Rihanna's Latest Vogue Cover With A$AP Rocky And Their Son Has Everyone Talking About Gender Roles And Motherhood

The Kansas City Chiefs beat the Philadelphia Eagles to win Super Bowl LVII, but even the people who didn't watch the actual football game tuned into the halftime show. Rihanna performed in an all-red outfit, revealing her second baby bump to the world alongside a sea of dancers wearing matching white outfits. While some absolutely loved her performance, others were underwhelmed with what they saw. Either way, it got a lot of people talking about how women are able to accomplish great things while still being a mother. Shortly after the 2023 Super Bowl, British Vogue released a brand new cover and lengthy interview featuring Rihanna. The article was called "Rihanna Reborn: How A Megastar Became A Mother." However, there was something about the magazine cover that people couldn't help but notice.

Rihanna's Latest Vogue Cover with A$AP Rocky and Their Son Has Everyone Talking About Gender Roles and Motherhood

Rihanna spoke about how empowered she feels after becoming a mother: "It’s everything. You really don’t remember life before, that’s the craziest thing ever." She talked about how she and A$AP Rocky came home from the hospital with their baby boy "cold turkey" and didn't have anyone helping them with the newborn phase. But Rihanna has loved motherhood so much that she's already pregnant with their second child.

The British Vogue photo shoot features Rihanna along with her boyfriend A$AP Rocky and their son walking along the beach. On the magazine cover, Rihanna is wearing a long black dress with a slit that comes up to her hips, and A$AP Rocky is following behind her carrying their baby with his face turned away from the camera. The photo has sparked a conversation about their family dynamics, as well as the role of a wife and mother.

Social media influencers posted the photo on Twitter, Instagram, etc. and asked their followers to share their thoughts on it. What does it represent? Is this something that women and mothers should aspire to?

Many people are pointing out the fact that Rihanna is leading the family in this picture. She is the one in the spotlight and the person in charge, and her baby and her male partner are following behind. Some even said that A$AP Rocky seems emasculated and feminine as he carries the infant in his arms and kisses the baby on the forehead. Rihanna is holding A$AP's hand but is staring fiercely into the camera and strutting confidently as her family follows closely. It even almost looks like A$AP is physically smaller than Rihanna.

While the picture is just that—a picture—it does offer a pretty accurate representation into their dynamic. While it may seem old fashioned to some, men are created to lead the family and be a dominating, masculine presence. This can only work if the wife and mother is feminine, soft, and nurturing to the home. Rihanna is a savvy businesswoman and one of the most loved musical icons of this generation, but some fans insist that she could have been portrayed in a different way for the magazine that would evoke how devoted she is as a mother.

Some people are pointing out the fact that over 70% of black mothers in the US are single moms (which leads to much higher likelihood that the children will commit crimes, drop out of high school, live in poverty, etc.), and they're the ones leading the household and making all the decisions while the father either isn't in the picture or he's just casually along for the ride. Many urban communities idolize celebrities like Rihanna, Beyoncé, and Cardi B, so the way they present themselves in the media matters. TikToker @2brotherjoshua says he's all about empowering women and seeing them succeed, but black families should be given healthy representations that encourage them to create strong family units.

Many people are concerned that this image being broadcasted all over the internet only encourages black mothers to stay single and lead the way, rather than learn how to complement their husband and father of their children with femininity and softness. That doesn't mean that women should never pursue their professional careers, but it does mean that if we want to improve our society, we have to build lasting families. And lasting families can't be built without men who prioritize leading and women who prioritize nurturing.