more going for shock value. Similar to Lady Gaga, she is half naked, but I rarely thought she was sexy. Maybe that’s just my personal view. Do you feel differently?
@Artemis
You have every right to your opinion. I think you misinterpreted everything I said and you either get it or you don’t, and you obviously don’t. I can’t take the time to respond to all of your comments. I’ll just say that men aren’t held to the same standard because they have not been objectified and used as sex objects for centuries. They are the ones who have been doing the oppressing and using, in case you didn’t notice.
I wasn’t particularly talking about Beyoncé. I actually had Miley Cyrus in my mind when I was writing.
The rest of what you said is so full of contradictions that it doesn’t make sense to me, and I’m too tired to try to decipher it. As I said, you have every right to your opinion. I’d appreciate it if you didn’t completely recreate mine, but whatever.
If she is at the level of her career that she and her fans claim she’s at then she wouldn’t have to fall to the over sexed images she pushing now. It screams desperation.The songs I’ve heard sound mediocre and honestly sound like they were made for an artist line rihanna but were so crappy she passed on them. People may say she’s a great perform but her music is no where near legendary. It’s forgettable.
I fully agree with Artemis. I think Good Names All Taken had SOME valid points – ie resorting to displaying your sexuality is boring and perhaps lazy (Miley!) but I agree with Artemis that there is a huge double standard there. If one man does something that others find distasteful – ie being naked on stage (Anthony Kelidis), or being bad at his job (pretty much every politician!) then it doesn’t reflect on men as a whole. You wouldn’t think, “oh jeez, George Bush is making men look bad”. But here we find people saying Miley and Beyonce are “setting women back”.
The social control over women is strong and I actually think that by implying that Beyonce or Miley reflects on all women, you are doing much more harm than say, a woman showing her sexuality in a musical performance. I highly doubt that men care as much about Beyonce showing her stuff on stage as women do and I doubt that most men would think that Beyonce is setting women back. Most people, presumably, can separate a creative performance from the real world. What Beyonce does on stage has little bearing to other women.
Good Names All Taken, your response to Artemis is extremely condescending.
@Zadie:
I love this question tbh. I think a lot of it has to do with ‘beauty’. I’ve read some articles claiming Madonna was pansexual but Gaga is asexual (C. Paglia) but those are theories that do not relate to their personal life so I take it with a grain of salt. Gaga is considered ‘ugly’ so she can’t possible be sexy or half-naked for the male gaze. Everybody is still surprised she’s with a hot man so there you go.
We know that Martin was acting, he is gay after all, but that doesn’t mean he can’t be sexy and appeal to a female audience. The intent was for them to buy his product by using the female gaze. Same for Enrique I. and JT. They definitely appeal to the female gaze.
My personal view on this doesn’t matter in the end because the majority will never think about male nudity and sexuality in the way we do about women. You analysed male nudity in a way that most people wouldn’t be interested in because males are allowed to explore the realm of sexuality deeper than a female. This will be defended and excused while a woman will be burnt to the stake. When women go naked, there’s only one reason: she’s trash that tries to sell sex. We must police and correct that behaviour by tearing them apart because it is damaging. How horrid.
@Jarredsgirl
I didn’t mean to be condescending. I was actually just very tired, and I find it frustrating when I state my opinion, perhaps imperfectly, and someone comes back at me with a long post in which I’m credited with all sorts of feelings, ideas and motives I don’t have and never said I did.
I believe that women have fought for centuries to be viewed as more than objects and property. To be taken seriously in all aspects of life. To be valued and judged for more than breasts, legs and behind. To be allowed to age without shame. To be full, complete human beings, including sexually. And it makes me sad to see the trend of women in the music industry falling back on commercializing their bodies instead of using their talent, and it makes me angry that this is done in the name of being strong. It takes away some of the validity to women’s argument that they should be judged by their talent, and that women don’t want to be objectified. I disagree that this has little bearing on real life. This is the image of women being seen by young men and women and shaping their ideas, and older men and women and reinforcing their prejudices. So yes, I think pornography, which is pretty much what I would call pretending to pleasure yourself on stage, and prostitution hurts all women, not just the ones doing it. And you’re absolutely right that there’s a double standard. Just as there’s a eye roll when a white male talks about being discriminated against.
Anyway, we obviously disagree, and that’s ok. I think we both have good intentions, and the conversation needs to occur.
Thats really all Beyonce has going for her as an artist.
Lets face it, her solo career while she has had some phenomenal singles( crazy in love, single ladies, irreplaceable), but for the most part her albums have been meh, minus the one or 2 good songs. Didnt her last 2 albums barely sell 2mil in the US?
Then, she has to deal with Rihanna, Gaga( at her peak), Katy Perry and even Adele who took up where Amy Winehouse left off. Rihanna and Gaga are toe to toe with her in terms of pop music and she cant fugg with Adele who sings actual songs with heartfelt meaning, not just beats with music layered over top. So what else is she supposed to do but show her azz in public?
Its a shame really because when she went solo, people thought she’d be the next Whitney or Mariah. In reality, she isnt even the next Janet Jackson, who never had the best vocals, but many of Janet’s albums are legendary with multiple smash hits on each album.
Against Adele almost all those pop stars need to shit down and stay in their seat.
Agreed. In the past, I’ve really liked Beyoncé but lately, I feel like she doesn’t feel like she even has to try. I heard ‘Drunk in Love’ yesterday on the radio and really listened to it and thought “really? This is a good song?” No, it’s not. She phoned that sh*t in. But if she shakes her ass enough and grinds all over whoever or whatever, it becomes this sexually liberating fantasy blah blah [put Beyoncé compliment here]. She’s better than this. Her voice should come before how well she can manipulate her hips and ass.
Why isn’t there an uproar about the “Eat the cake, Anna Mae” lyrics?
I thought I would be in the minority? I’m so sick of these half dressed gals. If I wanted to see a pole dancer, I wouldn’t tune into the Grammys. Put some clothes on ladies.
SonjaMarmeldova, I know what you mean. If it’s any consolation, my FB was covered in that for a few days. But that’s cuz I have friends who give a crap about these things.
@sonjaMarmeldova – “beat the box up like Mike in ’97, I bite” Jesus.
I googled this gross song. Sasha Fierce MY ASS. – http://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2014/jan/28/beyonce-drunk-in-love-problem-lyrics
@Marigold, ITA. Feeling good about not listening to the so called Queen B anymore. WHERE is the artist who sang ‘To The Left’ and what have you done with her body? – Beyoncé ‘Irreplaceable’ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2EwViQxSJJQ
I guess you have to put me in the minority as well. Beyonce’ has joined the ranks of other female pop stars whose dancing-on-the-pole stage act gets more press than her music. Sad to think at 32 she feels this is the only way she believes will keep her relevant. She has a good body of work; and she can sell the sexy side tastefully. That doggie-style move she practically put in all her stage shows and videos? It’s getting old and it looks vulgar.
Drunk In Love is flat out bad. For as much as she considers herself an ‘iconic’ performer she’s not exactly got a catalogue that’s built for longevity. She and Jay-Z have created this image as being at the top of their industry while both have always in reality been middle of the pack performers (though I love the work Jay did with Rick Rubin, but I give the credit there more to RR) that were just marketed well.
As much as I agree with Garcelle about Bey not having to resort to this, this is an obvious case of pot calling kettle black. When her sexiness was celebrated, she was popular in music videos and tv. As soon as that slowed down, she posed in playboy and “reclaimed her sexy.” Hypocritical statements like this is why this stuff continues. Let it come from a woman who practices what she preaches when given the choice to expose herself or not. It would mean more from a person like Adele, Lorde or even Taylor Swift. Garcelle saying this is no different than the hypocrisy Miley displayed when she said a true artist doesn’t have to show their ass.
