The Money, the Cars, and the Hoes.

A Narrative of the Relations between Teenage Boys and Their view of Women

Asna Khan

It is no mystery that media today, especially that media which appeals to the youth,

is reeking and dripping with outward sexual content, and messages. Media which engages

youth, and even that which isn’t aimed for the viewership by youth, is heavily drenched in

sexual content, racial slurs, degradation of women, and the glamorization of sex, money,

and drugs. 

While it is that all teenagers are affected by the media that they consume on a daily

basis, it is perhaps most shocking when observing teenage boys and the apparent influence

that they have had from their every day media experiences. These media experiences

which start from childhood, then evolve into more mature media viewing, are reinforced,

and encouraged by friends, and in some cases neglected by adults have an immense hold on

the way that a teenage boy views himself, and views the females that he will encounter

during his life.

Walking through the halls of a high school, or listening in on a conversation of

teenage boys, observing their interests in music, movies, and television, and any other

media it is all too obvious that the results of their interests are similar.

My own experiences of media as a teenager are none to different than the teenage

boys that I grew up with, and encountered in social gatherings and in school. Mostly I

listened to the same music that they did, watched the same movies, and similar television

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programming. I was however interpreting the messages of these media differently than

they were, if I took the time to interpret at all. I was in high school an uneducated consumer

of media, absorbing popular media and not stopping to digest and unravel the messages

that were so outwardly present.

In high school, I would encounter many teenage boys, some my acquaintances and

some not, who were always as if in character. Talking the same talk as the new popular rap

song, discussing with never dying interest the latest freshest and realest artist, walking,

dressing, and looking at others, with the same gaze that they saw in the newest music

video. And with these many characters that fit the same mold, came the same comments

directed at the girls around them.

In high school it is not abnormal to witness girls being addressed by their male

counterparts without their names. It is very normal in fact to hear the word bitch, used to

persistently refer to a girl, as if she had no identity beyond this word. To hear about the sex

of a young girl is no different either. In fact it is her attitudes that which she seems to give

off to these boys which defines her. She may be a bitch for not giving attention to the guys,

or she may be a bitch for giving too much attention. She may be a hoe, or a prude, and never

an actual person. But these views and these labels which are used by teenage boys in

circumstances such as these are not of their own creation. They are the creation of the

media which they are so exposed to, and therefore these labels and many others are used

to perpetuate these ideas of what a female is from the point of view of a male.

To know more of the media and it may relate to attitudes and the opinions of

teenage boys regarding women, I interviewed 2 teenage boys. Their ages are 18, and19,

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and they each have similar media consumption experiences. I tried to discover if there was

a relationship between the experiences which they have daily, and the attitudes that they

hold about the women that they encounter in their lives.

Certain attitudes and opinions were incredibly strong and outward from the very

beginning of my conversation with each subject. General comments referring to women

outside the conversation were just as shocking as some of the material that I discovered

while in conversation.

I asked each subject basic questions, about what media they consumed, how much,

what their opinions of females were, how they treated females around them, and how they

believed that the media that they consumed affected their opinions.

Subject A, is 18 years old, and has the most outward anti feminist sentiments of

anyone that I have encountered. It is not unusual to hear constant derogatory comments

about women coming from him. Nor is it unusual for him to constantly talk about sex,

having sex, and females regarding sex. At a random point in time it is not unusual to hear

him say comments such as, “I cracked it till my nuts hurt.” Not only does he refer to sex as

“cracking”, but he does not even acknowledge the fact that who he was having sex with is a

female. Rather she is an it.

Media exposure for subject A was very heavy even as a child. By the time that he was

a preteen he was watching hip-hop music videos on MTV. Most of the videos shown on

MTV are mostly all the same. Especially Hip Hop, where all the videos show abundant

amount of money, flashy cars, and clothes, and half naked women or mostly almost fully

naked women. These women are there for the pleasure of the males in the videos. They are

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perhaps tools and measures of success for these men, who exploit the women, and treat

them as only objects of pleasure. It is no big surprise that this fantasy life that is depicted in

these videos, is so alluring for a young boy, who views this video, and then sees that in

order for him to be successful and accomplished he must have all the things depicted on

screen. He must have the cars, the money, the glamour, and most of all, he must have his

“hoes”.

Subject A has admitted that his views on women have been shaped by the media

that he consumes. And he finds absolutely nothing wrong with that, or his views of women.

On Television he found most interesting shows or movies that depicted the abuse of

young girls and women by their husbands and boyfriends. Although he says he does not

know why.

The media that is most consumed by him, is music. Hip- Hop and rap music most

favorably. He finds the lyrics to be appealing, and that he should be able to relate to them. A

few songs that were mentioned, were ‘dick pleaser’ by Lil’ Wayne, ‘girls, girls, girls’ by Jay Z,

and ‘heartless’, Kanye West. The title of the song dick pleaser encompasses all that the song

is about. One man having sex with multiple girls, for no reason other than just the sex.

