Aretha Franklin's feminist anthem 'Respect' was written by a man – and that's why her interpretation is so powerful

In Franklin's hands, the song became a feminist anthem – something she herself said she didn't see as 'bold' at all, but instead the way things should always have been

Aretha Franklin, Queen of Soul and eternal music legend, has been astounding the world with her powerful, sultry tones for more than half a century.

The news of her death at the age of 76 has led to numerous tributes flooding the internet from around the world, with many seeking solace in her most treasured hits.

Of all of Franklin’s repertoire, from “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” to “I Say a Little Prayer” and “Think”, there’s no doubt that the song that is most cherished around the world is “Respect”, the powerhouse hit that propelled her to fame at the tender age of 24.

However, “Respect” was far more than simply a song that made individuals feel empowered (although it definitely did).

At a time when initiatives for women’s rights were gaining momentum on a global scale during the 1960s, with “Respect”, Franklin demanded that all women receive the what they had been denied for so long, and sorely deserved.

Four years prior in 1963, the Equal Pay Act had been signed by President John F Kennedy in an effort to abolish wage disparity between the sexes in America.

Furthermore, the National Organisation for Women, an organisation created by 49 women and men with the aim of fighting for feminist issues, was founded in Washington, D.C. in 1966.

The fact that “Respect” was originally written and recorded by a man makes Franklin’s message of empowerment even more potent.

Even though it was actually Otis Redding who first released the song in 1965, it’s Franklin’s portrayal of a strong, self-assured woman in her rendition that cemented the song as the timeless classic that it is today. Her reinterpretation was simply transformative.

Franklin’s version has received an array of accolades, earning the singer two Grammys in 1968 and a number one spot on the R&B Singles Chart and the Billboard Hot 100 in the year of its release.

However, arguably the greatest achievement of “Respect” was its ability to be representative of those fighting for significant social change in the late 1960s, namely those taking part in the women’s and civil rights movements. It identified the central problem – that members of certain social groups had been denied basic respect by their counterparts – and then loudly demanded a solution.

In 2017, Franklin was asked by the Detroit Free Press whether she thought the song was particularly bold when it was released, considering the ongoing fights for equal gender and civil rights at the time.

“I don’t think it’s bold at all,” she said. “I think it’s quite natural that we all want respect – and should get it.”

While the actual lyrics of “Respect” depict a woman demand that her partner treat her with the same level of regard as she has treated him, its message is universal to all, and became a potent symbol of national change.

I find that that if ever I'm in situation where I feel as though someone’s taking liberties, confidently spelling out “R-E-S-P-E-C-T” will always help me regain the composure that I need. Thank-you, Aretha Franklin; you will be sorely missed.