Out of all of these comments, no one is considering the source. Garcelle has taken it ALL OFF for Playboy yet she says beyonce doesn’t need to “take it off all, grinding all the time.” Beyonce has performed for the POTUS and numerous charity organizations without “grinding all the time.” Garcelle posed for Playboy at 41 years old and at the time, her poor, teenage son was so embarrassed his friends got to see his mother naked, tasteless, and showing out for a tacky men’s mag. Sorry, but Beyonce is the biggest name in entertainment right now and with that comes a lot of salty, jealous, women. Especially those whose career has been that of sex symbols and no one is checking for them now or ever.
It’s a race to the bottom these days with the in-your-face hyper-sexuality. Who can be more risqué? I’m wondering at what point will it be enough? Nudity can’t be it – Gaga’s already gone there. Simulated sex? Miley’s there. How about nudity and real sex? At 8 o’clock on the Grammy’s. Next year. Who will pull it off?
And let me be clear – I’m horrified by this. I have an 11 year-old daughter, and I’m so frustrated that this sexualized objectification of women has become so commonplace it’s on TV at 8 PM on a Sunday evening. What kind of world, and what kind of pathetic expectations are we creating for our daughters? It’s societal misogyny.
But think about it. It is not just he men putting these women in their videos or background; it is the women themselves that are doing it to themselves. We as women use to scream at male singers/rappers for objectifying women. But who do you scream at when you see Miley, Gaga, Beyonce, Rihanna, Katy, and all doing it to themselves. Is this the way? I’m old school, and I remember when female singers could be on stage and dance a bit but could give a damn good show and they didn’t have to grind on anyone or pretend to masturbate, They didn’t have to arrive to a show in a freaking egg. Talent ruled. The song ruled. The singers ruled. Now we have dime store performers. Doing a circus act. In fact they look like circus performers.
That’s the saddest part of all to me – that these women are full participants in their own objectification. This is how they express their “artistry”, their “power”. It is sad and discouraging. But I do see glimmers of hope with artists like Adele and Lorde.
Adele is the only singer whose album/CD I have ever bought. I LOVE Adele, simply because she sounds even more amazing live, than on CD.
I agree with AllGoodNamesTaken–sure, it’s your body, you have the right to do what you want to do with it. But that’s what bothers me about the whole ‘sexiness’ trend that singers are going with. How many of those women actually *like* dressing the way they do on stage, like doing the crotch grabs, etc–as compared to how many of them are doing it for the attention/money? How many of them are actually talented enough to not HAVE to do any of that for attention? Very few.
That’s what bothers me. The fact is, they’re not reclaiming their body for themselves, or whatever else bs they’re saying that they’re doing–they’re doing it for attention and money, because the thing they’re actually supposed to be getting paid for–SINGING–isn’t good enough to get the attention. If half of these ‘singers’ did stripped down shows, no crotch grabbing, etc–I highly doubt that they would even get a quarter of the attention they get now.
You would think that Beyonce, being BEYONCE (as big as SHE is) would try to combat some of that. If anyone could make the switch from ‘sexy heels, ass out, boobs out, tiny leotard’ look with a ton of dancing, to a stripped down show, where she actually focuses on singing her songs, wearing a ‘normal’ outfit–you would think it would be Beyonce.
Bow down, bitches–apparently not.
Hahaha!!! ‘It’s a race to the bottom these days,’ I just love that comment. Really made me LOL. It’s sad but so true.
I don’t care what Beyonce or Miley or whoever do individually. I do think it’s unfortunate that women in the entertainment industry are almost always (and let themselves be) portrayed as sexy , desireable, beautiful etc. Whereas men are depicted as sophisticated, worldly and suave. Surely women have more to offer than just being pretty.
So true, Hannah. Men rarely seem to have to portray themselves as sexy in the music industry. Most of them keep their clothes on or, if they’re shirtless, it is because they’re sweaty, not because they’re trying to be sexy.
Please, if you dig up some music history you would find plenty of men who were considered sex symbols. Elvis Presley and his ‘controversial suggestive hips’. MC Hammer and his ‘graphic Speedo pants’ in Humps and a Bump. R Kelly who’s entire career consists of talking about sex + the real life sexual assault cases (but let’s focus on women daring to sing about sex a few times *eyeroll*), Enrique Iglesias who’s almost always naked, sweaty and kissing/fondling/bedding (the reason why his sweaty and definitely trying to be sexy!) some woman in his videos, Prince (nuff said), the French singer Serge Gainsbourg who made some of the most explicit songs ever (Sex Shop, Je T’aime…moi non plus), Lenny Kravitz, Adam Levine (who is disgusting), Mick Jagger, Robbie Williams…
Sheesh, I can keep going and give you specific examples and scandals!
The gist of this is, men have been the leaders in using sex to their advantage far more but as soon as a woman even dares to speak or sing about sex, they’re bombarded with insults and demeaning (racial) stereotypes. And this site is full with women so they can’t even get sympathy from their own ‘kind’ but men are quicly defended, excused or simply forgotten about because we focus on female sexuality so much that the men get away scott-free.
I’m happy for women in the past like Josephine Baker and Madonna not giving a flying fuck and serving up some raw sexuality without apologising and thereby changing history. I hope B, Miley and the lot continue on wearing skimpy clothes so people (women and men) can be whiny hypocrites who refuse to accept different types of female sexuality and female power :).
EDIT to add: Re Kravitz. He’s very liked on this site because he’s so sexy. That’s the first thing you’ll read about him ‘oh he’s so hot and oozes sex’. Beyoncé oozes sex on stage and is dressed ‘normal’ in her daily life: omg she’s ratched, not classy blablabla. Hypocrites.
@Artemis: Don’t you get it? It’s okay for them because they have ‘y’ chromosomes. But it’s slutty, degrading, oppressive objectifying, and bad when we do it, because we have 2 x chromomes.
You see, my dear Artemis, when one is a creature in possession of vagina, revealing clothes, nudity, and overt sexuality in a photoshoot, performance, or music video are exploitative, self-disrespecting, and lowering. As a matter of fact, through her immodesty, she runs the risk of lowering the status of everyone who has two x chromosomes!
Without a penis, the fate of the woman and her group is dependent on her modesty- and the modesty of other womyn. Because science! And because feminism!
I’m the lovechild of Rush Limbaugh, and I approve this message. 🙂
@Leila, “I’m the lovechild of Rush Limbaugh, and I approve this message.” LOL
@Artemus
When a suppressed group actively participates in their own suppression they are not taking control, they are being manipulated and, (sadly) outsmarted.
Men want to see women naked and kissing other women. Women, (mostly young women) are convinced this is how to behave because it’s “taking control of your own sexuality”. Unfortunately, it all boils down to the same thing, men want to see women naked and they will convince you that you are in control if that is what you need to hear to get the job done. Don’t believe me? Just turn on the T.V. or look at a some advertising, it’s not naked men all over the hoods of expensive cars is it? The same expensive cars that are purchased primarily by men. Bottom line, it’s not the same if a man makes the decision to get naked, because his decision isn’t layered in century s of objectification and oppression.
I’m not against women being naked, really I don’t care. But, don’t tell me you’re doing it to “liberate” yourself, when clearly you are being manipulated.
Leila are you being sarcastic? It is hard to tell.
@Artemis, there is a difference between sexy and raunchy. Josephine Baker was sexy and Madonna at points was both sexy and raunchy. Beyonce has been sexy and now she has crossed into the realm of raunchy. It’s her body to do with what she wants to do but she is being called a hypocrite because on the one hand she claims that she is so about feminism and being an independent woman when her lyrics stink of misogynistic tripe and she has her legs splayed open on primetime while spewing said lyrics. If it were a man onstage pulling the same antics that Beyonce is then I would wager that many would feel the same way. I do not think that a woman should have to behave like a demure flower and I certainly don’t believe in a chaste virgin ideal female but I do believe that there is a very broad line between sexiness and downright crude behavior and that line was crossed awhile back with this one. For all her pomp and circumstance, I believe that Beyonce is insecure and desperate because of the Rhiannas and the Lordes and the Adeles and the whoevers names that aren’t hers that are in the spotlight. She’s desperate to keep her name on the tongues of the masses and if this is what it takes then this is what it takes.
