The Role Of Sexism In Rap Music

Improved Essays
Music is a component of everyday life, sending the messages in music to pervade consciousness of people. Some music genres are associating with biased themes such as sexism or racism. Sexism in music is obvious in rap and hip-hop music (Neff, 2014). In the mid-1970s, rap music appeared as poetry of African American adolescents who often are overlooked whereas their race and class status. In the late 1980s, rap music emerged misogyny in its lyrics. Misogyny is the detestation or contempt of women. It reduced women as sex objects that controlled and abused by men which “ultimately support, justify, instill and perpetuate ideas, values, beliefs, and stereotypes that debase women” (Adam & Fuller, 2006, p. 940). In a content analysis

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    Some people may even argue that rap music is rooted in misogyny and sexism. This article investigates themes in 403 rap songs in order to further understand the gender dynamics of rap music, and how lyrics create a set of norms for listeners. The researcher discovered that rappers who portray women negatively are usually influenced by larger gender relations, the music industry, local neighborhood conditions, or a combination of the three (Weitzer 5). Perhaps most importantly, society’s larger gender order influences artists’ attitudes about masculinity, and the need for male domination over women. It can also be noted that focusing on material wealth and sex may increase sales and appear as appealing to elites in the music industry (6).…

    • 1016 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Hip Hop Planet Summary

    • 1489 Words
    • 6 Pages

    This music educates people about several issues from different perspectives. Artists use Hip-Hop music as a platform to voice their opinions, share their stories, and simply state current issues. An article called, “How Hip-Hop Music Has Influenced American Culture and Society,” by Kathleen Odenthal Romano discusses the key contributions Hip-Hop has made in American culture. The author writes, “Hip Hop culture stands as a poignant and historically significant factor of society as it represents a reflection of socio-political woes and widespread sentiment of traditionally marginalized and oppressed communities” (Romano). This statement readily explains the role of Hip-Hop in American culture as it portrays the social and political issues as well as the perspectives of minority…

    • 1489 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In today’s society, most people would associate hip hop with misogyny and violence. Zebra Balay’s Huffington article, “What We Forget When We Talk about Hip-Hop's Women Problem” focuses on the double standards of misogyny found within hip hop culture as a way to suggest that music critics should analyze other musical genres and American society. Blay’s appropriate choice of words combined with the use of other authors’ articles throughout her article, builds her credibility and appeal to the readers emotions. However, her use of exemplification to establish the issue of misogyny within the music industry, creating an ineffective argument.…

    • 775 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    The author portrays the grave truth of rappers and how they speak of women in their music. This feministic viewpoint states that rappers often refer to women in derogatory terms such as ‘ho’ or ‘bitch’ and it seems like women are satisfied with it. But, why? This is what Dr. Smith-Cooper is trying to figure out. Since this scenario is quite contradictory if thoroughly thought of.…

    • 1495 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    From the use of the word “bitch” in a derogatory sense constantly, to the pimping, raping and violent killings of women, to Eazy-E’s outro, “In reality, a fool is one who believes that all women are ladies / A nigga is one who believes that all ladies are bitches…To me, all bitches are the same.” Theses lyrics are textbook misogyny, the kind of words that can lead to the characterization of an entire music genre as sexist and violent. The late ‘80s and early ‘90s saw many cases of violence against women; rapes, domestic abuse, and murders.…

    • 622 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    It is evident that music industry and its trends has transformed throughout the ages. From the emergence of rock n’ roll in the 1950s, to the rise of disco in the 1970s, and the popularity of R&B and hip-hop in the 21st century. Although different musical movements defined different decades, the one thing that transcended through the metamorphosis of music was the topics and subjects behind the lyrics. Whether that be sex, race, love, money, or work, all artists have been singing and writing about the same themes since music itself was created. One of the most prominent and controversial issues addressed was politics and race sung through protest songs.…

    • 651 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Angry White Boy Analysis

    • 1355 Words
    • 6 Pages

    This essay attempts to “unpack” racial stereotypes in American society. One thing that stands out within this essay is the effect popular musicians can have on the youth’s choice of identity. Many of the rap/hip-hop songs produced today discuss the use of drugs, women abuse, or guns. While some of these may not be as prominent it is still an issue and this essays points to this as a possible issue with the choices young people make. The issue with this is much of the youth identify their favorite artist as a sort of role model and depending on the type of music this person is producing it can severely sway the thoughts that person may have.…

