Rap music is based off one man telling the everyday
struggle(s), including love life, from the ghetto.
Whether you’re a fan or not, hip-hop has had an
impact on the way society views things from fashion trends to popular music.
Sadly,
some rappers have used this popularity for the worse by objectifying women and
demeaning them in their lyrics and music videos.
The cease-fire of misogynistic songs in the world of
hip hop, or other genres, is highly unlikely to happen. This is a huge problem
considering a form of music that degrades women is socially acceptable and has
precedent to continue doing so.
This sexist industry has made it hard for women to
appear playing a predominant role in hip-hop. Women were put in rapper’s music
videos due to their physical appearance and ability to gyrate in front of the
camera.
The women in these videos are known as “video
vixens” and are perceived as nothing more than sex objects. With focus only on
their physical attributes, their intelligence and personality are lost in
translation.
No women were forced to gyrate in skimpy clothes for
a music video. Yet, these women willingly stood in front of the camera and made
it seem okay that these vulgar lyrics, directly aimed at them, caused no harm.
Women are forced with a catch-22.
A woman in
hip-hop can be respected if she fits and acts the rapper’s disrespectful description
of a woman as a “hoe” or “bitch.”
Now, it has become custom for a male rapper to speak
about women in a degrading manner to establish his masculinity. Not only is it
custom for the rapper to establish his masculinity, but to establish an idea in
all the millions of young boys and girls who listen.
All blame can’t solely be put on males. Female
rappers subject themselves to be objectified through their promiscuous lyrics.
Newly appointed judge for “American Idol,” Nicki
Minaj, whose fan base surpasses millions of youth, sells her image through
sexual lyrics.
“Top, top/ give ‘em good top/ hit ‘em below the
belt/ want to give him good top.”
*‘Top’ being slang for felatio.
These listeners will regurgitate what they hear on
the radio, act it out, and juxtapose themselves with their favorite male or
female rapper.
Not only does this keep the objectification of women
alive, it fuels a bigger problem: teen violence.
In a 1991 Sex Roles: A Journal of Research article
approximately 25% of high school females in Libby Bergman’s sample reported
either sexual and/or physical abuse in their relationships.
Could this portrayal of women and the way they act
be true or is this a hip-hop marketing plan used to demean, objectify, and
sexualize women for profit?
What is the solution if women won’t defend themselves
and put their clothes back on as male rappers continue to boost their
masculinity by belittling them?
The solution is education.
Educate the youth so they
understand what they’re listening to instead of trying to cover it up like a
political scandal.
Works Cited:
Adams, Mike S.; Ashburn.
Leslie, Johnson, James D.; Reed, William."Differential gender effects of
exposure to rap music on African American adolescents' acceptance of teen dating violence.." (1. Oct. 1995):
http://business.highbeam.com/435388/article-1G1-17895695/differential-gender-effects-exposure-rap-music-african.
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