I agree with Garcelle 100%. I know that Beyonce is very attractive on the outside, but I think her act is too much. Frankly, it’s gross. But that’s just me. I understand that some people (a lot, obviously) like that sort of thing. She certainly knows where her niche is, that’s for sure.
P.S. I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE Garcelle’s hair in these photos. I WANT that hairstyle. Right now.
I’m not sure where this is coming from Beyonce has always worn skimpy outfits,even during the Destiny’s Child days. I guess she turned it up a couple of notches,but she’s always been half naked. As for Garcelle and botox I think she looks fine. I don’t understand the rejoicing when other celebs get botox,but in Garcelle’s case “she probably would have looked fantastic if she let herself age naturally.” So it’s OK for them but not her? Interesting.
Ah, Destiny’s Child. I always loved it when they’d sing, “Nasty put some clothes on!” (from Nasty Girl) whilst dressed in nowt’ but bikinis and baby oil.
What a well-developed sense of irony Bouncy must have had to write *coughstealcough* that song!
Haha! Tapioca, not lost on me either. 🙂
Try to picture Whitney or Aretha thrusting their nethers at the camera dressed like a stripper.
TALENT is sexy. Desperate posturing is NOT.
@FingerBinger, There always seems to be more than a whiff of hypocrisy to the gossip go round.
I gotta say that I’m really sick of the whole idea that writhing around on a stage or video and selling sex for attention, album sales and social media hits is empowering to women. I personally don’t think it is at all. You’re just objectifying yourself and it’s degrading that women in thehindustry have been swayed to feel that they need to act like soft-core pornstars to have success and longevity in the industry while their male counterparts in general can do it all fully clothed.
As for Beyonce, I grew tired of her antics long ago. She spent the first part of her career being controlled by her father (who manipulated her “goodytwoshoes” image) and is now being controlled by her husband. She was quoted as saying that Jay Z taught her how to be a woman. If a man (one who has been known to spit misogynistic lyrics in his time) is teaching you how to be a woman, I would be skeptical about that lesson.
Her new album is also a hot mess of mixed messages. She goes from “Bow down Bitches” to these wonderfully inspirstional words from chimamanda ngozi-adichie to then singing about being vapidly flawless. I think Beyonce sounds confused and trying to wear different hats only because it suits her bottom line: Profit. Appeal to as many demographics as you can and make money off of all of them.
As for Garcelle Beavious, eh I would have taken her more seriously had she not posed for Playboy. It’s kind of detracts from her whole argument. Especially when she herself was already what she cinsisered past the age of letting it all hang out (she was 40yrs old and already had given birth to her children) so her opinion on Beyonce makea her sound a bit more like envy than concern.
I think you hit it on the head w/”Profit: Appeal to as many demographics as possible.”
*considered past the age of letting it all hang out.
Ugh not sure why the “edit” function is not working for me 🙁
I disagree that Beyonce is highly sexualized. Most of her outfits and performances are PG, PG-13. Only occasionally does she step into R and X territory, like the Grammys. Rihanna is would be a much better example of being oversexed. In general women are showing a lot more skin and doing disgusting performances. I don’t get it. Most of the time it doesn’t even go over well and just looks desperate.
That may be true but the grammys was an incredibly inappropriate time to step into that. Tonnnnsss of families watch the grammys together and 8pm isn’t the time to whip out the lingerie type costumes. That goes for all performances; not just Bey
Beyonce and Jay Z’s vulgar primetime awards show performance was as unwelcome and misplaced as ice cream dispensed from a gas pump would be.
Sexuality is not necessarily vulgar, but encountering it where one does not expect it can be problematic.
Garcelle’s photos in Playboy are in the right venue (i.e., get fuel at gas station, get milk at grocery store, get nude photos in Playboy.) Nudity is a major part of Playboy’s product line and is to be expected in that context.
It’s not even an argument to call Garcelle a hypocrit for posing for the iconic magazine.
Beyonce pumps and grinds her butt and crotch on prime time in a thong while moaning. I don’t care if she’s accompanied by her husband. Their daughter will see this someday. Who wants to intentionally or accidentally see one’s parents simulating sex?
An overt cabaret act including sexual simulation, sexual description, and exposed intimate areas of the body is out of context at music award shows, primetime or not.
Playboy magazine does not display sexual acts. Playboy displays nudity celebrating the beauty of women’s physiques and is discreetly sold to adults.
Playboy is iconic.
Beyonce is a marketing flash in the pan.
I find it difficult to read people always going on about Beyoncé when Pink is always is skintight outfits doing acrobatics in the air. In that same Grammy night, Pink was on the same level as Beyoncé imo. I don’t have an issue with either but why is the black female that is ‘oversexed’ when Pink can literally SPREAD her legs, be wet during her act and dance very intimately with a half-naked man and NOT get even 10% of the hate Beyoncé gets?
Why is it that people defend Katy Perry (who is coyishly sexy or straight up sexy) despite her not having a good voice? Just like Beyoncé she has a generic catalogue and offensive lyrics too. And let’s not even talk about her cultural appropriation.
Rihanna is the only one who could be considered ‘oversexed’ but I think it’s because people know she doesn’t care, that they don’t come after her.
@Artemis I don’t like Katy Perry ONE LITTLE BIT, so not all of us posters save our dislike for pop stars of color, if that’s what you’re implying. I used to love Destiny’s Child.
That being said, I don’t think everyone is picking on Bey. Some of us are just be tired of crude misogynistic lyrics and burlesque shows and would love to see fresh art from female popstars that doesn’t require Puss in Face to sell. You know, something that feels and looks degrading.
Oh well, one woman’s degradation is another woman’s ’empowerment’…..uh I don’t mean that.
Your post does remind me though; I LOVE Salt N’ Peppa! That’s my kinda dirty fun. Salt-N-Pepa – Push It – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCadcBR95oU
Artemis it’s not about race at all. Don’t bring that into it. We are all women, whatever colour.
You have a point about the PInk thing.
Actually no, she doesn’t have a point on the ‘Pink thing’. You yourself are seeing the difference. Naked doesn’t automatically equals raunchy and vulgar. Pink’s show isn’t about cheap sex, it’s about ART. And it doesn’t have anything to do with race, Miley is just as disgusting!
Shakira anyone?
…I’m not saying that I agree w/Beyonce’s image, but y’all gotta admit that the general public is buying what she’s selling. She’s a marketing genius, & she ‘owns’ her image.
The general public will always buy it. Sex sells
SO true. I was referring more to the whole package she markets though, be it the good girl/daughter, fierce & fabulous, loving wife & doting mother (certainly helps when the 24/7 photog can provide you w/just the right pic to backup whichever image your shilling today!) She is also very good at being just the right amount of accessible – keeps her private life very private, while releasing carefully chosen images just often enough to keep us coming back for more.
Love your handle – miss the GG! Loved them as a kid (long before I really understood it) & even more as an adult!
Beyonce went from being owned by her father to being owned by her husband so I’ve never understood why she is held up as some sort of independent woman role model.
Exactly! She is a puppet of the industry. Unlike Madonna who always seems to have total control of what she wants to put out. Beyonce is being handled by this incredible managment machine, whether it was Daddy Knowles or Mr Sean Carter. She is just doling out their “vision” of who Beyonce should be.
Madonna went back to her abuser. Why won’t you shade her.
I seriously doubt that Shawn is managing Beyonce’s career. Jay-z is all image, the guy can’t even rap and I don’t believe that he is as much as a success as he says he is.
Jay does not manage Beyonce ‘s career .it is insulting to suggest she is controlled by him or any man.She has managed her career since 2010.So when she was singing Girls Who run the world was Jay controling her than? GMAB
She decided to explore darker themes in her music .If you are not feeling them… That’s fine.A similar thing happened to Janet when she released Velvet Rope,my favorite.She lost some fans .
Exactly! Sometimes I think some women only endorse other women’s versions of independence/feminism when it matches their own. Ugh. Say what you will, when Beyonce walks into a boardroom, people sit up straight and listen. When she makes a creative decision, it gets implemented. Classy or trashy – this is power.
