“When women like Beyoncé proudly proclaim feminism, they tend to invite more debates than affirmation.”
That’s one of the provocative statements that kicks off Janell Hobson’s cover essay on popular culture icon Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, our fierce feminist cover woman for Spring 2013.
The new issue of Ms. magazine, now on its way to subscribers, is also available as a digital download for iPhones, iPads and Androids.
Hobson, an associate professor of women’s studies at the University of Albany, State University of New York, sparks a discussion among other pop culture critics about female empowerment, combining feminism and “traditional” roles, and the “politics of respectability” for black women. At the end of the piece, it’s up to the reader to decide: Why do we even question her feminism at all?
The new issue of Ms. isn’t all Beyoncé, of course. We also cover:
— 10 things to know about health insurance reform
–Why fracking is a feminist issue
–An excerpt from Eve Ensler’s new memoir
–A report on how the rampant problem of military sexual assault may have reached a tipping point as women enter combat roles.
And much more!
Carry Ms. with you wherever you’re going this spring, whether on your phone, tablet or in the traditional print format. As Bey would sing, “Who run the world? Girls!”
