Beyoncé’s feminism is not my type of feminism, says Chimamanda Adichie

by Staff writer

Even though Chimamanda Adichie was OK with Queen Bey using her statements on feminism in her song, the fame that came along with it was a different story.

The Nigerian novelist felt that Beyoncé’s type of feminism is not the same as hers.

Adichie has praised Beyoncé for promoting the well-being and independence of women and of herself, but according to Adichie, the pop star might put too much weight on the “necessity of men”.

‘Her style is not my style,’ Adichie said, ‘but I do find it interesting that she takes a stand in political and social issues, since a few years. She portrays a woman who is in charge of her own destiny, who does her own thing, and she has girl power. I am very taken with that.’
 
‘Still, her type of feminism is not mine, as it is the kind that, at the same time, gives quite a lot of space to the necessity of men. I think men are lovely, but I don’t think that women should relate everything they do to men: did he hurt me, do I forgive him, did he put a ring on my finger? We women are so conditioned to relate everything to men.

‘Put a group of women together and the conversation will eventually be about men. Put a group of men together and they will not talk about women at all, they will just talk about their own stuff. We women should spend about 20 per cent of our time on men, because it’s fun, but otherwise we should also be talking about our own stuff.’

Also during the interview with Dutch publication de Volkskrant, Adichie shot down any speculation that Beyonce had used her TED Talk without permission.
 
‘Of course Beyoncé asked permission to use my texts, and I did give her permission,’ she said.

‘I think she’s lovely and I am convinced that she has nothing but the best intentions.’