So what if Beyoncé changes her name?!

Photo from The Guardian.co.uk- I do NOT own

This week, just a few hours after her incredible performance at the Super Bowl half time show, Beyoncé came under fire for announcing her new tour, called "The Mrs Carter" tour. Why were people outraged you ask? Because Miss Independent has apparently given up all rights to this title after taking her husband's  name. 

Now, I know that we live in the 21st century and women fought for many years for us to have the freedom to make our own decisions on who we date, what we do and how we dress, but surely the fact that Queen B has chosen to take her husband's name shouldn't mean that we are taking a step back in our quest for true independence? I'm all for the modern woman but c'mon ladies, are we really getting in such a tiff over this?!

I can understand some of your points, I really can. Yes, Beyoncé has forged her identity on the ideologies of a strong, independent and fierce woman. Ideas that have been encapsulated in songs like Independent women, Irreplaceable and obviously Run The World. Plus, she has always said that it's important for women to be able to look after themselves and not have to rely on a man to pay for their things, but those messages were told when Beyoncé herself was a young girl. Now, she's a married woman and so she is only doing what most women do and take their husband's name. The fact they she may be reinventing herself on this tour as "Mrs Carter" does not mean that she's giving up on the person that we have grown to love and admire over the years. I'm pretty sure that just because of the name change she's not suddenly going to write songs on how to be the perfect housewife or how she now belongs to Jay-Z!

During my teens, hearing her messages of looking after yourself were quite empowering but Queen B has long proved to us that she is able to manage and organise her life in a way that she chooses. 

Personally, I don't think this a step back for feminism. Beyoncé has done more than enough to help teenage girls feel better about their lives, body and mind by giving them the confidence to find themselves and not give it all to the first guy that comes around. Remember her song "Yes"? She wrote this after splitting up with her first boyfriend who apparently wanted Bey to sleep with him before she was ready. 

She told him no.

To me, that's power. That's independence. That's what we need to concentrate on. 

By questioning Beyoncé's decision to take Jay Z's name, we are questioning her ability to make her own decisions. We are questioning her strength as a woman and we are undermining her independence. Just because she is making the decision that thousands of women make every year, does not make her less of a powerful woman. And surely by assuming that when a woman takes a man's name they are giving up their independence and will, then we are assuming that independence and identity can be given up which such a simple act as taking your husband's name. 

When I get married, I'll be taking my husband's name. It's something that I look forward to doing. It doesn't mean I'm less of a woman and it certainly isn't because society is making me do it. It's because for me, it signifies a marriage and it signifies unity and family.  

If a small thing like a change in name can affect who we are, then surely us women have a long way to go yet before we can feel independent and powerful. 

Oh, and I think you're all forgetting one important little piece of information here, Jay Z is also changing HIS name and taking on his wife's surname, re-naming himself as: 

Shawn (aka Jay-z) Knowles-Carter. 

So maybe you might just want to think your argument of Beyoncé changing for her husband, yeah?

Just a thought. 

By Mimi.




Twitter: @miaholt Instagram: Mia_Holt