Karon Clayborn Women and the Media 6/10/11

Women and Hip-Hop Youtube Link for Nelly Tip Drill Video: http://youtu.be/mVRBqrPhwvs

The sexual objectification of women in media has been an issue confronted by women for many years. Women have been viewed as sexual objects by men since the beginning of time. Although the introduction of pop culture and hip hop is a more recent phenomenon, the idea that women are sexual objects is not. The use of media and technology through music and now video has impacted greatly the ways in which women are now seen to the world. This can be seen particularly in popular music and hip hop music. It is very rare to listen to a pop or hip hop song without hearing lyrics that degrade women and denounce them sexually. The Wikipedia definition of sexual objectification, as it relates to women, is, The practice of regarding or treating another person merely as an instrument towards one s sexual pleasure. Objectification is an attitude that regards a person as a commodity or as an object for use, with insufficient regard for a person s personality.

Typically, a hip hop video will show two or more men in the company of one or more scantily clad young women parading around them. The camera will capture a few shots of the women in sexually submissive positions that usually do not help to communicate the focus of the video. The passive dependent depiction of these women is the exact opposite of the aggressive independent male portrayal. Although it may appear as though these women are willingly choosing to play these roles in music videos the reality is that the misogynistic industry executives are selling an image and making a huge profit at their expense.

In a study of 40 MTV videos, Sommers-Flanagan and her colleagues (1993) found that women were more likely to appear in sexual ways than men. This is not to say that men were not also found in sexually suggestive positions but it showed how women were consistently being objectified. It is not coincidental that women, especially black women are degraded in videos. A feeling of empowerment and superiority used over women is evident in the language that is used to describe them as well. The negative connotations are used to remind women of the subservient roles that they are expected to play and their lack of power and control. Sommers-Flanagan, R., Sommers-Flanagan, J., & Davis, B. (1993) What s happening on music television? A gender role content analysis. Sex Roles, 28, 745-753.

Oftentimes, women in music videos are not given the freedom or leadership to make decisions as to how the video will portray them. In the video they may appear to have full control but they are actually silent, powerless pawns in a male dominated arena. Media and

advertisement s primary goal is to make money. There are no moral codes to be followed in this industry, even if women and young girls are being sexually objectified and degraded. Hip hop videos depict specific lifestyles as well as gender and ethnic roles. Women see these images as a social gauge as to what and who they must aspire to be. Girls Incorporated (2002) found that negative social media images were closely related to eating disorders, low self-esteem and destructive relationships. Girls Incorporated. (2002)Girls and Media, www.girlsinc.org/resources/factsheets.html.

More and more young women are using videos as a tool to learn about sex and relationships due to the social media s candidness about the subject. They are able to get more information about sex and relationships with men through social media, whether accurate or not, because this is not always an open subject to discuss at home. These messages being broadcast make the objectification of women socially acceptable, causing young women to internalize these ideas and construct unhealthy impressions about relationships and their own perception of themselves.

It is rare today to watch television and not see a woman depicted in a role in which sex is involved or where sexually suggestive acts are occurring. A commercial may show a woman advertising a product but there may be no concrete connection between the product and what the woman is trying to sell. However, the one image that the viewer now has in their mind is that the product is associated with sex and sex sells. Because we as human beings like to look

at the physical being we redirect the focus from the product being advertised to the woman and her body.

Sexuality is part of normal human behavior. The problem arises when women are no longer seen as subject and are reduced to objects. Young women who lack a sense of selfworth may and self-esteem may be even more susceptible to negative images shown in hip hop videos. Some will internalize these ideas and beliefs by changing their superficial appearances thinking that it determines wealth, status and power.

According to Exploitation of Women in Hip-Hop Culture ; a study done about black male/female relationships of the hip-hop generation, many black men in the hip-hop culture that were interviewed valued economic resources and used these resources as a way to manipulate and control women. And some women negotiated with their bodies for things that they wanted. In order to gain access to these things and to get the love and attention from men that they want, some women felt they must cater to the exploitative images of what men want and think women should be.

Many women defined their own worth on what they can do for and get from a man. Some women were willing to take risks with their bodies, minds and hearts hoping to raise their socio-economic status and gain security for their children's future, and they have learned to use their sexuality to do this. Vibe Magazine talked to four women in the September 2001 issue

who all regularly had one-night stands or on-going sexual relationships with rappers. One of the women Vibe talked to is Nikki, a 30-year-old woman who has had many lovers in the hip-hop industry. Vibe said, "Her lovers read like a Who's Who of rap." Her reason for partaking in multiple insignificant relationships with rappers was, "I've got nothing to offer no education, no good job, no nothing. So why would a man want me, other than sex? I felt I had to give, so I used myself." Many women like Nikki are put all of the blame on themselves for being used by men. They assumed and accepted that men would oppress and disrespect them. The four women described a new low in relationships between men and women within the hip-hop community. Men thought that women were only worth giving them sexual favors, and women thought men are only worth giving them money. Exploitation of Women in Hip-Hop .
http://politicalpalace.yuku.com/topic/4660

Not all women in the hip hop industry use their bodies or sexuality to gain money and success. Missy Elliot is a great example of a female hip-hop artist that has reached heights that most female artist never obtains without objectifying herself in a male dominated industry. Missy Elliot gained her success through her many talents and abilities; which includes being an award winning producer, song writer, dancer, actress, and clothing designer. Missy Elliot is the only female rapper that has six platinum albums. Missy has a long list of diverse music that were considered hits in the hip-hop community; which includes Get Your Freak On , Super Dupa Fly , and Pass That Dutch . In these songs and videos Missy never had to objectify her or

use her sexuality to gain success; which means women in the hip-hop culture have a choice in what they choose to do and are not subjected to objectifying their selves.

Missy Supa Dupa Fly

http://youtu.be/hHcyJPTTn9w