Kim1, you ARE right; Bey does have power. Thanks to Stage Daddy, she was a successful businesswoman before she hooked up in a strategic business merger with Jay Z. At what cost though? *coughlovechild*
IMO, Beyonce paid the same price as nearly all women in music and film. Until they’ve climbed to the top, women breaking through into the ground floor of the entertainment business are required to give away their bodies. It seems to me the only exception to the meat grinder are those who are born into it through nepotism, like Gwyneth Paltrow.
Once at the top, women age out of Sexy and are replaced with the next Hoochie Mama. Cripes, we’ve all seen the Disney Machine gettin’ em while they’re young and churning out the next Britney.
Patriarchy is women buying into their belittlement.
People don’t know anything about her career clearly. She wanted to get out of her father’s control because she knew herself what she wanted. She lost her father in the process so I don’t think it’s as simple as people always claim. But it’s a better gossip angle I suppose.
And if anybody tries to come with this ‘Jay controls her’ then I suggest they should listen to one of Jay’s songs. Lost One (2006) is about B (confirmed by him) where he states that they are not meant to be because of her workaholic ways. I 100% believe him because in the past, B was even working on her laptop WHILE on holiday with Jay! She’s know for doing 14-hour days and only finishes when she feels like it’s perfect. Those are days were Jay has to sit home and wait for his wife to be done. She consistently makes more money than him, he visits her during her work and sits through many of her concerts (which honestly must be torture, even I as a fan couldn’t do that :D), she tours like crazy and has to miss Jay a lot so how Jay can ‘control’ her is beyond me!
Even while she was pregnant, she was at Parkwood almost daily without Jay working on her next projects. Jay said ‘I’m a business, man’ well then what is B? She’s a business too and she doesn’t need anybody controlling her.
“Even while she was pregnant…”
Aaaw, you crack me up.
@Zadie, Pregnant!? LOL
@ Angel May
YES!! This. I was gonna say it but then I thought, eh … better hold my tongue because someone is going to get real defensive about Beyonce not being the independent “queen bee” she’s been pretending to be and I don’t feel like debating. But I’m glad you said it.
@dame I disagree. Beyoncé is dumb as a box of rocks. If she walked into a boardroom and spoke people would roll their eyes.
What boardroom are you going to get into?
Jenna
You may disagree but Beyonce’s “dumb” ass is selling out concerts, winning Grammys and making millions upon millions of dollars a year. Most of that began in boardrooms. Power doesn’t always spring from intellectualism.
I agree with everything dang thing that woman said, and I don’t even know who she is.
Me too…& no, I haven’t a clue as to who she is either….but she’s right.
That top pic in Glasgow is of a drag queen in a bad, bad weave not Beyawnce…..
On a much shallower note, do you think G.B. does her own makeup? Her under eye concealer is much too light, & the lip color clashes terribly w/her dress.
Her skin, however, flawless! I loves the richness of her skin tone too.
But she is wearing a beautiful red dress and it fits her well.
Agreed. 🙂
Just because Beyonce calls herself an icon doesn’t make her one.
Completely agree. I don’t even know where the “icon” thing started. IMO, Beyoncé has a long way to go professionally before she earns that title. It has to be earned and bestowed by a general consensus and she falls woefully short. I’m not even shading her because I think that she is talented. I just don’t think she has reached “icon” territory yet.
Keep doing what you do Bey ,you are a grown ass woman .If you want PG than listen to Ariana or Taylor.I love Drunk in love,love surboarding with my man.Love the album.
Love the Anna Mae lyric?
I don’t understand the Anna Mae lyric…. Would you mind explaining it to me?
@ E: Thanks so much for clarifying. I had no idea. I’m a little shocked… And dismayed.
It is pretty obvious that this is a husband and wife “role playing” in that line and the beat the box(vagina) line.Eat the cake also means oral sex.I dont think it glorifies DV but it is talking about sex acts.
I will agree that Drunk in Love is for adults and should not have been performed on Grammy’s .
@Kim1, role play or not, it’s still incredibly disrespectful to the artist she “admires”.
@ Nicky I haven’t criticized anyone for not liking Bey .I gave my opinion on Drunk in Love lyrics and said the song should not be performed at Grammy’s.I found it interesting that you a problem with my comments but have no problem with posters criticizing both of these ladies appearance,intellect,etc.
I will take the high road and not personally attack you.Have a nice day @Nicky
@kim1
” I haven’t criticized anyone for not liking Bey…”
Like the people you told to go listen to Ariana or Taylor because they criticized beyonce. Or your asinine comments to me. Speaking of which…
“I found it interesting that you a problem with my comments but have no problem with posters criticizing both of these ladies appearance,intellect,etc.”
Now you’re going to tell me what I think about other comments? Other comments that I haven’t responded to? This is what you consider “the high road” and not personally attacking someone?
But if it’s okay to criticize someone for what they didn’t say, then what about you? You were asked point blank by Zadie if you loved the Anna Mae lyric. You didn’t answer. You did post some idiocy about how your personal interpretation of the lyric was the “obvious” interpretation of it. And when I called you out on that, you write some self-serving idiocy about “the high road”…
For the record: you were willing to criticize me, criticize others, and write foolishness, but under no circumstances will you acknowledge that the Anna Mae lyric was 1) a domestic violence reference, and 2) unnecessary.
You are a pathetic, ridiculous stan. Case closed.
There is a difference with being a classy grown woman and a ratchet one. You can be sexy and get your grown woman point across without being vulgar. Prime example: Sade. I don’t think anyone can deny that woman’s sex appeal and the sensuous music she was able to put out that was both sophisticated as well as sexy. That’s how you do “grown woman”. In contrast to the last album “Yonce” put out talking about “Lewinsky on my gown” and “grinding on that wood” could be considered anything other than trashy.
Whoa! I haven’t listened to her latest album – what song is that from?
but why do folks put all women into the box of “being classy” I am tired of the box!
I like porn and I’ve always loved me some Lil Kim for her raunchy lyrics.
many times artists are saying what I don’t have the nerve to say.
To each his own, I can’t tell another woman how to sing/act or perform.
I tired of hearing other women tell me “how to”… how I am supposed to do something as if what they say is deemed “correct”.
“how to get my real grown woman on” HUH??? “this is how you do it with class”
please
Don’t get it twisted he is not talking about beating Beyonce and forced Beyonce onto eating a cake. He’s making a sexual reference about how hard he be going when they are having sex. “Beat the box like mike” box= p*ssy “eat the cake Anna Mae” cake= p*ssy or p*nis
Truthful, I see your point. At the same time, I’m conflicted about women/girls feeling the need to hypersexualize their images for commercialism. I’m a former professional musician and even though the genre I was in didn’t hold the same expectations for outright sexual imagery as pop, it was still there in the undercurrent. Men, on the other hand, are free from this pressure and are taken at face value for their talent. I will always be envious of this.
There are different types of sex(y). You can be dirty and nasty and still be a grown woman. Why does a woman have to adhere to only 1 type of sexuality? Why can’t we explore and be dirty and still be treated with respect? There are so many men (of any ethnicity) that sing or talk about sex in a derogatory way and none of them catch the heat that women catch. They’re allowed but as soon as a woman hints that she’s not the ‘missionary position surrounded by candles’ type, people clutch for their pearls. Please.
@Artemis: That’s against ‘the rules’.
See, women are allowed to be sexual- as long as it’s a sexuality that certain feminists are okay with. Women are ‘allowed’ to like and be open about sexuality that is deemed classy ™ and raunch-free. But if a female entertainer is open with a sexuality that those feminists DONT feel is classy ™ and raunch free, then it’s bad sexuality, and it’s undoing the women’s movement, and it’s exploitation, and slavery to men, and it’s degradation, etc., etc., etc. It doesn’t matter what these women themselves say and think and feel.
I’m with you ! And I get soooo tired of people on here trashing Beyonce. I realize it’s a gossip sight, but the insults dog deeper than what they say about her.
Oh honey, we don’t like her. Just like we don’t like a lot of other people. Just like you — I am sure — don’t like a lot of people. Don’t try to read a conspiracy into it. She’s not that special.
