Beyonce’s new music video “Run The World (Girls)” presents an ideology that women in today’s society are stepping out of their shells and becoming the dominant gender. Women in this present day’s society are breaking the popular gender stereotype of being a housewife, belonging in the kitchen, taking care of children, running errands, grocery shopping, catering to other people and most importantly being dependent on men for all of their needs and wants. Today, we live in a world where women are redefined as powerful and sexy, and being able to maintain femininity while being masculine.
The music video begins with Beyonce wearing a white outfit from head to toe with her blonde hair flowing freely in the wind as she rides a black stallion. The background music begins to play as the camera is angled at her surroundings in a suburban desert. Images of a garbage can lit on fire, a painting of an African American, wooden furniture flipped over and in disarray as if it were the aftermath of a violent storm. There are sparse patches of grass but mostly dirt and mountains, with a tree similar to those seen in Disney’s animated film The Lion King. Beyonce, maintaining her composure with a stern face looking directly at the camera, is controlling the horse. The black stallion stands on its hind legs as it raises its front two hooves in the air similar to Disney’s animated film Hercules. Next thing you see, are a bunch of men that look like the swat team wearing helmets, fully suited and armed with protective shields and batons charging on top of cars and chaos. Scenes of a stranded bike on the ground with its wheel still spinning, abandoned cars, and a bunch of people running around in revolt flash by while the background music builds up the intensity. There is one noticeable scene however, of Beyonce standing on top of a car looking up at the sky, her arms rising with fists faced to the sky. You then see a woman freeing herself from a cage wearing nothing but a black bra, bikini and animal fur. She does this in an erotic fashion, her body waving as she stands up. She too, has on a stern and solemn face. The next flashy scene, is another woman. She as well is wearing an all black outfit, lying down with her arms spread out and feet together with her head tilted down slightly to the side on a wooden ladder symbolizing Jesus Christ. Her face is expressionless. Without the actual song beginning yet, these small flashy scenes and images along with the background music build up the intensity and fierceness of the song which is displaying reform.
The mob of men who were previously shown running, now arrive at their post, a few feet away from a bunch of ladies who were waiting for them. The ladies are shown spread out and either standing or sitting in a pose with their hand resting on their hip, ready for battle. They are all wearing different outfits of black and gold, with Beyonce wearing red. Next to her is a lion, which symbolizes royalty, pride and power as they are also known as rulers of the wild kingdom. Around the women are red flags, symbolizing communism, power and death. This relates to the women in the video who are bringing an end to male dominance and revolting. As the camera zooms in and focuses on Beyonce, the song finally begins with the lyrics “GIRLS! We run this motha, yeah!” The backup ladies all change positions and hold a stiff pose whenever the word “girls” is sung. The purpose of this is to emphasize again, the female dominance. Beyonce is shown wearing a black outfit with a big, shiny, golden belt around her waist that defines her curves. Her hands are clenched in fists as she places them on her hips wearing a black fur vest that makes her upper torso look bold which also gives the appearance of broad shoulders, a form of masculinity and power. According to Devor, masculinity is characterized by dominance and aggression.
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