In “Sisters Are Doin’ It For Themselves,” Eurythmics and Aretha Franklin come together to express women’s liberation and empowerment through the art of music. The song starts off strong with, “Now there was a time/When they used to say/That behind every great man/There had to be a great woman/But in these times of change/You know that it’s no longer true/So we’re comin’ out of the kitchen” (0:13-0:38), demonstrating not only the power of women but also the unison of a white woman and a black woman combatting the patriarchy together.
Unlike Betty Friedan’s white, middle-class centric views, Aretha and Annie Lennox (Eurythmics’ lead singer) join forces in this feminist song to empower women and demonstrate that women are capable of “doin’ it for themselves.” I believe this song captures bell hooks’ ideal version of feminism and can be related to second wave feminism. The addition of Aretha to this song strengthens its message because it adds the perspective of a black woman to the conversation, and the song is not focused on an issue that only affects white, middle-class women; the song is focused on liberating women and acknowledging their power as women, including women from different cultures.
The harmony created by Aretha and Annie is amazing, and the music video that accompanies this song does not focus on one sole type of woman; there is a focus on all women and their successes, but the spotlight is still focused on white woman in the beginning of the video. However, I like how Annie collaborates with Aretha to make the world aware of women’s strengths across different cultures and perspectives. This reminds me of bell hooks, especially when she says, “Had middle-class black women begun a movement […] no one would have taken them seriously,” and she continues, “[t]his was not the case with white bourgeois feminists, for they could appeal to a large audience of women like themselves who were eager to change their lot in life” (bell hooks 7). This song incorporates a black woman’s voice, and Annie does not overshadow Aretha; she uplifts her, incorporating Aretha’s voice into the conversation through music. There is a mixture of perspectives, but they are brought together with the idea of women’s liberation. Annie seems to be using her whiteness to bring awareness to the issues all women face, the opposite of Betty Friedan and taking into consideration bell hooks’ advice and criticism of Friedan.
In conclusion, Annie and Aretha created an empowering piece for all women, taking into consideration the women from different cultures and focusing on empowering women instead of focusing on a particular issue that only certain women deal with. The inclusion of black women in the music video and song is showing the power of women when they are united and not divided.
I love this song, even its title is uplifting. This song is during a time of change where traditional roles are changing and this song is supporting the new changes. and you are correct and I love that you brought up how the inclusion of women of color turns this from a white women issue to a feminist issue.
Hi Jose! I love that you picked a song that Aretha Franklin sang because she is such a strong female role model. I think her being one of the artists of the song definitely sends a message because there are the aspects of feminism as well as her being a black women, it is tied with intersectionality. I also love all of your mentions of a couple class readings we have studied such as Hooks and Friedan, especially because Hooks referenced Friedan in her piece. Great choice!
Hey Jose! I really love the song that you chose, and your comparisons with bell hooks and Betty Friedan. I think it’s very effective how you lay out the comparison, and it really gets me thinking about how my song and other songs on our playlist connect with these scholars.
Jose, I love what you had to say about the song! It is such an empowering anthem by two iconic women. I like the comparison you made with Friedan and describing the ways this song rejects those views, and how the title of the song practically speaks for itself. I also loved what you said about the harmonies between Annie and Aretha’s voice, and how Annie is not overpowering, but uplifting Aretha’s voice, comparing the different perspectives the two women provide on this song. Really nice job!
Hi Jose–great post! I see exactly what you mean with the mixture of perspectives being brought together in this song. I love how you connected it almost immediately to bell hooks and her “ideal” feminism. I think you have great comments on the interaction between Annie and Aretha, especially in how they build off one another to empower all women. Great analysis and, of course, a great song too!
I love the comments on the video and how Annie and Aretha are collaborating. The title of this song is strong enough and kind of explains all the messages it wants to convey. And it is so empowering to see that they were actually working on to make it more inclusive.
This is a great analysis, Jose, and an interesting song that I hadn’t heard before! I really like how you point out that the song is inclusive of women of color rather than portraying women as white. The inclusion of both Annie Lennox and Aretha Franklin in the song signals an important message that feminism is an issue by all women and for all women.