Lyrics of the song, include such lines as “That hoe crazy, man you don’t wanna meet her,

but her home girl Nita, swallow cum by the liter,” and  “I aint lyin she-the, hottest bitch

heater, but im a fucken freezer, yea, imma fucken leave her.” Lyrics such as these that show

no matter the situation the important thing is that one uses girls for sex, and when you are

done you leave them. The effect on young boys is obvious. Subject A agrees with the lyrics,

and is appreciative of them.  He finds them amusing, and also says that if it possible that Lil’

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Wayne, can treat girls in this manner, so can he. While the song ‘dick pleaser’ shows that a

man should always dispose of the women that he has used, ‘Heartless’ by Kanye West

depicts that all women no matter who, are all the same, they are heartless. “Somewhere far

along this road he lost his soul to a woman so heartless.” Subject A uses this song to base

his opinion that women are cruel, and that you should use them, and leave before you are

left.

Subject A is the embodiment of the media that he consumes. Most of his comments

are about women, and or sex. He finds great pleasure in relaying the latest sexual exploit he

had with a female. He also feels that all women are like what he thinks of them. He

genuinely thinks that they want to be treated the way that he treats them. He feels  that if

the girls in the music videos that he watches like getting their asses smacked, then it must

be true for all women. He admits that he would cheat on his steady girlfriend, and even his

wife, in the future.

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 His current activities when he is not attending school, is talking up girls, or finding

girls to have sex with. He says that when he has spare time he watches porn and searches

for mitties on Facebook. On Thanksgiving weekend he made a random and crude comment.

He said, “Why don’t mitties go on sale on black Friday.” A mittie meaning a female who is

potentially a sexual partner. His entire thinking, and attitude, his random comments during

conversations of totally different topics all relate back to one thing. Women and sex. He

sees no other purpose for them, and finds it not necessary to educate himself and change

his opinions.

It is unfortunate that a young man would have such strong and negative opinions

about women. But he is only one in the sea of such individuals who share the same opinion

as him.

The second young man that I talked to is 19 years old. I asked him similar questions

as I did with the first, and focused on his media experiences in high school as they were

influenced by his peers. Just like the first subject, subject two also mentioned music,

especially hip hop music, as a great influence on his opinions of women. In addition,

television programming such as “Jersey Shore”, “Two and a Half Men”, and various viral

videos on YouTube were mentioned in the conversation.

When it comes to television programming perhaps the show most talked about in

conversation happens to be “Jersey Shore.” The format of the show features a group of

Italian men and women who live together in one house for the summer, and deals with

their daily lives during the summer, as they party, work, and etc. Although the entire show

feature images of casual sex, and treatment of women as less than something that has

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feelings. Popular phrases coined by the participants of the show include, “Grenade,” which

means “The solitary ugly girl always found with a group of hotties. If the grenade doesn't get

any action, then neither does anyone else (Urban Dictionary).” Another term, “DTF,” stands

for “down to fuck.” These terms have become immensely popular and have found their way

to most youth. The show has become a pop culture icon, as have these terms.

Two and a half men is a show about a wealthy man, whose brother moves in with

him along with his son. I had never previously watched the show, and to examine why it

may have been mentioned during conversation and what possible media influence it could

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have on its teenage male viewers, I picked an episode at random, and watched it. The name

of the episode is, “Ow Ow, Don’t Stop.” The episode was about the main character Charlie

re-connecting with his ex- girlfriend, a gorgeous woman, whom he seems so lavish

expensive gifts on, in return with the consolation that she has sex with him. The episode

portrayed women as gold diggers, engaging themselves with men, because of their money.

The men were allowed to make as many sexual comments about them as they wished, and

were allowed to sexualize the women, because they were supporting them financially.

Charlie’s own mother, Holland is portrayed in the same manner. As a women living with an

extremely elderly man confined to a wheelchair. He however sexualizes her and is allowed

to say to her son, “Call me the man who is banging your mother,” because he is lavishing

her with money. Holland in turn is completely fine with this treatment and even supports

and acknowledges it.

Most of the sexual comments in the episode referred to women their sexuality and

the connection that this has with the money and subsequently the men in their lives. This

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connection between money, women, and sex is often portrayed in all media’s which

influence the teens of this day. It is shown in the videos that Subject A, and B have seen

growing up. It is evident in the television shows that are available for watching by teens, as

it is also in movies.

This concept of sex, women, and money is so evident with teenage boys, that one

cannot escape the conversation whilst around teenage boys. My own experiences in High

School can support this. Teenage boys in high school seem to have in public or while with

their friends outwardly an appreciation for all things that are related to money, sex, and

females, and the relationships that they seem to make of the three. It wasn’t unusual for me

to find boys in my high school, friends, acquaintances or otherwise, having a desire to make

money. Lots and lots of money. An often linked with the conversation was the “bitches” that

they would get after attaining this money. It seemed to be very important to most, that they

should attain money, by means, legal, or illegal, so they would be surrounded by hoes. This

was the sad reality in high school. There really seems to be no mystery where these ideas

where coming from. Hip Hop and rap culture is very predominate in high school, and with

the abundance of lyrics that contain ideals and values similar to that of these very teenage

boys, it is quite clear of the possible relations and influences of the two among them.

