Is it possible that some mischievous conservative created the Ban Bossy campaign to lampoon liberal hypocrisy (as well as liberal preoccupations)? The new initiative claims that championing young women’s leadership begins with banning the word “bossy.” But while Diane Sawyer was calling it “the powerful movement to change one word,” entertainment TV aired the word “bitch” 50 times last week.
And then there’s Beyoncé. As the campaign launched last week, the singer signed on, and made headlines for announcing, “I’m not bossy. I’m the boss.” Possibly the boss of “bitch.” Beyoncé uses that other B-word nine times on her most recent, self-titled album released last December. Mostly, she uses it to tell other women they’ll never be as good as her. Take a look at her “***Flawless” lyrics for example:
I know when you were little girls
You dreamt of being in my world
Don't forget it, don't forget it
Respect that, bow down bitches (crown)
I took some time to live my life
But don't think I'm just his little wife
Don't get it twisted, get it twisted
This my shit, bow down bitches
Bow down bitches, bow-bow down bitches (crown)
Bow down bitches, bow-bow down bitches (crown)
H-Town vicious, H, H-Town vicious
I'm so crown, crown, bow down bitches!
Now if that doesn’t encourage young women, what will?
Beyoncé uses “bitch” on two more two more songs on the album: “Drunk in Love” and “Mine.” The album sold one million copies sold in just the first three days after its release.
Good thing she didn’t call anyone “bossy.”
— Katie Yoder is Staff Writer, Joe and Betty Anderlik Fellow in Culture and Media at the Media Research Center. Follow Katie Yoder on Twitter.
