Beyoncé & Taylor’s Empowering 2023

In 2023, women took center stage, both culturally and economically, marking numerous feminist milestones in pop culture that resonated and defined the year.

1. Beyoncé’s Historic World Tour and Film: Beyoncé, breaking records with her Renaissance World Tour, became the first woman and African American performer to gross $579 million. Her subsequent concert film documented this history-making tour.

2. Taylor Swift‘s Billion-Dollar Eras Tour: Swift, a powerhouse in her own right, reclaimed her masters, earned the title of the first female billionaire solely from music, and headlined the groundbreaking Eras Tour grossing over $1 billion.

3. Philanthropy and Gender Pay Equity Advocacy: Both pop icons demonstrated philanthropy and gender pay equity advocacy. Swift supported food banks and paid bonuses to tour workers, while Beyoncé opened a housing complex for the homeless.

4. Sisterhood on Display: Beyond their individual successes, Beyoncé and Swift showcased a powerful sisterhood. They attended each other’s premieres, defying attempts to pit women against each other, emphasizing unity in the industry.

5. Empowering Women of Color in Film: Women of color took the forefront on both big and small screens. Directors like Nia DaCosta and Adele Lim spearheaded projects, challenging industry norms and stereotypes.

6. Fran Drescher’s Leadership Amidst SAG-AFTRA Strikes: Fran Drescher, known for her comedic roles, led a 118-day strike as SAG-AFTRA president, advocating for better wages and protections against AI threats in the entertainment industry.

7. Adult Survivors Act Unveiled by Drew Dixon: Drew Dixon, featured in the “Turning 50” series, championed the Adult Survivors Act in New York, empowering survivors to seek justice beyond statutes of limitations.

8. Barbie’s Feminist Engagement in Film: Greta Gerwig directed the box-office success “Barbie,” a film that playfully engaged with feminist theory, transforming the narrative around the iconic doll.

9. Women Dominate Award Nominations: In music, women dominated award nominations. Taylor Swift and SZA led nominations at MTV’s Video Music Awards and the Grammy Awards, challenging stereotypes in the music industry.

10. Rihanna’s Groundbreaking Super Bowl Performance: Rihanna’s Super Bowl halftime show, while pregnant, challenged norms. Her intentional display of pregnancy became a symbol of women taking up space in traditionally male-dominated fields.

These moments collectively depict a year where women not only excelled in their respective fields but also fostered a sense of unity, empowerment, and change in the evolving landscape of pop culture.

Re-reported from the article originally published in The Ms. Magazine