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 This thinking and the media that is consumed has altered the way that these young

boys measure success. Ask most boys in high school what their aspirations are, and the

answer will be money, cars, clothes, and hoes. And this ideology which comes mostly from

music media, stemmed from the Hip Hop and Rap Culture has a very strong influence.

Subject two admitted that while in high school, his aspiration for the future was not going

to college, but making money, even if it was by illegal means, being fly, and getting as many

hoes as possible. That was success. And for some, this ideology goes beyond thinking about

it, and implementing it.

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 Social Media has the impact has to spread and diversify aspects of popular culture,

quickly and efficiently. Facebook has been an important tool in sharing of pop culture. My

own Facebook experiences include my own news feed to be littered with videos shared

from sites such as YouTube or WorldStarHipHop. There are many videos on Youtube alone,

made by young men and teenage boys, all about what they think women should do or act.

Particular videos that have been shared by teenage males on Facebook are titled “What

Men Really Want,” and “Fat Bicthes.” All of these videos focus on what the makers of these

videos (teenage or young men) perceive women, in the manners of sex, and relations.

These negative views of women are so predominant among teenage boys and young

men alike, that it is a thing of surprise and a thing to be acknowledged as dangerous. And

while these young men and boys are making these comments, and fulfilling the values

which they are consuming through the media, they expect women to act how they want. In

conversation I discovered that both subjects believed that they expect girls to act the way

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that they see in media. Subject A believes that all girls are heartless and vessels for sex, and

also believes that they girls that he encounters truly encourage this treatment of

themselves. Subject B also stated that while in high school he did believe that the girls that

he encountered fit into the mold that that he created for them, or that was created before

by the media and that he adopted. If for some reason a girl did not fit that mold, then she

was automatically a bitch.

There is plenty of research that supports that media has a strong influence on

teenagers by the images that are presented.

A CBS article presents that teenagers who view and hear excessive sexual content

from the media, are more likely to engage in sexual activities. And this is quite evident from

the conversations that I have engaged in, and my own experiences in high school with

peers (Lagorio).

According to Medical News Today, the media has been as influential as parents

when it comes to ideals of sex, and has greatly spread a positive message on sexual freedom

( Medical News Today).

In “Always Use Protection; Communication Boys Receive about Sex from Parents,

Peers, and the Media,” it is shown that the media offers abundant messages about sex,

sexuality, and sexual content. Magazines that are aimed towards male audiences highlight

the important of sexual skill to masculinity (Epstein, Ward).

Although research is being done that proves that there might be a relation to the

way that media influences the attitudes of sex and sexual behavior of teenage boys, it is

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however more difficult to prove exactly what is being perceived by young men and teenage

boys.

The conversations that I have had, and the experiences that I have with teenage

boys and young men, all do lead to that the media is a large influence in the way that they

perceive and treat women. The consummation of certain media which is engaging to the

youth is creating discrepancies in thinking of teenage boys. By the glamorization of the

money, sex, and the ideals, that women are vessels for sex, and measurements of success, is

harmful to society as a whole. As media makers, consumers, and educators, it befalls on us

to change the discourse of the media which is so heavily influencing this negative thinking

of teenage boys.

Works Cited

Lagoria, Christine. “Media May Prompt Teen Sex.” CBS. April 3, 2006, web. November

15,2010.

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Epstein M, Ward M . “Always use protection”: Communication boys receive about sex from

parents, peers and the media. Journal of Youth and Adolescence. 2007. Web.

November 15, 2010.

“Just Who is Influencing Out Teenage Boys’ Sexual Behavior. Medical News Today. May 15,

2007. Web. November 15, 2010.

Links

Images:

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Image 1: http://remix.vg/tag/lil-wayne/page/2/

Image 2: http://www.imbringingbloggingback.com/2010/07/30/jersey-shore-recap-

grenades-and-landmines-and-1920s-pilgrims-oh-my/

Image 3: http://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/jenny-mccarthy/photos/190142/25671

Image 4: http://www.weuponit.com/2010/01/video-trey-songz-ft-fabolous-say-ahh.html

Image 5: http://whoisnickbphoto.blogspot.com/2009/02/money-hoes-cars-clothes.html

Videos:

Two and Half Men:

http://www.cbs.com/primetime/two_and_a_half_men/video/?

pid=K_Bqz0ik8VQSk9Co_V_F_ToBoWxX_Ict

Fat Bitches:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZS4xT5Je1c

What Men Really Want:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUEhNnk7om0

Jersey Shore- Grenades:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjQLsgcWP0Q

Songs:

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Dick Pleaser, Lil’ Wayne

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tmDO6-QN4k

Girls Girls Girls, Jay Z:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUg7G3CPos0

Heartless, Kanye West:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Co0tTeuUVhU

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