Women in Hip Hop: Their Portrayal and its Affect on Society
Today’s female rappers, or femcees, are shown in roles that highlight beauty, sex appeal and submissiveness as opposed to dominance and intelligence. Unfortunately, much of the reason sexual images are so common among this group of women is because it has proven successful, and has helped artists gain fans, fame and financial success. Ohio University faculty and students comment on the state of women in hip hop, how female rappers are generally perceived, the possible long-term effects of negative imagery, and why certain images are popularized.
To the general public this seems all too normal. They aren’t aware of the negative archetypes being used to sell albums, or the implications oversexed, oversimplified and underrepresented women have on a genre or its audience. Kay-Anne Darlington, Doctoral Student in the School of Media Arts and Studies, finds that many people just doubt the impact of media.
“A lot people are of the view that images don’t really impact them. They don’t really care. But, subtly and over a long period of time, it does impact you whether you do realize it or not,” says Darlington.
Female rappers of the past included Queen Latifah, MC Lyte and Lauryn Hill, all women who spoke about politics, race and complex relationships. Contemporary female rappers who speak on the same subjects are few and far in between, as if they weren’t already in an extremely male dominated genre. Dr. Akil Houston, assistant professor in the Department of African American Studies and hip hop scholar, feels that the main difference is access.
“There seems to be a lack of talent, just in terms of subject matter, but I don’t think it’s a reflection of an inability. I think it’s exposure and then what people assume is going to get them noticed,” says Houston.
I think it’s exposure and then what people assume is going to get them noticed.
Money ultimately drives product placement in videos, discussion of luxury brands in lyrics and what is allowed on certain artists’ albums. For rappers with less economic success, the images portrayed by their music is subject to manipulation by label executives and network owners, and for the rappers already with superstar status, there is pressure for consistency, and to gain even more sales.A key example is the consistent product placements in Nicki Minaj’s video “Anaconda,” including the moscato drink she co-owns and endorses.
Younger generations of women are susceptible to media and the values it portrays, including a perfect body and unachievable beauty. Hip Hop also has an affect on African American communities, including exploitation and how black on black crime is romanticized. Houston and Darlington suggest more active listening and an increase in media literacy.
“[People] are being more conscious about the stuff they put in their body, I feel like you have to do the same thing with music. You don’t want to put toxins and a lot of pollutants inside your body, you have to think about that in terms of what you’re listening to,” says Houston.
“They can be taught how to look at these images, and to decode them and make sense of them, not just for enjoyment but also critically,” says Darlington.
The opinions of Ohio University students showed what some young people think of the female rap they have seen, though only a glimpse.
Out of all the students surveyed, all cited meaningful or relatable lyrics as quality that influence their listening. Other popular qualities included the beat of the song, catchy lyrics, and the artist the song is by.
Students generally found today’s female rap as extremely or frequently sexual, frequently simple-minded and submissive and only somewhat intelligent and conscious. All students ranked today’s female rappers significantly less than female rappers of the past.
Half of all the students surveyed see men benefiting more from the female rapper’s image; the other half see it as benefiting both.
And the overwhelming majority of students surveyed see entertainment, sexuality, power (or hustle), beauty and wealth as the values seen most in rap music and videos.
In open responses, many students felt there was a problem with the female rappers image, and held listeners, labels and the artists themselves responsible.
If you want to listen to a female artist that doesn’t allow herself to be a sex symbol and likes to rap about more than just being a bad bitch, then its up to you to find that.
“If you want to listen to a female artist that doesn’t allow herself to be a sex symbol and likes to rap about more than just being a bad bitch, then its up to you to find that,” says one student.
“I think continued presence and respect of female rappers will help, but the over sexualization of women, especially historically in rap, is what’s successful. Intelligence and depth doesn’t always sell,” says another student.
Another student found negative images as a product of society.
“If you don't look for good stuff, all you're gonna get is the negative images because we live in patriarchal society that was built on serving the needs of men first and foremost,” says the student.
In comparing female rappers past and present, students differ in opinion. Today’s female rapper was said to be more pop-influenced, less educated, more shallow and distant from hip hop’s roots. However, one student found the past and present to have little variation.
“There were lyrical, conscious, uplifting female rappers in the 80s and 90s just like there is today,” the student says. “What makes them different is what we as listeners are supporting.”
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