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Maddie Schweitzer

Dunham

ENG 1201

21 February 2021

Rhetorical Analysis of “If I Were a Boy” by Beyonce and Reba McEntire

The song title and repetitive lyric, “If I Were a Boy” sung by both artists, has a deeper

meaning than wanting to become the other gender for a day. Both music videos and lyrics outline

sexism and discrimination of gender. The original version song by Beyonce released in 2008, has

a very catchy tune with breathtaking vocals. The rendition by Reba McEntire released in 2010,

turns Beyonce’s iconic song into a slower paced country melody. "If I Were a Boy" by Beyonce

and Reba McEntire exploit the issue of gender discrimination in the world; however, the original

version by Beyonce, attracts a younger audience because it is a storytelling visual which is more

impactful and easier to interpret.

The original song and music video produced by Beyonce, draws a teenage audience as

well as middle aged women. The line, “How it feels to love a girl, I swear I would be a better

man because I know how it hurts” proves the intended audience because around that age group,

girls all over the world are experiencing heartbreak (Beyonce). Beyonce’s chilling vocals also

give this version a unique personality. In the music video, Beyonce is shown dressing and doing

stereotypical things men do. For example, in multiple scenes, Beyonce is shown in a police

uniform arresting dangerous criminals and doing work that men “typically” do. In this video,

Beyonce is the main character because she is the most shown throughout the video. There are

many different men shown but Beyonce’s music video producer took a different spin on it. In this

particular video gender roles are switched. It shows women doing stereotypical “men jobs'' and
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men doing stereotypical “women jobs.” The message that this video shows is to take a step back

and look at the bigger picture. It also is telling people to put yourself in the opposite genders

shoes and experience their life for a day.

Reba McEntire’s version of the song, “If I Were a Boy” was released two years after

Beyonce's original. Reba McEntire turned Beyonce’s song into a slower, more emotional version

by slowing down the tune. In the music video it shows McEntire in a long, puffy emerald green

dress, strolling around an elegant house alone. In this video she is the only character shown. The

emerald green dress shown in the video is a representation of guilt and jealousy. When you break

down the lyrics of this song, it is very evident that both of these women are expressing their

anger that women are often overlooked especially when standing next to a man. The green dress

perfectly correlates with this claim because it shows a visual representation of jealousy relating

to the lyrics of the song. This music video was intended for all people to raise awareness for

gender descrimination and hardship. More specifically, I think this video is meant for all women

to show them that they have a voice and are being heard.

Pathos, the appeal to emotion, is the most substantial rhetorical theme displayed in both

music videos. For example in Reba McEntire’s rendition, the whole music video is a close up of

her singing through agony and pain due to gender inequality and discrimination through male

hierarchy. McEntire’s slower music tune creates a more dramatic effect of emotion for the

audience. In Beyonce’s music video there are many different scenes where she is shown stressed

out and crying while doing things women typically do. When Beyonce is shown doing jobs that

men do, she is smiling, and laughing. The producers' reason behind this appeal to emotion is that

the jobs of women are usually more difficult and strenuous than some men. The message that the
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author is trying to express the most is that, women are almost never given the recognition or

attention they deserve for the things that they do all over the world.

Both versions of the song, “If I Were a Boy” are extremely similar in almost every way

except for the tune and pitch. The biggest similarity of both videos and artists is the passion for

getting the deeper meaning and message across to the audience. The pain and cry for help in both

of these women's voices vibrantly stands out throughout the whole song. These two women,

Beyonce and Reba McEntire, are trying to spread the message that it is time for women to be

heard and that the constant unfair treatment has gone on for too long.
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Works Cited

Beyonce. If I Were A Boy. Youtube, 2 Oct. 2009,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWpsOqh8q0M&feature=youtu.be. Accessed 14

Feb. 2021.

McEntire, Reba. If I Were A Boy. Youtube, 8 Mar. 2011,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjWCZB08UW0. Accessed 14 Feb. 2021.