Media Project- All The Single Ladies

Jackson B Latham

In her book “Female Chauvinist Pigs: Women and the Rise of Raunch Culture”, Ariel Levy criticizes a number of issues and problems she sees in the third wave feminism movement. One of Levy’s main critiques of third wave feminism is the way these new feminists express their sexuality, especially through the media and pop culture. Specifically, Levy believes that many women in fact reinforce the view of women which depicts them as sexual object while claiming to be feminists. Levy’s prime example of this is the women depicted on “Girls Gone Wild”. Many of the women who are filmed by the GGW crew say they are feminists and because their comfort with their own sexuality and bodies led them to bare themselves before the camera without any feelings of shame. Levy disagrees with this point of view, believing that these women are, in fact, reinforcing the stereo type of women as sex objects, and furthering a culture that values stripper and porn stars. Thus, I will look at the music video “Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)” by Beyonce Knowles through both Levy’s and third wave feminists lenses. The goal is to show that a single piece of media can mean greatly different things to different people depending on the perceptions and views of the individual.

Levy’s criticizes Raunch culture for depicting women as sexual objects and diminishing their other qualities. Specifically, she criticizes many of the women who have jobs in the pornographic and pop culture genres of the media. She claims that these women are not only false feminists, but that the messages they give other women are leading the feminist cause away from its original goals. Levy argues that women did indeed experience a sexual revolution in the 70’s, but that this sexual revolution was focused on gaining pleasure for the woman, not partaking in male oriented and male pleasing sexual performances. The women in Beyonce’s music video wear close fitting clothing which emphasizes their curves, highlighting their sexual attractiveness. Additionally, the entirety of the music video in comprised of the three dancers moving in highly suggestive manners, further highlighting the women’s attractiveness and increasing the overall sexual tension in the video. Levy would likely criticize this, just as she criticized such media productions as the Victoria’s Secret fashion show, the Desperate Housewives, and other such television media which further depicts women as sexual objects. The women in the video do not dress the way they do and dance the way they do for the benefit of women. Instead, they do so for the benefit of the male audience who ogle the performers. This is a betrayal, in Levy’s mind, to the ideals of the 70’s sexual revolution. She says “To aging hippies like my parents- they are all for free love, but none of this looks like loving to them; it looks scary, louche, incomprehensible” (44). Levy believes that it is a contradiction that women should claim to be sexually liberated when they still allow themselves, and in certain cases embrace the opportunity, to be depicted as sexual objects of male desire.

Levy would also likely criticize some of the lyrics in the song as well. One of the lines in the chores sings “If you liked it than you should have put a ring on it”. To Levy this line would likely seem like another step backwards for feminists. Feminists in the 70’s championed the individual women and rebelled against the pressure to marry. The link between sexuality and marriage would not please Levy.

Some parts of this music video, however, would please Levy. Despite the lines about marriage, the overall message of the song is of freedom of sexuality and independence. A few of the lines read “I got gloss on my lips, a man on my hips… I can care less about what you think.” Later on Beyonce sings “Don’t need no permission… you had your turn and now your going to learn what its like to miss me”. Levy would be pleased with the message of these lines. Here Beyonce relishes in her ability to get what she wants, and further explains that she has no time for a man who is not going to treat her the way she wants. Levy does not criticize sexuality; she specifically criticizes the commoditization of sex and sexuality in modern media. Thus, while Levy’s analytical lens would view the attire and performance of Beyonce and the other dancers as pandering to a male perspective media and as another video which furthers the image of women as sex objects, she would likely be less critical of the lyrics of the song.

Yet Levy’s way of analyzing this video is not the only way. A third wave feminist would likely draw far different conclusions from this video. While I am not a third wave feminist, as I am not sure a man can be a feminist, I believe I do have an insight into what points they would argue to show how Beyonce’s video and song is, indeed, a pro feminist piece of media.

While Levy’s takes the perspective that Beyonce and the other dancers are dressed the way they are and dance the way they are to please male audiences, a modern feminist would likely see the same video in a much different light. First, they would argue that she is not dressing the way she is to please a male audience. Instead, they would argue that she is merely trying to make a statement: that after her break up she is still strong, confident, independent, and can get any man she wants. Thus she is making a statement of feminine power. Furthermore, a modern feminist would not view the dancing as depicting women as sexual objects. Instead they would say that Beyonce is accepting the fact that she is a sexual being and attractive, and is ready to flaunt what she has as a reflection of her feminine identity.

Furthermore, the third wave feminist would likely view the lyrics much differently than Levy. They would likely view the line “if you liked it you should have put a ring on it” in a much different manner than Levy. Third wave feminists would likely view this as an expression of women’s power and independence in the modern era. Beyonce is demanding something of the man, and if he doesn’t live up to her expectations, she is ready to move on. Even more empowering are her words expressing her pleasure in being able to be single, sexual, and get what she wants. This is certainly in line with third wave feminisms acceptance of their sexuality and their embrace of what was previously thought of as male behavior.

My goal was to show that the same piece of media can be viewed in a much different manner depending on the perspective of the audience. This has been one of the most interesting parts of the course this far for me- identifying and understanding how different people view the same event. As a man, I need to be able to change my perspective to better understand the writings of these feminist writers. Thus, it is important for me to always try and distance myself from my own concepts of femininity and masculinity, as well as my own ideas about culture and society. Only then will I be able to understand exactly what these women writers mean in their works, as well as enhance my critical analysis of their works.