Deeper how?
It may be just “role playing” but it’s tastless. I wonder what Tina Turner thinks of it.
There is a version of the track with Jay Z’s awful rap removed: http://www7.zippyshare.com/v/85844167/file.html
@Kim1, Don’t listen to the haters. I NEVER say that, but I don’t agree with folks telling you you’re not entitled to your opinion. SMDH.
You do you. We all have our favorites, and that’s what makes this site go round. That being said, the idea of ‘Drunk in Love’ being Bey and Jay Z’ private roleplay sold up for public profit is repugnant.
I mean, it’s fine for adults to listen to anything they please, but do you really find “beat the box up like Mike in ’97 I bite” literally referencing a convicted rapist proverbally beating up a vagina to be empowering? I’m interested in your opinions.
What is “surboarding “?
@Zadie, it’s the 4th definition down. My original comment,as clinical at it was, didn’t make it. http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=surf
Oh how we soon forget…
Garcelle spread it open for Playboy, (with a teenage son on deck) and just like then, its a choice. I didn’t see her Playboy layout and I turn the television when something is overly sexualized and I don’t care to see it.
Beyoncé is not the first and neither is Garcelle
I will admit, I loved Britney’s performance of “I’m a slave for you” w/the snake…then I let folks shame me into thinking it was a vile nasty video.
people said her sexualized moves and the snake etc. was blasphemous and little girls look up to her..blahblahblah.
I am so tired of folks telling me how I should feel about certain lyrics and music.
True dat! Good music evokes emotion, & true emotion can’t be dictated!
Looks like another slut-shaming hypocrite female in Hollywood who wants to do her thing, but tell other women to cover up. And I agree with you, people are such controlling prudes.
I think there’s a difference between her posing in playboy where there is legally an 18 year old minimum age for viewership and bey writhing around on stage at 8pm on a show viewed largely by families
Pot meek Kettle.
Yeah, I meant to say meek instead of meet. You have my word on it! – Joe Izuzu http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_56s80s3Ds
A woman dresses “too” sexy, she’s a slave to men. She dresses conservatively she’s a slave to the patriarchy. Can I get some dress length and pants length examples so I don’t fall prey to the patriarchy.
lol!
Exactly. Because it’s so feminist to impose a dress code on all women and reduce the movement to being a clique that’s all about looks! Women are powerful, women are equal, women should be in control of their own bodies, etc.- but western women are too stupid to be allowed to make their own choices about clothing and modesty without being policed!
“Can I get some dress length and pants length examples so I don’t fall prey to the patriarchy[?]” – Adear
Yes. I am most happy to provide you with the condensed version of ‘The Patriarchy’s Guide to Hemlines And Hairstyles’. If you show your entire face, then you are clearly a prostitute.
There. My job is done.
Thanks for proving me right.
🙂
I feel sad for all the young girls/teens out there who don’t understand that they have so much more to offer and learn than putting on pounds of make-up, getting extensions and strutting around in next to nothing. The entertainment industry is creating this myth that overtly sexual behaviour and dressing like a skank is the only way to be “acceptable” and successful.
I feel sorry for teenage girls and young women because adults like you teach them that if they reject sexual modesty, they’re skanks and tramps. Then, when we have teens slut-shaming eachother to the point of depression, self-mutilation, or suicide, or we hear in the news about a teenage girl being beaten for sexting, people like you will be like, ‘how does this happen?’
That’s a harsh comment to make, and totally undeserved – we adults don’t “slut shame” young girls into self-mutilation or suicide AT ALL. The media and entertainment world is pushing an unrealistic image of how young girls should dress and act – that a girl’s only worth is how sexy she is. This is not empowerment, it’s enslavement and erodes self-esteem. Think of those young girls who can’t handle the onset of over-sexualisation but feel they have to “give in” in order to “fit in”. Girls who lose their virginity at 12 or 13 before they even know what love and relationships are about. Unwanted teen pregnancies. Girls who aren’t tall, slender, beautiful or sexy feeling worthless because that’s the image being forced down their throats. That is the problem, not your so-called prudish, bad adults, who are only trying to fill their daughters with self-esteem that comes from accepting yourself as you are, not as some stereotypical image of blatant sexuality being the only measure of worthiness.
Don’t take it personally Jaded, it seems that on many posts Leila likes to call people prudes and slut-shamers as soon as they criticize a woman’s “choice” to be half-naked and sexualized in public. For me, not all nudity is created equal. A painting of a nude woman can be tasteful, while a photo of a naked Pam Anderson would certainly be considered less so. It has nothing to do with the nudity itself, so much as the presentation. Growing up, I can say for sure that it was the images of an “ideal” and the attention those women got from boys in my age group that made me feel insecure. Never once did advice from an adult to be modest or demand respect make me feel inferior in any way. Thinking that adults telling teenage girls to cover-up is somehow slut-shaming is a serious stretch. On the other hand, I do not necessarily blame the female performers, because they are simply products that are being marketed to a specific demographic, and if you don’t like their work, don’t watch it. That being said- I think it is sorely naive of any young woman to equate public nudity and sexuality with empowerment. You are giving men what they want. Why do it unless you are looking for attention? Is it that you really just want positive attention from men, and acting sexy is easier than demanding respect? This isn’t even a slut-shaming thing, because this has nothing to do with the amount of sexual partners someone has. This is about the false sense of empowerment women get from doing things that men want them to do, because they think they are making the choice all on their own. Society already made that choice for you. I’ll take the “just as respected as any man in my field” type of empowerment over “I choose to get naked all on my own because I’m all grown up” any day. I take no issue with things like porn or people who work in that industry, so please don’t bother calling me a prude just because I don’t want to get naked for attention.
Any time you rate female worth, respectability as a human being, goodness, or status based on sexual modesty or chastity, you are slut-shaming, no matter how good your intentions are. Of course I don’t think it’s empowering or healthy for women and girls to believe that their worth or status is determined by how sexy and conventionally pretty she is. But one can reject that idea while still rejecting the modesty cage.
So many adults think that they’re fostering ‘good self-esteem’ in teenage girls when promoting the idea of, “Hey, you don’t want to be or look like a slut/skank/tramp. Be modest, be a lady, and wait to have sex. ” But is it really? I was a teenager not long go, and I also come into contact with a lot of teenage girls and listen to what they say. Several girls have expressed frustration about slut-shaming going on in their schools. Based on what I saw in middle school and high school, based on some local and national news events over the past 5 years, and based on what other girls have said, I have to say that the modesty dialogue promotes bullying and victim-blaming, and is just as likely to promote lower self-esteem as it is to promote higher self esteem.
Girls (and sometimes boys too) bully other girls based on sexuality, (and not just sexual orientation) under the belief that being good and moral and respectable comes from keeping one’s body covered and legs closed, or not being seen as ‘fast’. Gee, I wonder where they get that idea? And yes, some of the victims do end up either depressed, or cutting themselves, or suicidal. A cop told me that several months ago, in a town about 30 miles from mine, we had two school girls beat up one girl for taking a naked photo of herself because they saw her as ‘slutty’. Some teenage girls feel the need to withhold themselves sexually not because it’s their choice or what they feel they should be doing, but because they don’t want to get in trouble with or lose the affection of their families, or they refrain from trying sexual things that appeal to them for fear of being seen as ‘a slut’. There are preteens and teenagers who think it’s acceptable to blame and shame other girls who get raped if the girl was drunk or wearing something sex, and there are girls who admit to being taught by family members at a young age that females are partially responsible for sexual violence or sexual harassment committed by males if they’re not modestly dressed.
Does all of that sound like self-esteem?
