With Bodak Yellow receiving a Grammy nod for Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song, it is clear that Cardi B has secured her place amongst well established rap icons like Nicki Minaj, Lauryn Hill, and Lil Kim. As an afro-latina rapper from the Bronx, Cardi B’s push into the mainstream places a spotlight on her deliberate removal from the traditional feminine roles that many of her pop culture counterparts abide by. Taking a look at scenes from Love & Hip Hop: New York, it is easy to see how her refusal to comply with both traditional gender roles and mainstream rules for presenting oneself would garner her a label of being a “nasty woman”. Whether it be her hypersexuality in conversation or her divergence from traditional femininity, Cardi B has made a clear statement saying that she is not willing to be complicit with any forms of criticism. With that in mind, it is undeniable that, in a society where the conservative government is promoting traditional values while the liberal activists are forgetting about many marginalized communities, Cardi B is the role model needed by both the Millennial generation and Generation Z.
In order to understand where her necessity lies in the push for equal rights, one must first look to the divergence between white feminism and intersectional feminism. White feminism is what is currently considered to be the sole form feminism by a majority of society. This is the mainstream push for women’s rights that tends to leave behind women of color, trans women, and women from lower socioeconomic statuses. Intersectional feminism, on the other hand, is a combination of groups representing multiple marginalizations to succeed in equality for all. Intersectionality allows for the representation of many diverse backgrounds in any given organization. This line of thinking, which currently is considered by some to be a fringe concept, argues that in order for the women’s rights movement to succeed, all equal rights movements must also succeed concurrently.
Cardi has taken this idea further, stating in a New York Magazine interview that: “People think that being a feminist is a b**ch that, like, went to school. They wear skirts all the way to their motherf**king ankles like a godd**n First Lady. That's not being a feminist. Being a feminist is being equal to do what a man do.” Essentially, Cardi argues that the mainstream feminist movement has taken on such an elitist tone that it shuts out those from marginalizations other than gender, especially for those marginalized through socioeconomic status. Her denial of the feminist label asserts her refusal to allow minority groups to fall behind in the push for more progressive social values. This belief opens up feminism to the masses, rather than to an oligarchical minority.
Further, Cardi has challenged gender roles through her embracing of traditionally masculine qualities. In her verse on G-Eazy’s song, No Limit, Cardi raps: “I need tongue, I need face, give me brain, concentrate…” Here, Cardi is referring to her desire for oral sex, as well as her hypersexuality. While being sexually assertive has long been attributed in American society to be reserved solely for men, here, Cardi is arguing that this traditional value is arbitrary. This broadens her previously stated feminist argument to encompass that a woman can and should have the ability to break through the glass ceiling of certain sexual behaviors being reserved solely for men. By serving as an example for confident sexuality being a positive, Cardi is showing society that sex is something that can be enjoyed by all whatever role is desired by those consenting to the act.
Her determination in the broadening of the definition of female sexuality can also be applied to her push for equality in the workplace. Cardi is no stranger to financial success. Shortly after she made headlines with Bodak Yellow reaching number 1 on the charts this past summer, Cardi’s net worth was reported to be around $4 million. In Bodak Yellow, Cardi raps: “got a bag and fixed my teeth, hope you hoes know it ain’t cheap, and I pay my mama bills, I ain’t got no time to chill…” Cardi’s display of hard work leading to financial gains again challenges the mainstream gender norms, albeit this time in regards to the more commonly discussed wage gap. By doing so, Cardi is putting out a message of female empowerment, as self sufficiency is something that, while gaining some headway in the push for gender equality, is considered to still be in conflict with mainstream traditional family values. This shatters the notion that the wage gap can be in place, as well as the traditional idea that a woman can not be the breadwinner for her family.
Cardi was certainly not the first celebrity to challenge gender norms, nor is she the only one currently doing so. One need look no further than Beyonce’s song ***Flawless or Ruby Rose’s push for the mainstream acceptance of gender fluidity to see this. However, it is Cardi’s unorthodox approach to the push for equality that is noteworthy because she is the first under the current presidential administration to use her platform to streamline a counter-hegemonic movement against the majority opinion. Cardi does so by combining a concern for the welfare of minorities with a lack of political polarization in her public statements. By doing so, Cardi’s message of equality is better adept to be received by those across the political spectrum, thus allowing for greater change to occur.
Cardi succeeds in the realm of making social aspirations a reality where other artists fail. Performers like Taylor Swift perpetuate the hegemonic status quo by refusing to condemn forms of bigotry on a consistent basis. By not speaking out against hegemony, the public figure in question is unintentionally endorsing ideologies rooted in marginalizations. Even though Cardi does not make her arguments political, she still progresses a message of equality that encompasses a vast breadth of different people groups, regardless of personal ideologies. This again allows her to message to be received by a larger audience because she is not targeting any specific political mindsets.
It is because of her refusal to conform that Cardi B’s legitimacy and necessity as a role model is validated. Her challenge to conservative social values, and the white feminist narrative, as well as her refusal to polarize socio-political discussions serve as hallmarks to her persona that are necessary examples to both the Millennial generation and Generation Z that demonstrate how success in life can not occur without being true to your personal individuality. The fate of the nation may not necessarily change because of one individual. However, with the aid of icons like Cardi B, progressive social ideas will undoubtedly gain better validity, and likely will serve as a catalysts to create more intersectional counter-hegemonic movements that will make equality for all a reality.
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