This sort of conservativism and adherence to gender norms seems typical of pop-music, but I think people somehow see this song as 'feminist' because that's the image they have of Beyonce herself. In any case, if this were any sort of 'feminist anthem' the woman would be the one doing the deciding, and in an ideal world, no-one would be referred to as 'it'.

Something for someone to do something to rather than an agent of her own.Įverything about these lyrics highlights the inequality latent in the institution of marriage. Beyonce (or the character 'narrating' the song) is drawing attention to her status as object rather than subject. The lyrics are entirely about the man deciding to make the woman his wife. We don't seem to have progressed too far from the Old Testament laws which suggest that women are the property of their husbands. The woman is an object ('it') to be owned by the man through the contract of marriage. If you liked it, then you should have put a ring on it' If you liked it, then you should have put a ring on itĭon't be mad once you see that he want it

'Cause if you liked it, then you should have put a ring on it Or, at least, a woman escaping from an unhappy relationship and celebrating that. I mean, I suppose if we ignore the chorus then the verse out of context could be seen as championing female independence.

I found that strange, because aside from the fact I find it an obnoxious song musically, I've always seen it as a sort of misogynistic anthem. Someone mentioned the other day that 'Single Ladies' by Beyonce had a feminist element to it.

Is there a man in beyonce single ladies