Further Proof that Beyoncé is Incredible

...as if any of us still need to be convinced. Beyoncé recently penned an essay for the Shriver Report entitled "Gender Equality is a Myth!" This is a complete 180 from her "girl power" persona that we sometimes see (think "Who Run the World (Girls)"). The essay demonstrates a viewpoint that is more realistic than saying that women run the world.

via upworthy.tumblr.com

Beyoncé uses two interesting figures to back up her argument.

1. Women make up half the workforce, yet earn only 77 percent of what men earn. 
2. If women were paid equal wages to men, household income in the U.S. would increase by $447.6 billion. 

After reading these two facts alone, it's difficult to argue against Beyoncé's point that gender equality is not yet reality. But that is not all she is trying to prove through this article; she wants to address the systems that keep women in a disadvantaged position. Beyoncé moves past the economical and straight to the social causes of this inequality:

"These old attitudes are drilled into us from the very beginning. We have to teach our boys the rules of equality and respect, so that as they grow up, gender equality becomes a natural way of life. And we have to teach our girls that they can reach as high as humanly possible."

Maybe she's right; maybe if every parent teaches their child that gender equality is a reality, it will become one. But perhaps gender inequality is too much a part of our culture to be taken down by good parenting. I know that my parents told me the sky was the limit, yet I still may not earn the wages I deserve simply because I'm a woman. 

Of course, the question of how to end gender inequality hasn't been answered yet, and it would be unfair to expect Beyoncé to answer it for us. Although she may have not given us the solution, Beyoncé does take a stand through her article. She sees this injustice, and is announcing to the world that she is not okay with it. Through the article, Beyoncé continues her great work as a female role model. 

You can read the full article here.