But girls are stronger and smarter than they’re given credit for, so not all of them are falling for it. Many of them are fighting that message.
http://www.policymic.com/articles/60439/slut-the-play-meet-the-teenage-girls-who-are-putting-an-end-to-slut-shaming
http://www.policymic.com/articles/23396/16-year-old-girl-takes-a-stand-against-slut-shaming-on-social-media
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/30/slut-shaming-teen-girls_n_4178812.html
There are more examples I can link to, but I think the point is clear. Also, when I was a preteen and a teenage girl, I can honestly say that seeing women pose nude or be ‘immodest’ with clothing and dance moves never made me think that a woman’s beauty and sexiness are her worth. But I did see the media’s emphasis on women being slender, fit, pretty, and appealing as trying to promote that message.
@Jaded
Agreed. I worry about young girls and the messages they’re getting.
And to place that much importance on sexuality for women is anti-feminist and frankly, holds women in very, very low regard. Who wants to be esteemed for their purported sexual ‘liberation’?
+10000 Leila in wunderland
Leila, faux masturbation on stage, grinding your nearly naked butt against men on stage, pretending you’re fellating Bill Clinton on stage, is not art and it’s not empowering young women, it’s dragging them back into a world where their only worth comes from their sexuality. This is not a 1950’s version of shunning the girl who wears bright red lipstick and push-up bras. This is promoting the image that a young woman’s sense of power comes from rubbing her sexuality in everyone’s faces. I’m all for girls developing their sexuality at their own pace, learning what love is all about, feeling secure in themselves to express their desires. What I abhor is the media and music industry abusing it to show young women in a vulgar, over-sexualized context – since when is simulating a BJ in front of thousands of girls teaching them anything about life other than they have to be sexy and cater to men’s dirty dreams to be acceptable??? It speaks of the male control over the entertainment industry and how they’ll stop at nothing to make money. Look at the young women in the music biz who have had severe mental and emotional issues – Britney Spears, Demi Lovato, Selena Gomez, on and on…it’s an evil empire that’s promoting this and although I’m all for empowering young women with the tools they need to become successful, well-adjusted, sexually confident people, I can’t for a minute condone an industry that is one step away from producing porn.
@Pia: It’s even a problem that you see sexual modesty as demanding respect, when it can really be just SUBMITTING TO TRADITIONAL VALUES in order to win approval. Women have historically been more pressured to conform to sexual modesty than they have been to reject it, which is why (besides the fact that women really can like nudity, overt sexuality, raunch, etc., and male attention is not the reason for it) rebelling against it can be sexually liberating and empowering for women. It’s just not the case for every single women. And that’s fine- not all women are the same, like the same things, have the same opinions, or are attracted.
The problem is that some people (most or half of the people commenting here) consistently further the message that being respected as human beings, whole, and empowered and being sexually’ immodest’ are mutually exclusive. The feminists who promote that idea have no problem condescendingly erasing the lived experience, opinions, and agency of women who DO NOT agree with their neo-Victorian sexual values, and have no qualms about calling those women skanks, tramps, sluts, and whores for it. This is half of the reason why there’s a need for such a thing as ‘sex positive feminism’.
@Hmmm: If you really think it’s anti-feminist to put a lot of emphasis on female sexuality, then why not take the live and let live approach when it comes to other women’s clothing and sexual choices? What does it say about the regard of females and feminism if our purported ‘status’ comes from withholding ourselves sexually and the choices we make with our physical appearance?
@Jaded: So you’re anti-porn?
You’re talking specifically about Miley Cyrus- a female pop star who, at a young age, was horribly, massively, and disgustingly bullied every single time she wore or did any little thing that was even remotely sexual. Society’s message to her was loud and clear: You are NOT ALLOWED to be sexual in any way at least until you turn 18, or else.
Is it really that surprising that overt, raunchy sexuality is empowering an freeing to her personally? Not only does it, in her mind, get her the attention she wants as an edgy, wild pop icon, but it also makes her feel like a rebel and a sort of daredevil because of her own experience. Through it’s hateful puritanism, our culture showed Miley her ‘best’ path to rebellion.
I wasn’t just thinking about Miley Cyrus, though. I was thinking about Beyoncé, Rihanna, Christina, (I loved the tweet that she sent to Miley Cyrus today!)Lady Gaga, and really every other female entertainer whose sexual expression is deemed ‘bad’ just because it’s overt, unladylike, and out in the open.
Why should women only be ‘allowed’ to like sexual expression that’s seen as subtle, demure, and classy?
Thank you Jaded. Wonderfully put. *STANDING OVATION*
I disagree wholly with everything Jaded said and believe that she is part of the problem. Leila you got it right.
Seconded. Jaded, YOU, not Beyonce, people like YOU are the ones dragging women back to the stone age.
Do you want to know a country where modesty in women is praised above everything else and perceived immodesty is reviled? Taliban Afghanistan.
Would you like to move there?
Leila, Kim1, Adear: +1,000,000 to every single beautiful heartening thing that you all have written on this board. It gives me hope for women in this country.
I agree with you Jaded 100%! Thank you
team Jaded. and appreciating the dialog for sure. cause i’m w-a-y bugged by all the grinding, and have been for years. years.
My problem with Beyonce is that she completely unoriginal (as are all artists) as to copy the hot act a minute after it’s been declared hot.
As an example, Shakira was declared hot, cue Beyonce copying her act and image. Ditto Lady Gaga, and now we have Miley. Let’s not forget appropriation of JLO too.
Ps: I thought only the truly desperate would follow where Miley led, so I guess Beyonce is desperate.
Beyonce has never led anywhere. She simply copies. Don’t understand why she thinks she’s an icon. Her legendary songs are like ‘crazy in love’ are copies from the 70s, her stage act for the most part is Tina Turner….and how dare she reference a moment that Tina was being abused for her song….
She’s a talented performer but I agree that she just follows trends instead of setting them. I think she deserves whatever her level of fame is though because she works hard for it. No one is saying she’s revolutionary, at least I hope they’re not.
@ Jessica
How exactly is beyonce hard working? How does she work any harder than anyone else in the entertainment industry? What does beyonce do, in terms of work, that is beyond the amount of work done by anyone else at the same level of celebrity?
(This is not a question about preferences, least some beyonce fan start making idiotic claims about beyonce being a “better” singer or dancer than some other star. This is about the amount of work. So if you like beyonce’s dancing better than someone else’s, it doesn’t mean that beyonce is working harder, you see?).
I would actually like an answer about this so-called hard work of beyonce’s, because people say that about her, and there’s never an explanation for it.
From where I’m sitting, BEYONCE WORKS LESS than many of her contemporaries who actually write and/or produce their own music (rather than striking backroom deals with songwriters/producers for undeserved credits), come up with original ideas for music videos and performances, do choreography more complex than stripper moves, and play instruments. Beyonce does none of those things, which makes beyonce lazy by comparison. I get the impression that beyonce thinks she works hard because she works at all, and wants special kudos for getting out of bed, getting dressed, going to her job on time, practicing…all the basic requirements of professionalism in any field.
To my recollection, beyonce’s PR team started promoting the notion that beyonce was such a hard worker, and it stuck. Perhaps that why beyonce’s team thinks they can make her an icon by saying it in a Pepsi commercial.
There is nothing new under the sun. If I took your idea and built a far bigger success of it than you did then I must have added my own little bit of magic to it. Can’t shade B for that. But I do side-eye her for not giving credit where it is due – namely, from everyone and everything she was ‘inspired’ by (lol).
see dame, i don’t think she’s built on the idea. many artists/entertainers build on the idea, and that’s what i want to see.
B doesn’t build on any ideas. she straight out copies and co-opts ideas as her own. And only grudgingly acknowledges whoever she’s copied after being publicly called out on it.
LAK
I still think that if her career has surpassed the ones of those she is copying then she is doing it bigger and better. As for the last part of your statement, you put it more succinctly than I did. I totally agree with this.
I guess its just me but oh how I wish female celebrities would refrain from openly naming/criticizing other female celebrities, even if what they’re saying is true. It seems so much classier yo just deflect a reporter’s baiting and speak in generalities. We’ll still get the point. Pink’s post-twerk comments about Miley: pure class. Zoe Saldana’s constant shade throwing: never by name. Besides, men almost never do this to other men.
