After the election a couple weeks ago (why did it have to be so close to the Exclusion Policy anniversary?), life has felt bleak. Yesterday, I thought it would be fun to watch Beyonce’s “Who Run the World” with my 6-year-old daughter.
It was just the thing.
I watched her face light up as she watched Beyonce sing powerfully about women. Her dance moves, the lyrics…I loved watching Emmeline’s face as she absorbed everything.
At one point in the song, Emmeline asked, “Why are those women dancing in their underwear?”
And her dad said, “Because they can choose to wear whatever they want.”
It reminded me of my own parents. My mom taught me Helen Reddy’s “I am Woman” when I was 4. I still do a mean karaoke version of it all these years later, and I like to imagine wind blowing through my hair when I sing it.
Do you have a favorite feminist or social justice anthem that makes your heart sing when you hear it?
Thank you, Emily! Last night I had a dream that I was supposed to have read 3 autobiographies of Beyoncé for a class at BYU and the report was due that day. I was like, Why would BYU care about Beyoncé? And my daughter (who is now 9 but was now my college roommate (stay with me on this) said, “Beyoncé 101 is required, dummy!” Anyway it was such a hilarious dream and then the first thing on my fb this morning is this, one of my favorite anthems. It’s been a rough month but I think it is driving me to empower myself and my kids (and maybe my husband?) to remember we run the world, not some fascist leader who can be made powerless if we stay empowered.
I like “This is my Fight Song”
Sarah Bareilles “Brave.” I was also raised with Helen Reddy so I have a soft spot for that.