Beyoncé goes country: why are the reactions concerning from a feminist point of view?
Beyoncé eighth album Cowboy Carter was released on March 29th; and it’s a country album. So what’s the big deal?
To add some context, Beyoncé has already released two songs before the album, and both are at the Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart top. Texas Hold’Em is ranked No.1 while 16 Carriages is ranked No. 9. She became the first Black Woman to top the US Hot 100 with a country song.
Not everyone is happy with the record sets.
Some country fans are not very happy with Beyoncé’s decision to come into ‘their’ genre. Some argue that her global superstar status castes a shadow on others country artist, since her songs would probably not have been on the country top chart if she was not Beyoncé.
© Beyoncé/ Mason Poole
From a feminist point of view.
But why are people mad when Beyoncé is going country, and not when Post Malone do it? From a feminist perspective, women are often accused of taking the place of other women in every field. During the 2024 Grammy ceremony, Taylor Swift faced backlash after winning a Grammy for Album of the Year. Why? Because her friend Lana Del Rey was one of her
opponent, to whom she ‘stole’ the Grammy. But no man makes the titles for stealing anything from a woman or from another man.
Music industry and women representation.
© Julian Dakdouk
The music industry has always been an arena where women are pitched against each others. Its the same for every aspect of life.
From a feminist point of view, creating light and space for one woman does not mean stealing some light from another.
The music industry will evolve along with society’s values.
More equality for women in society means more equality in the music
industry.
That’s where the problem lies.