LOL, I will never in my whole life be able to figure this out — why the hell should women be off-limits being criticized by other women? There is no logic to this, sorry. Should Catholics never criticize priests? Should Muslims never criticize suicide bombers? Should white people never criticize other white people? Should black people never criticize rap music or hip hop celebrities? I don’t get it. Why should BELONGING to a certain group make you off-limits to criticism from within that group?
I’m frankly tired of the double-talking. On the one hand women are strong and don’t need someone to “protect us”, as we can stick up for ourselves. Yet on the other hand women have to treat each other with kid gloves and never, ever say a bad thing about each other because our feelings and sense of self-worth will be damaged. WHAT? Can we take what the world dishes out? Or are we mewling kittens? WHICH ONE?
It’s not that women should not ever criticize other women. It’s that women shouldn’t criticize other women in a way that furthers the bigotry and social problems in our society.
I think its more if crap gets dished out to you don’t complain because you’re part of the problem
Leila
Excellent.
Maureen
Perhaps you should give my post another read. I merely expressed a personal distaste for females calling one another by name. I didn’t even say it was necessarily wrong – just a bit low rent. And now that I think about it, this oftens comes from the celebrity that has more to gain/something to promote by the association. Often it is a B-lister going after an A-lister etc. but regardless, it is silly to believe women should never criticize one another, but there is a way to do this that is productive, organic and furthers the conversation about how we, as females, define and express ourselves.
I am far from a prude, but I thought her opening to the Grammy’s was lip-synching a lot, was grinding, stripperesque, and nothing special. It’s a very average song. Bey is a great performer and was shocked she resorted to that as an opening to the Grammy’s. But I don’t have any problems with Bey’s type of performing beyond that one at the Grammy’s.
I can never un-see that image of Beyonce from a couple years ago when, during a performance, she was photographed up close sitting on a chair with her legs spread so far apart that you could see the outer parts of her labia where her costume was cutting into her private area. And her face had this really awkward expression somewhere between rage, disgust, and orgasm. It’s an image that, sadly, lives in my memory as the standard for what she’s like onstage, and it is repulsive. That’s not sexual liberation. That’s not “owning” yourself. That’s crass, and vulgar, and demeaning.
It is the most annoying thing ever when I hear “she was owned by her father, now she’s owned by her husband”
Why can’t this 30 something year old woman run her own career?? Like Jay-z is the all knowing business man and has time to not only manage his multi-million dollar ventures but also his wife’s. Like get a grip!! Not to say discussions are not held about business and career management which is expected being that they are married. I just don’t understand why this black woman is incapable of managing her career in you women’s eyes. And yes I brought up race, a prime example being her counterpart Jessica Simpson whom was managed by her father throughout her career until they severed ties, why does she get the smart business woman title but yet Beyonce is owned??
I will never understand the hate this woman gets. Don’t like her music. Cool. Don’t listen. Don’t like her risqué performances. Change the channel. They only average about 2-3 minutes, take a potty break. Hate her interviews, I’d assume you wouldn’t come across many being that you dislike her so much, but by the chance you do, I’m sure you can find a way to avoid it as that you are all such sophisticated women who wouldn’t be caught dead reading such a vile publication that features the likes of such a slutty woman as Beyonce.
But to discredit her business savvy and try to dispel her success to the men around her is a bit chauvinistic don’t you think??
Oh, and didn’t GB pose for playboy a few years back??
Beyonce doesn’t get any more hate than any other celebrity. If anything, people are usually fawning over her. No one thinks that Beyonce can’t manage her own career because she’s black, it’s because she seems really dumb and uneducated. Kind of like Jessica Simpson, I don’t believe she manages her career all by herself either.
Really racism is dead then.
The differences between Simpson and Beyoncé are talent and success. Simpson was never anything other than a second tier singer who reality TV rescued, and then her mother did with the management of her clothing line. She also never went off on being empowered.
When do make empowerment part of your persona, develop your own alter ego, as she did with Sasha Fierce, of course people will say something when it appears she’s only doing what other people tell her.
Oh so SHE didn’t agree on this image turn her puppet masters did. Sasha Fierce was hers and they have suddenly dragged her back into the cage.
What is going on with Garcelle’s face? She maybe has added a few pounds on but still has a killer body and is a little older, but that shouldn’t account for the big difference. Garcelle was a stunning beauty and something is really off. It looks like filler to me. I think her eyes look off compared to the other photo just because as she’s getting older, they appear smaller. So she can’t help that, but it definitely looks like overuse of filler in her face to me.
I think that lipstick is horrible on her, especially with a red dress, but I love her hair. I think she looks totally normal aside from a bit of bad makeup. People age.
@Maureen yeah, I’m not seeing any fillers. She’s always had those amazing cheekbones and flawless skin. What i do see is bad makeup. Botox? Maybe around the eyes, if any, however, looking through years on a google image search- I’m inclined to believe that she’s just genetically gifted.
That lipstick!!! Does not suit at all.
Her upper face is paralyzed. That’s what I see. Too much botox.
I agree with her I’m rather turned off by the music industry these days except for a couple of songs from artists most people don’t talk about like “I am the Man” song that’s in those Beats by dre commercial.
I can’t listen to today’s music.
I actually find myself listening to Whitney(who yes despite her many issues at least let people judge her work by her actual work she didn’t have to resort to these gimmicks to get people to listen) and other older artists.
Her wallet didn’t fit in the clutch so she put in in her pantyhose?
I would have more respect for Garcelle if she didn’t pull the “misquoted ,taking out of context ” card.Say what you mean and mean what you say.
Didn’t Garcelle pose for Playboy smh lol
Beyonce, Miley, and Kim k is not the problem the amount of money they have are the problem. Beyonce is adored by Michelle Obama and photo half dressed in a white negligee under the christmas tree in the white house, now what message does that convey to the general public. Many of the poor African american girls, imitate Beyonce by trying to buy the clothes she wears and have nothing to feed the babies at home with most are on food stamps. Mothers take their young daughters to Miley concerts and states she teaches them freedom of expression, Miley performs skits about fellatio using a hot dog, that to them is freedom of expression. her parents is gleegully in the audience, it’s all about money and the uneducated. Beyonce situation is strange this is a person who have taken a 180 degree turn, a person don’t just change from conservative to a lamp post sl**.
Wow racist and stupid. Knew that was coming some people just can’t help themselves
“Many of the poor African american girls, imitate Beyonce by trying to buy the clothes she wears and have nothing to feed the babies at home with most are on food stamps.”
WHAT???
Such a bigoted, untrue and ignorant statement. You sure showed your hand didn’t you? I can’t even… SMH
Is this the same Garcelle Beauvais who posed for “Playboy” a few years back?
Garcelle is taking about the image portrayed to young fans. Garcelle is not that well know and the people who know who she is are adults and are for the most part not impressionable. There is a difference between her and Playboy’s demographic and Beyoncé’s fan base.
She has sons who could see it it. Shouldn’t she have thought of that. What is she teaching these soon to be young men.
Someone who posed for Playboy isn’t someone who should be telling people not to show it all off.
As I said up thread playboy I’d an adult magazine and I’d consider that a proper outlet for that kind of behavior. The grammys are something families watch together and bey was thrusting and writhing around at 8pm – huge difference.
Please see my full comment (in #7, above) that “Garcelle’s photos in Playboy are in the right venue (i.e., get fuel at gas station, get milk at grocery store, get nude photos in Playboy.) Nudity is a major part of Playboy’s product line and is to be expected in that context.
It’s not even an argument to call Garcelle a hypocrit for posing for the iconic magazine.
An overt cabaret act including sexual simulation, sexual description, and exposed intimate areas of the body is out of context at music award shows, primetime or not.”
Encountering overt sexuality in an unanticipated context can be problematic, whereas, encountering it in the right venue is not at all, or not necessarily, a problem.
Context and venue are everything, Lucy. I agree.
Like it or not sex is a major part of the music industry now. I don’t know how anyone can watch an awards show in 2014 and not expect to see some scantily dressed people. I just don’t understand how anyone can be shocked by this. It’s nothing new.
