Misogyny in rap music

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Misogyny in rap music is defined as lyrics, videos, or other components of rap music that encourage, glorify, justify, or legitimize the objectification, exploitation, or victimization of women. It is an ideology that depicts women as objects for men to own, use, and abuse. It reduces women to expendable beings. It might include everything from innuendos to stereotypical characterizations and defamations.

Scholars have proposed various explanations for the presence of misogyny in rap music. Some have argued that rap artists use misogynistic lyrics and portrayals of women as a way to assert their masculinity^[1] or to demonstrate their authenticity as rappers.^[2][3] Others have suggested that rap music is a product of its environment, reflecting mainstream attitudes toward women,^[4][5][6] and that rap artists have internalized negative stereotypes about women.^[1] Still other academics have stressed economic considerations, arguing that rappers use misogyny to achieve commercial success.^[1]

Content analyses have found that approximately 22% to 37% of rap lyrics contain some misogyny, depending on subgenre.^[7][8][9] Adams and Fuller state that there are six themes that are considered to be misogynistic rap: derogatory statements about women relative to sex; comments linking malicious actions against women, also in relation to sex; referencing women causing problems for men; the characterization of women as "users" of men; references to women being less than men and finally lyrics referencing ideas that women are usable and discardable beings.^[1] Detroit-based rapper Eminem, for example, allegedly used misogyny in eleven of the fourteen songs on his third studio album The Marshall Mathers LP (2000).^[7] Common misogynistic themes include the use of derogatory names such as "bitch" and "ho(e)" (derived from whore), sexual objectification of women, legitimization of violence against women, distrust of women, the belittling of sex workers and glorification of pimping.^[10]

Mia Moody-Ramirez writes that, "Most female or woman artists define independence by mentioning elements of financial stability and sexuality. They denote that they are in control of their bodies and sexuality. Many male rappers pit the independent woman against the gold digger or rider narrative when they preach independence in their lyrics. Bynoe (2010) noted that in the hip-hop world, women are rarely the leader. Instead, they are usually depicted as riders, or women who are sexually and visually appealing and amenable to their mate's infidelities. Conversely, a gold digger uses her physical attributes to manipulate men and to take their money."^[11]

Responses to misogyny in hip hop music have ranged from criticism by women's rights activists, student protests and organized campaigns to a 2007 congressional hearing.^[12] Woman rap artists have used their music or started organizations to explicitly oppose hip hop misogyny,^[13] and have expressed resistance by using self-empowering lyrics and emphasizing their independence as women.^[14] In one study, women rappers accounted for only five of ninety misogynistic songs, as well as an additional 8 songs (out of the remaining 313) that did not have misogynistic lyrics. "The scarcity of women artists shows just how male- dominated rap was during this time, especially at the platinum level".^[15] However, not all women rap artists resist misogynistic portrayals.^[14]