Growing up, I fucking loved Annie Lennox. “Walking on Broken Glass” was (and still is) my JAM, and I always thought she was a super cool feminist, but, not unlike Beyonc? (who she recently threw major feminist shade at), Annie has let me down. First, she slammed Beyonc? for her “feminist lite”, which I could get behind because thanks to Beyonc?’s STUNT QUEEN antics and thigh gap photoshopping, I’m starting to think that Queen Bey doesn’t practice what she preaches.
So, you wanna throw shade at Beyonc?? Fine. I hear you. But when you come on full blast with your passive-aggressive bullshit about how female popstars today and their twerking isn’t empowering them or doing anything for feminism, I have to roll my eyes. Because you know what’s not feminist? Telling other women what empowers them.
Before I get into my opinion on this whole thing, I should directly quote Annie. She was doing an interview and her previous comments about Beyonc?’s “feminism lite” were brought up, and Annie went on to say this:
Listen, twerking is not feminism. It’s not – it’s not liberating, it’s not empowering. It’s a sexual thing that you’re doing on a stage; it doesn’t empower you. That’s my feeling about it.
A few things:
1) Has anyone ever said twerking is feminism? Because I really don’t think anyone has ever made that claim. Last time I checked, no one was saying that the twerk was the international dance of the feminist (not that anyone should give a shit if it was).
2) They were talking about Beyonc?. Does Beyonc? twerk? Like, even in her sexiest videos? Or her silliest videos? I’ve seen Rihanna twerk, Nicki Minaj twerk, Iggy Azaela twerk, and god knows I’ve seen Miley twerk, but have we seen Beyonc? twerk? If so, it’s certainly not often.
3) It’s not empowering or liberating to twerk? So, I’m going to go ahead and assume that Annie Lennox has never twerked, so I think it’s fucking stupid she’s saying that a dance move she’s never even tried doesn’t empower you or liberate you. Also, even if she had tried it and didn’t like it, that doesn’t mean all women feel that way. Maybe some women feel empowered doing it. In fact, I’m sure to a lot of women being sexual on your own terms and for your own enjoyment IS empowering. I personally don’t twerk because I’m simply not capable of it, but I have friends who do it and they don’t even do it at da club to be sexy for guys, they do it in a group of girls because they enjoy doing it and it’s something fun and provocative that they can do with their bodies and that they enjoy. Women doing something sexual with their bodies that they enjoy and have control of? Yeah, that doesn’t sound liberating at all. (Plus, it takes some serious talent to twerk, you can be proud of that shit)
4) It’s a sexual thing you do on stage. Ok, sure. However, even though she brought up twerking in regards to Beyonc? for some reason, the person who is probably most famous for twerking on stage over the past two years is Miley Cyrus. Miley will be the first to say she isn’t trying to be sexy and that she’s a strategic hot mess. I look at Miley Cyrus and her twerking and her performances and her tour and her costumes and there is no way she is trying to be sexy. And that isn’t a jab, I just genuinely do not believe “sexy” is what she’s going for. I think she’s having fun and being totally silly and being herself and playing up all the the media says about her. In some of her performances she twerks on a hot dog while wearing a giant pot leaf for Christ’s sake, so no, I’m not sure how sexual she’s actually trying to be. As for all the other women who do occasionally twerk during their performances, they are grown ass women who can do whatever the fuck they want with their bodies, and if you’re afraid how that’s going to effect your kid, then have a goddamn conversation with your kid about feminism and sexuality DUH!
Annie clued up by saying:
The reason why I’ve commented is because I think that this overt sexuality thrust — literally — at particular audiences, when very often performers have a very, very young audience, like 7 years olds, I find it disturbing and I think its exploitative. It’s troubling. I’m coming from a perspective of a woman that’s had children.
My final thoughts? (Don’t worry, I’ll make it brief):
1) Most 7-year-olds aren’t allowed into Miley, Beyonc?, Nicki, Rihanna, or other prominent “twerker’s” concerts. They have ratings for concerts now, and when there is going to be explicit language or sexual stuff they recommend children of a certain age shouldn’t attend. And if you have a problem with their videos, don’t let your kids watch it.
2) Apparently Annie Lennox thinks women asserting themselves sexually is exploitive.
3) If Annie Lennox cared so much about sending the wrong sexy message?to kids, maybe she shouldn’t have dressed up like dominatrix Minnie Mouse that time…
ninjamynci says
I just hate that woman. She did nothing significant without Dave Stewart and had no problem with album covers that implied she was naked or donning a wig to make herself look attractive. Get over yourself, Annie.
Juan says
What a fucking stupid article. What a fucking stupid writer. What a fucking stupid website. What a fucking stupid comment above, and a fucking stupid group of us writing fucking stupid words about fucking stupid fucking twerking fucking dancing.