The Role Of Sexism In Rap Music

When it comes to sexism in music, all genres are guilty. Some more so than others, but all are. Why, one might ask, is that a problem? Many studies have demonstrated that exposure to violence desensitizes the viewer to violence, and the same holds true with music. In spite of most studies focusing on sexism in hip hop or rap, pop and country contain sexism as well. Music indicates the state of culture, and beyond that, influences culture. It has been shown to contain the highest levels of sexual content of all media forms. Through studies largely done on hip hop and rap music, it has been shown that songs portraying sexual violence or harassment or other forms of sexism encourage and strengthen sexism, both hostile and benevolent. Americans

Listening to sexually violent music often leads men to consider their interactions with women to be confrontational (Neff 3-4). A link exists between domestic violence and misogynistic lyrics (Cundiff). Those who listen to less sexist and sexually violent music tend to be less accepting of violence against them, as well as less likely to view interactions with the opposite gender negatively. Young men and women who grow up listening to this music will think that it is normal to experience and perpetuate

Country music often objectifies women, implying that their value lies in their “badonkadonks.” The sexism is not usually as overt and obvious as it is in pop, rap, or hip hop, but it is there. As the quieter form of the sexism, the benevolent type, it often masquerades as simple chivalry. It claims that men and women are different, that women are weaker and need protecting. It says that women need to stick to their traditional roles in the home, barefoot, cooking, and being submissive to men, not because women are bad, but because that is where they belong, and where they are safest. In country music, women are often put on a pedestal, as if they are perfect or as if they are objects. Putting a person on a pedestal implies a sense of ownership and of fragility. If something is strong, why would it need a pedestal? If it could think, why would it stay