    • 1355 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    One of the most prominent aspects of American culture today is diversity. Even with all of the diversity, racism is still a key role in culture. Many degrading remarks toward people of color or women are used in the majority of American music today. Racism and sexism in movies and television have multiple effects on the music industry as well. In fact, “94% of American movies utilize white Americans or people of European descent…”…

    • 1154 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The music industry is a major media institution that is widely influential in the way that people perceive their surroundings and how they experience discrimination and oppression within society. Popular media, such as music, acts as a catalyst for social construction (Glantz 3). Whether by way of radio, MP3 downloads, or music videos, people throughout the country, and all over the world are exposed to dominant ideologies through music that shape their thoughts and behaviors. One specific genre of music that is guilty of discriminatory and oppressive messages, yet might be slightly unexpected, is country music. “Country music is often labeled conservative, which makes it seem innocent and wholesome” (Rogers).…

    • 1029 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Throughout the years, song writers have relied on music as an outlet for self expression, however more often than not, gender bias and sexism are predominantly integrated into the lyrics of mainstream music. Misogyny in the music industry has continuously been a prevailing issue, and with little to no alteration over the years, gender bias in favouring men has never been more abundant in today’s society. Artists induce patriarchy by implementing degrading lyrics and sexist verses towards women, all of which succumb females to continuously live in a culture that subjugates and oppresses women (KBrady, 2012). “Kill You”, released in 2000 by popular American rapper Eminem, evidently encompasses misogyny by using derogatory and offensive lyrics…

    • 1007 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The results show that people who listen to Rap music had higher levels of aggression, misogynic views, reported substance abuse, and promoted the idea of unprotected sex. Although some listener’s moods were affected negatively, there was another study were Rap music was used as an outlet for African Americans. The lyrics to Rap music mirrored the daily life struggles African Americans face from systematic racism to defining street code.…

    • 1253 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Hip Hop Wars Analysis

    • 1143 Words
    • 5 Pages

    One may come to an assumption that violence presented in rap lyrics might promote emulated actions among young listeners. For instance, teenagers who listens to derogatory rap lyrics or see violence in video games may integrate such actions in their lives. This assumption is due to the firm societal perceptions and the stereotypes among African Americans. To support this statement, Carrie B. Fried, who is a social psychologist claims that “Lyrics presented in rap music are judged more harshly than the same lyrics presented as country music, which concludes the stereotypes of American Africans (37).” Because people only see and hear the surface of the story, black Americans incessantly suffers from belligerence.…

    • 1143 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Great Essays

    Negative Effects Of Rap Music

    • 1383 Words
    • 6 Pages
    • 6 Works Cited

    African American women have become the targets of some of the worst kind of verbal abuse in many of today’s rap songs. Not everyone would agree that the underlying messages in many rap songs are causing negative reactions. Some people would say that rap has given a voice to a group of people who had been previously ignored. According to the Journal of Negro Education, “Rap has served as an emancipator tool allowing Black urban youth previously systematically silenced, to name the injustices of poverty and their subjugation” (Richardson). Although rap music has allowed this silenced group of people a chance to voice their injustices, it does not…

    • 1383 Words
    • 6 Pages
    • 6 Works Cited
    Great Essays
  • Superior Essays

    She also focuses on the idea that rappers are misogynistic in their music and torment black women in their lyrics. Mclune’s article was a persuasive article; she wanted her readers to agree that most rappers are disrespectful…

    • 1405 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Language Used In Rap

    • 1029 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Rap music is frequently played in the media, with most of the public having listened to some songs either on their own prerogative or just coming across with it through TV, radio and even the internet. Rap is becoming increasingly popular specially within the last 10 years. Today, not only pop songs are played repeatedly on radio shows but also rap music. Many people wonder why rap is very significant in today’s society. A simple answer to that is because it is a form of escape from the real world and it is a way of expressing one’s self, open and available to anyone regardless of race, gender or…

    • 1029 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays