Was Dolly Parton a feminist? She wouldn’t say it, but fans heard it – in her life and her lyrics

Dolly Parton, the beloved country singer who passed away at the age of 80, never openly identified as a feminist. However, her fans perceived her as one through her life choices, accomplishments, social alliances, and most notably, her lyrics. Parton's fans, like Lynn Melnick, found evidence of her feminist views in her actions, words, and music.

Melnick, author of "I've Had to Think Up a Way to Survive: On Trauma, Persistence, and Dolly Parton," explained that Parton's humorous skewering of double standards, such as in her song "Just Because I'm a Woman," demonstrated her belief in equality between men and women. Parton's ability to embrace her sexuality while challenging societal norms, coupled with her focus on women's empowerment in songs like "9 to 5," solidified her status as a feminist icon in the eyes of her admirers.

Even feminist pioneer Gloria Steinem acknowledged Parton's alignment with feminist values, writing that Parton brought women and the poor together and used her fame to promote progressive ideas.