Eng 215
Professor Patel
11/30/2010
The Effects of Media on Gender Roles in AmericaHip-Hop music is one of the most influential genres that affect gender roles today. “Misogyny and male dominance run rampant through hip-hop music” (Mook 25). Hip-Hop is often classified as the youth’s preferences of music. “Approximately 80% of youths aged 8-18 stated that they enjoyed hip-hop music” (Mook 41). With such a wide audience, the misogynistic themes of hip-hop music are able to shape gender roles. Numerous rap songs criticize males who are “soft” or who do not exemplify male dominance. These types of criticisms discourage the youth from taking on the stereotypical woman role of “care and compassion”. Women are constantly criticized, and any female rapper in the early 1990’s was labeled as inferior. Although hip-hop music has recently begun to become more progressive, rap music continues to negatively shape and reinforce gender roles and stereotypes.
Men and women have been pigeon holed into the same gender roles for thousands of years. “Men possess a greater physical capacity then women and therefore have always been categorized as the aggressive counterpart” (Justice 60). Women birth children and traditionally raise the youth while taking the nurturing caretaker role. These long lasting gender roles are still being reinforced today by rap music. “Women are pigeonholed into the role of inferior baby mama, and men are gloried as street thugs who have no compassion for their female counterparts” (Mook 12). These gender roles are overdramatized in rap music and are exploited in order to reinforce male dominance. Rap music encourages our culture to prevent the acceptance of dual gender societal role integration.
Men are portrayed in rap videos as over aggressive barbarians. “The average rock/hip-hop music video will show on average thirty four images of women degradation and violence” (Deveaux 22). Women are often depicted as objects and are often labeled as property. Rappers with the most “girls” are labeled as the most successful and popular. “Rap music also glamorized the idea of pimps and hoes” (Mook 6). Jay-Z’s 2002 song “Big Pimpin” topped the Billboard charts and received constant air play on MTV and BET for its accompanying music video. Jay-Z’s “Big Pimpin” video contained images of champagne being poured on girls and subtly reinforced male superiority and woman helplessness.
The girls shown in the music video acted as though they were surprised by being sprayed with champagne. They did not appear that they offered consent. However, the music video did not depict any remorse for Jay-Z’s actions and no repercussions were show to affect Jay-Z. Another theme that is popular in hip-hop is the “diss record.” Jay-Z and many other famous rappers constantly label other rappers as feminine and insult their masculinity. “This feminine label and questioning of manhood is often regarded as one of the most severe insults that can be created. “Terms such as sissy girl and hoe are evidence that men who possess feminine qualities are often shunned from hip-hop society.” (Deveaux 32).
American society structure was built on the principle of equality for all. However, Rap music is helping to hinder the integration of dual gender roles. “The average person experiences an average of 3000 hip-hop media images a day” (Deveaux 25). Rap music could be used as an optimal vessel to affect the current youth in a positive way. “Misogyny and male dominance run rampant through hip-hop music but the tide is beginning to change.” (Mook 25). Americans need to recognize the power and potential of our hip-hop music outlets, and need to instill better monitoring. Rap music can be used as a positive outlet to promote the acceptance of dual gender roles, and we have seen evidence of this today. “Conscious Rap is beginning to take the forefront in hip-hop music. Artists such as Common, Mos Def, and Talib Kweli have begun to rap about equal rights and discourage misogyny” (Mook 56). Rap music can promote strengthened relationships between sexes, promote integration of dual gender roles, and help our society to evolve.
Work Cited
1.Beedles, Bonnie, and Michael Petracca. Academic Communities/disciplinary Conventions. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2001. Print.
2.Deveaux, Monique. Feminism and Empowerment: A Critical Reading of Foucault. New York: JSTOR Press, 1994. Print.
3. Justice, Laura M. Communication Sciences and Disorders: A Contemporary Perspective. Pearson Education Inc., 2010. Print.
4. Mook, Richard. Rap Music and Hip Hop Culture. Dubuque, IA: Kendall Hunt, 2009. Print.
