Beyoncé Talks Feminism And Police Brutality In Rare Interview With Elle
“Ask anyone, man or woman, ‘Do you want your daughter to have 75 cents when she deserves $1?’”
Beyoncé rarely talks to the media, but she made an exception to her rule recently to promote Ivy Park, her new athleisure line. Ivy Park aims “to celebrate every woman and the body she’s in while always striving to be better.”
But the conversation soon turned to the singer’s efforts as an outspoken feminist and activist. “I’m not really sure people know or understand what a feminist is,” Beyoncé noted. “But it’s very simple. It’s someone who believes in equal rights for men and women.”
“I don’t understand the negative connotation of the word,” she continued, “or why it should exclude the opposite sex. If you are a man who believes your daughter should have the same opportunities and rights as your son, then you're a feminist. Ask anyone, man or woman, ‘Do you want your daughter to have 75 cents when she deserves $1?’ What do you think the answer would be?”
Beyoncé also refuted the post-“Formation” accusations that she is anti-police. “Anyone who perceives my message as anti-police is completely mistaken,” she declared. “I have so much admiration and respect for officers and the families of officers who sacrifice themselves to keep us safe. But let’s be clear: I am against police brutality and injustice. Those are two separate things. If celebrating my roots and culture during Black History Month made anyone uncomfortable, those feelings were there long before a video and long before me. I’m proud of what we created and I'm proud to be a part of a conversation that is pushing things forward in a positive way.”
Read the whole conversation here. Revisit “Formation” in all its glory below.