@Renee28, I DON’T watch awards shows, but what about when we’re at Gram’s and the rugrats are running around, and a tyke points at a foam fingering a crotch and asks “What’s THAT, Mommy?” *Screeeech*
Not Good.
Ugh. Ugh. UGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (screaming as I hurl every object within arm’s reach at the wall. Okay. I feel a bit better now. 🙂 )
It’s not the women in the leotards and sexy or skimpy outfits who are degrading women, demeaning women, and taking the women’s movement backward. It’s not the women who pose nude or nearly nude during photoshoots. WOMEN ARE NOT DEGRADING OUR SEX AND UNDOING THE WOMEN’S MOVEMENT JUST BY EXERCISING THEIR RIGHT TO REFUSE TO ADHERE TO MODESTY, ANY MORE THAN THE WOMEN WHO DO CHOOSE MODESTY ARE.
As a matter of fact, it’s women like the ones here who seem more like they’re taking us back. And by taking us back, I mean, to the repressive Victorian era!
This comment section is an almost perfect example of what I meant on another thread when I said that some feminists promote the idea that without the talisman or amulet of modesty, a female is inferior, compromised, and partially responsible for oppression or ill treatment she receives, or the idea that women who reject this makes HER ENTIRE SEX inferior, compromised, and partially responsible for oppression and ill treatment.
The women promoting this idea in this section are the ones promoting oppression. Think about it. You’re telling a historically repressed, oppressed, and marginalized group of people that in order to earn status and fair treatment with a historically privileged group of people, they can’t exercise all of their individual rights over THEIR OWN bodies. Imagine trying that with any other group of oppressed people, and just see how fucked up that sounds. Imagine telling gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people, “Hey, if you’re OPENLY with someone of the same sex, or engaging in PDA with someone of the same sex, take on a sexual with someone of the same sex in a movie or music video, or are dressing like the opposite sex in public, you’re degrading all LBGT people and undoing the movement. How are you going to earn the respect of straight people?”
Men are given the right to do whatever they want with their bodies without being told that by exercising their rights, they’re degrading the male sex. Men fully have bodily autonomy and individuality in the sense that ONE MAN’S BODY TRULY BELONGS TO THAT MAN ALONE. His decisions with his body are not to be policed or seen as something that harms or disenfranchises his entire gender. So, my big question is: Why can’t women and feminists extend that privilege- no, that RIGHT- to other women?
Imagine women having that equal right that men have to do whatever they want with their bodies without being told that by exercising their rights, they’re degrading the female sex. Imagine women fully having that equal bodily autonomy and individuality in the sense that ONE WOMAN’S BODY TRULY BELONGS TO THAT WOMAN ALONE. Imagine her decisions with her body not being policed or seen as something that harms or disenfranchises her entire gender.
Equally problematic is the perfect, modern-day example of the virgin-whore dichotomy, being demonstrated both in the comments and in what the woman here is saying. Be sexually modest, and a woman is a good role model. Reject sexual modesty, and a woman is a bad role model. Who cares about the rights, wishes, and beliefs of the female entertainers themselves? Who cares that it’s not their jobs to protect the sexual innocence or chastity of America’s youth? Yay feminism!
Also, there are two double-standards that need to be done away with. The first is the idea that it’s okay for men to be topless, semi-nude, dancing sexually, or in their underwear, but if a woman does the same, it’s exploitation and degradation. The second is the idea that it’s okay for actors and actresses to be in various states of undress, doing sexual scenes, or taking on sexualized roles, but if a female pop star does those things in a music video, performance, or photoshoot, it’s bad.
Here’s an idea: How about instead of yielding to and perpetuating the violent idea that a female’s worth, respectability, and status as a positive and whole human being lay in her ‘sexual modesty’…. we challenge it?
Again, +100000000 Leila, very well said
That was perfect. But most of the commentators are too cowardly to check themselves and their belief systems.
I’m all for challenging the status quo. I’ma going back to reread my comments. Done.
@Leila, take heart. There are some fully nuanced remarks here. You are reaching people and inspiring us to reexamine our occasionally contradictory belief systems. You know, as long as there’s conversation, there’s opportunity for mutual influence and ‘teachable moments’.
Thank you. 🙂
Leila, I agree with every single point you have made here and I feel like you are often the only poster who challenges the preconceived societal notion of women and their values. However, a lot of the times the reason that people don’t bother to read your posts or react aggressively to them, even if they might agree with the points you make, is because you take a very condescending, angry, my idea is the only right way and anybody who disagrees is uneducated, kind of a tone. Nobody likes to have a discussion with someone who is completely unwilling to be compassionate that people make mistakes, or someone who is not willing to listen. You catch a lot more bees with honey. I think when it comes to issues of feminism, the delivery is often important yet such fact is often ignored. We need to understand that people are in different parts of their journey and it does not have to be identical to wherever we are in the journey of understanding gender equality issues. I pretty much always agree with everything you comment on, but often I feel like your ideas might come across a lot easier to others if your delivery was calmer.
Preach Leila!
Leila, that was a long essay you wrote there.
Sadly, it was a waste of time reading it.
I agree. Seems like fewer and fewer of these female singers even wear pants anymore – they just gyrate around in a bodysuit or a bra and panties.
The overall feeling I always get, is the less talented one is, the more of a ‘show’ they have to put on to detract.
All (someone like) Adele needs is a microphone and a piano – nothing but that beautiful and powerful voice.
If someone is truly talented, the voice is the star. So, if some of these singers actually have a beautiful voice, why are they resorting to the sex show? I’m not familiar with Beyoncé’s music, but I think she’s got a good voice (as opposed to someone like Britney Spears) – so why is she joining the bandwagon?
[Devil’s advocate: Maybe the public demands that crap because its attention span is so small?…]
@A Fan,
I feel it’s the dumbing down of our world in general. Vulgarity is now deemed to be just fine in men and women alike. From unisex catcalls to crotchrubbing, it’s all grist for the mill. Human beings are better than this.
DEVO was right
I am bothered that no one else has questioned why the Grammy Awards opening act presented a non-nominated song.
That blatant misappropriation has me far more rattled than the vulgarity of the performance.
totally agree with Garcelle
My biggest question is: when did pop stars all collectively choose to stop wearing pants?! Vadge cleavage…ugh. I just cant.
@Carina – “[W]hen did pop stars all collectively choose to stop wearing pants?!”
In the 1920’s. They were called Jazz Babies or Flappers and were considered to by loose women. – http://nitratediva.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/318.png?w=526&h=392
You say she is just pushing boundaries, I say B. is just ageing in Hollywood and is finding that difficult to deal with. Not that she’s not beautiful, not that she is old, but we are talking about Hollywood standards here and all I see is a mid life crisis.
In the case of Miley C. all I see there is a child who was overexposed to sexuality before she was able to handle it emotionally. She thinks her self worth is her sex appeal. It’s all quite sad and pathetic, but not as sad and pathetic as the men who pull the strings in Hollywood.
People upset about their children seeing anyhing of a sexual nature need to relax. Kids shouldn’t be a part of sexual situations, of course, but seeing Beyoncé grind on stage hardly equates to being molested, or seeing women continuously being treated like lesser beings. Seeing a strong woman being shamed for expressing her sexuality, THAT is what’s ruining your children. That being said, I think it’s sad that an intelligent woman like Beyoncé can’t survive on intellectual merits alone. Her latest album expressed some interesting philosophical and political stand-points, and a male artist probably wouldn’t have had to get undressed and grind to get people to listen to them (he’d have had some ladies in the background doing it, instead). But then again, Beyoncé is a grown woman, and she should be able to dress and act how she wants. She shouldn’t have to dress in a metaphorical burka because of the narrow-mindedness of the American bourgeoisie.
I do think as well that she’ll age gracefully so no need with all the fillers and botox. She’s always been so beautiful.
This would bother me more if not for the fact that Bey always told other girls to put more clothes on, and in fact said she would only show one body part at a time, and bragged about NOT being overtly sexual. I don’t agree with the hypocrisy and the slut shaming, but Bey is a hypocrite and slut shamer too, so whatever.