Tejada_AB Midterm
Michelle Tejada
Dr. Pabon
WOM324 Gender & Sexuality in Hip Hop Culture
3.12.18
Annotated Bibliography for Hip Hop Feminism Wikipedia Page
Source 1: Evaluating Agency and Responsibility in Gendered Violence: African American Youth Talk About Violence and Hip Hop
Squires, Catherine R., et al. “Evaluating Agency and Responsibility in Gendered Violence: African American Youth Talk About Violence and Hip Hop.” Sex Roles, vol. 55, no. 11-12, 2006, pp. 725–737. ESBCO Industries, ESBCO Discovery Service, doi:10.1007/s11199-006-9127-7.
This article is based upon a research study that was done that focuses on how black youth look at gendered violence in hip hop culture. The study showed that most students view gendered violence very neutrally, rather than negatively. Black women are brought up to be more assertive and independent, which may seem like a good thing, however in this case, black women will be less likely to consider themselves victims to gendered violence even if it is actually the case. In addition to this, this study shows the effect that violence in hip hop has on these viewpoints. Many youth will defend the lyrics in hip hop, for it adds identity to the black culture, and are accepting of the sexist and misogynistic viewpoints against women of color that is prevalent within hip hop culture.
Source 2: Eminem’s Scary Truth; A Society Where Violence Kills and Entertains
“Eminem’s scary truth; A society where violence kills and entertains.” Sarasota Herald Tribune, 23 Feb. 2001, p. A12. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A70793993/ITOF?u=newpaltz&sid=ITOF&xid=6a0192fb. Accessed 12 Mar. 2018.
This article mainly discusses the violence that is within Eminem’s lyrics. His lyrics are disturbingly descriptive and sick. They promote violence, misogyny, and homophobia yet he is still widely accepted by the public as an artist. The author brings to question how his lyrics, which go beyond what is normally socially acceptable, remain popular despite it all. Perhaps, as the reading suggests, is the sickening representation of reality that his lyrics have, most particularly when it comes to those that speak about violence.
Source 3: Internet Banging: New Trends in Social Media, Gang Violence, Masculinity and Hip Hop
Patton, Desmond Upton, et al. “Internet Banging: New Trends in Social Media, Gang Violence, Masculinity and Hip Hop.” Computers in Human Behavior, vol. 29, no. 5, 2013. Elsevier, ScienceDirect, doi:10.1016/j.chb.2012.12.035.
This article discusses the usage of the internet, particularly social media, and its correlation to hip hop, gang violence, and masculinity. Gang members will try to gain clout through the internet and put forth their violent actions on social media to the public. Men in particular absorb this image of violence. Hip hop artists, who have an obligation to “keep it real” and stay true to their hood, will try to emulate this image as well. Due to this, they will portray themselves as violent on social media to their large fan base which the youth feeds on.
Michelle Tejada
Dr. Pabon
WOM324 Gender & Sexuality in Hip Hop Culture
3.12.18
Annotated Bibliography for Hip Hop Feminism Wikipedia Page
These articles all followed a similar theme of violence within hip hop culture and in which ways it is exposed to the public. The third source, Internet Banging: New Trends in Social Media, Gang Violence, Masculinity and Hip Hop introduces the origin in which this violence arises from. Violence has always been a prevalent theme in hip hop. The article particularly mentions Biggie Smalls and Tupac Shakur who were both thugs prior to fame. Despite having an opportunity to remove themselves from that culture, they continued to emulate that image which ultimately resulted in their death. The need for own up to the lyrics said in your music leads to real life scenarios of violence and thug culture. Many do not realize the severity of the trouble that these actions can get you into, but Tupac and Biggie’s examples are a reminder of this.
What is most concerning about hip hop artists trying to live up to the violence that is in their lyrics is the exposure that they are giving on this culture to the public. It is one thing to put yourself in that type of danger, but to sugarcoat that type of lifestyle as cool and expose it to the youth is another story. Our youth takes up a vast percentage of those who use the internet and social media in particular, and these are the platforms in which hip hop artists are now deciding to live up to the thug life in. It is no longer just emulating lyrics in real life where the truth about your actions is only spread through word of mouth. Now, artists have to go above and beyond in competition for attention on social media. Not only that, but it is a lot harder to lie about your lifestyle when hard evidence can now be presented to the world in a matter of seconds. Artists have to live up to the thug life style more than ever nowadays, and our youth is feeding on it as if it is entertainment and trying to emulate these same actions that are being portrayed to them as cool.
The way that black youth in particular view this violence is actually pretty scary. Hip hop is black culture, so it is important to know in which ways this affects the black youth. Many of them, despite the violence and misogyny that is highly present in hip hop, refuse to acknowledge these flaws and do anything to protect hip hop as an art. Hip hop adds identity to black culture, so when lyrics that promote violence and sexism are prevalent, black youth are more likely to defend and accept these ideologies rather than fight against them in attempt to protect their own identities. Black youth are also heavily influenced by such lyrics. They are more likely to view rape as something that is partially at fault of the victim, which is never the case. They are also more likely to see women as ho’s and sluts. Overall, their view on women is structured by the misogynistic lyrics that they hear.
What I found most surprising, is the acceptance of these ideologies from black women as well, even though this affects them directly. Gendered violence, according to the research in source 1, is very prevalent in black culture and much of the youth is exposed to it and acknowledges that it exists. However, they do not see women as victims to gender violence, even though it is occurring. The research suggests that this is due to the culture they are brought up in. It is one that accepts gendered violence, as seen in many hip hop lyrics. But, this goes beyond just music. This ideology is put forth in the home as well. Black women are taught to be assertive and independent, which seems like a good thing at the surface, but it also teaches women that gendered violence is not something that should affect them. In turn, women see gendered violence as something that just kind of happens and they need to live through, rather than acknowledge that it is wrong and see themselves as victims.
It is truly astonishing how quickly people are willing to accept such violent lyrics. Perhaps it is because it accurately represents a sick and twisted part of American culture that any other area other than hip hop is willing to acknowledge. In source 2, Eminem is called out for his lyrics in particular, which tend to display descriptive violence, misogyny, and homophobia. The author of this article brings to question the popularity of Eminem, despite his lyrics revolving around topics that are generally socially unacceptable. He has become the exception in black culture and has wide popularity from a variety of demographics.
Perhaps, the author suggests, it is because he speaks about what nobody else is willing to speak about. As unfortunate and terrible as gendered violence is, it is clearly something that followers of hip hop are willing to listen and bump to. In fact, it is something they believe in, as the research suggested. In conclusion, violence is not only prevalent in hip hop, but in the lives of those who listen to it, and this cycle of acceptance of gendered violence is what allows it to continue to be such a prevalent part of hip hop culture.