Much criticism targeting Queen B,  Beyoncé Knowles, arose after the release of her new single Flawless. While the song is feminism based, with samples by acclaimed feminist writer Chimamanda Adichie, some critics argue it is in fact counter feminist as the bridge of the song states “bow down, bitches” repetitively.

Now, Beyoncé is an artist who is most definitely not afraid to express her sexuality through her music, however the sexuality that she conveys is one that she owns as a strong independent woman. She is able to both own and express herself, who she is, in a culture that works against such ideals. If Beyoncé claims she is a feminist, well then, who are we to say that she isn’t one? Feminism is not a one size fits all, unilateral movement with specific guidelines. Feminism is meant to be all inclusive, Beyoncé, in this specific song, in many other songs, and in her mannerisms, is pro-woman without being anti-man. The sexiness, the confidence, and the strength portrayed in her work is one that many females perceive as admirable, empowering, and liberating.  Beyoncé addresses the ambiguity of the line “bow down bitches” in the article Beyonce Explains Bow Down. She claims it was the side of her that she felt she needed to defend; it was motivation a burst of anger she wanted to express, for her “haters”. A lyricism of empowerment that made her feel as she says “gangsta.” “Bow down, bitches” is a lyrical explanation of what’s wrong with assuming that being feminist requires one to follow a script, and not your own heart. I personally, fully agree with what Beyoncé is trying to channel within this song, and many other songs of hers that may bring her feminism into question. She brings sexy female power. She allows girls world wide, including myself, to feel this power.

The focus of criticism in the song is all directed towards the very repetitive message of “bow down bitches” yet, this draws away from the pro-fem themes throughout the rest of the song, Flawless. “I took some time to live my life, but don’t just think i’m his little wife.” Here specifically, I believe Beyoncé is stating that she is so much more than merely Jay-Z’s wife. She has an extremely successful career of her own, she is a loving mother, and has a worldwide fan base in addition to being happily married. She is ambitious and establishes herself as an independent, aspiring, successful woman who lives a life far beyond the socially expected norm of being a wife. The hook of the song, including lyrics such as: “we flawless, ladies tell em, say ‘i look so goodnight tonight’ goddamn, goddamn.” This sentence alone displays the sexy confidence Beyoncé owns and the same confidence she wishes all women develop and portray. It is a slap in the face of what we are supposed to believe to be an appropriate display of a woman’s sexuality.

Overall, the song Flawless amongst endless other songs shows us how validated Beyoncé is in her feminism. It may not be academic feminism, or a type of feminism that society is used to seeing when thinking “feminist”, but Queen B is rocking sexual liberation, control and self-ownership which are all central to the ideologies of feminism.