Weekend at the Symphony
The lights dim in the concert hall. Silence fills the expectant air as the backstage door opens. Thunderous applause follows the maestro as he walks…
"You Could Be the King but Watch the Queen Conquer"
This is both the name of this blog post and an amazing lyric in Nicki Minaj’s verse in the song “Monster,” additionally recorded by Kanye West, Jay Z, Rick Ross, and Justin Vernon. This line does more than put an abrupt end to the male-driven verses before it—it’s also an incredibly apt way to describe an ideology that is new to me: the idea that women can be powerful, strong, and important just by being women.
Some backstory: when I was little I hated being called cute. I went through a phase where I protested the color pink along with dresses and skirts. I tried to argue that women were just as good as men because “we have muscles, too, and I could totally take you in a fight!” And there’s nothing wrong with that. Women are allowed to hate pink, to hate skirts and high heels and makeup, to love sports and to aspire to have a muscular build. But I wrongly assumed that women need to emulate men in order to equate to men. When I was first exposed to feminism I empowered myself by reminding women that we shouldn’t wait for a prince to come save us—we should bust out of that tower and save ourselves! But I also slowly learned not to hate spray-tanned, Starbucks-drinking, boy-obsessed, “stereotypical” girls.
Nicki Minaj is one of my many celebrity role models. She is so unashamedly feminine—even her fans call themselves “Barbz” in honor of her own nickname “Barbie.” So when she finally gets her time to shine in the “Monster” music video, she doesn’t cover herself with masculine battle gear and she doesn’t wear baggy clothes to match those of Kanye West and Jay Z. Instead, she portrays two versions of herself: one who wears a skin-tight body suit with matching stilettos, and one who wears a pink wig with a fluffy white dress. Even though her verse describes the violent monster world, and her own aggressive climb to fame, she feels no need to erase her femininity. I love that she chooses to fight her battles wearing makeup.
And so I’ve learned to fight my battles wearing makeup. I respect the Katniss Everdeens and Natasha Romanoffs of the world, and I’m so amazed at how much of a talented fencer my roommate is. But I’ve also learned that women who cry, women who can’t carry heavy boxes, women who love chasing after boys, and women who embody everything society has labelled “feminine” are just as fierce.
In one episode of my favorite show, Parks and Recreation, the main character Leslie invades an all-male hunting trip with her best friend to prove that she can be “one of the boys.” But at the end of the episode, when her friend declares herself “Pants King,” Leslie corrects her and calls her the “Pants Queen.” Because after all, why be king when you can watch the queen conquer?
The lights dim in the concert hall. Silence fills the expectant air as the backstage door opens. Thunderous applause follows the maestro as he walks…
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