Beyoncé and the Neo-Feminist Movement Part 1 – How the Popular Songstress Influences Public Policy and Positive Social Change Through the Celebration of Female Empowerment

The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of ASPA as an organization.

By Andrew Vaz
June 6, 2025

If you have lived under a rock for the past 30 years or so, there has been an individual who has left an impressive mark on the world with her God-given talent to entertain. From her humble beginnings as a member of an all-female group ensemble to a multi-award-winning feminist icon, there has been no greater force to move the world to her whims than the blond-haired, deep warm brown-eyed diva from the great state of Texas with an operatic mezzo-soprano vocal range. Of course, I am referring to Houston native Beyoncé Gisele Knowles-Carter, known simply as Beyoncé. Her music career is one of legend; she is already in the conversation of GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) status with the likes of the late Michael Jackson and Prince.

Beyoncé didn’t jump straight into the conscious arena of music immediately. There was a time when the singer would not engage in politics with her work, so much so that her leanings were largely unknown. This started to change after the election of President Barack Obama in 2008—gradually, the songstress began to express her views on political matters by endorsing candidates publicly. In addition to expressing her views, Beyoncé has used her platform over the years to influence major political electoral contests and to move her adoring fanbase to the polls in support of the candidate she endorsed. Her message intersects women’s empowerment and autonomy with racial justice for communities of color. Her actions have changed a great deal in how celebrities engage their fanbases concerning politics, and through this, she has become a force for positive social change.

The Concept of Neo-Feminism

Beyoncé has openly expressed that women do and should realize their autonomy through their femininity. Neo-feminism champions the free choice of women in appearance, lifestyle and sexuality. This consumerist orientation retains the advances of legal equality in political space but urges women to celebrate their femininity in their personal lives—a category that includes careers, clothing and sexuality.

If one could explain Beyoncé to a person who may have not listened to her work before, this is her in a nutshell. Her music often explores themes of female independence, self-love and reclaiming power within relationships and society. Beyoncé’s work has been praised for its ability to inspire and resonate with a diverse audience, particularly young women, who may feel more comfortable with a more inclusive and nuanced approach to feminism (neo-feminism).

Neo-feminism will challenge traditional societal views on female sexuality, and Beyoncé’s music often explores this theme powerfully and unapologetically. Her performances and music videos frequently showcase her sexuality as a source of power and agency.

Beyoncé Ended the Concept of ‘Respectability Politics’

So, what sparked Beyoncé’s venture into political commentary? Let’s journey back to 2016, specifically the Super Bowl, the NFL’s big finale of their football season. When Beyoncé performed “Formation” live during her 2016 Super Bowl 50 halftime show, it marked the beginning of her shift toward political commentary. Featuring choreography and costumes reminiscent of the Black Panther groups of the 1960s and 1970s, the performance marked a shift from her previous work, which had avoided overt political content. This change was solidified two months later with the release of her sixth album, Lemonade. The 12-track project had strong political overtones that listeners could not ignore, even though it was partially inspired by personal issues, primarily infidelity and Black womanhood. The mothers of Michael Brown, Eric Garner and Trayvon Martin—young Black men whose deaths sparked the Black Lives Matter movement—made brief appearances in songs like “Forward.” The album’s imagery and lyrics addressed the adversity and resiliency of Black womanhood in addition to racial injustice.

Beyoncé, today, is a mother of three children; she is deeply concerned, of course, about the well-being of her kids’ future. So she shares the sentiments of many parents raising their children in a country that has such division. This is why she can be unapologetic about her positions and face off against her critics who think she should stay quiet (the equivalent to the “shut up and dribble” remark LeBron James experienced). Beyoncé has pushed back against the idea of respectability politics. Given her status as a powerful businesswoman and entertainer, she is not concerned with appeasing the thoughts and minds of those who have hostility toward her racial and gender identities. Her desire to express pride in herself against the wrath of racial and gender prejudice seems to inspire her fanbase, the BeyHive—the group who defends her in person and online, acting like a swarm of bees protecting their queen. Beyoncé stands by her beliefs and is not afraid to be an advocate for the communities that lack representation amongst the elite in Hollywood. She is comfortable in her skin, and she wants everyone else to be as well.

Beyoncé Sees Policy as an Opportunity to Build Relationships

From Taylor Swift to Adele, Beyoncé likes to foster relationships with others in her industry to foster further healthy collaboration. I am not talking about music projects specifically. As a businesswoman, Mrs. Carter likes to extend her hand to others within her industry—from young upstarts looking for their big break to industry veterans with an established fanbase. This cooperation between women is being re-created in government, with more women being elected to office willing to work together to advance policy initiatives that benefit women and girls.

Conclusion

Without a doubt, Beyoncé and her influence on social justice and policy reform is quite massive. We must revisit this in a future column and demonstrate how her ability to tackle the male-dominated, corporate world helped lead to movements such as #MeToo and pay equity in the workforce. Beyoncé was meant to be more than just a recording artist—she is a leader of a reformation movement, for women and girls worldwide.

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Author: Andrew R. Vaz, Ph.D. is a graduate of the Ph.D. in Public Policy and Ad-ministration program at Walden University, specializing in Public Man-agement and Leadership. He was already awarded a Master of Philoso-phy (MPhil) degree in the program. He is also a graduate of the Master of Science in Criminal Justice (MSCJ) and Master of Public Administration (MPA) double master’s program at Florida International University. He can be reached at [email protected]. 

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