Sexual Empowerment Through Stereotypes.

Despite the prevailing detrimental effects of stereotypes on black women in society, black female artists in Hip-Hop continue to employ the same rhetoric in their music as a form of empowerment. With modern Hip-Hop music focused on the sexual prowess of women, it’s time to take a look at the history and impact of these tropes on black women’s advancement in the music industry and how this integration of stereotypes in music challenge and uplift black women.

 

Songs Mentioned in the Podcast and the Paper

“U.N.I.T.Y” is a Grammy Award-winning song by Queen Latifah, calling out the disrespect of women in society, addressing issues of harassment, domestic violence and slurs against women in Hip-Hop.

Role-reversal of men and women in modern Hip Hop is a way women take control of the discourse on sexuality. Songs such as “Back to the Streets” by Saweetie and Jhene Aiko view men as disposable sex objects.

While the song describes a particular sex act in detail, there is still Megan's understanding of her own power is what makes the act possible. By her own volition, she chooses to present herself as hypersexual, giving her agency and control over her representation and sexuality.

 

Listen to my Podcast…

 

Credit to Songs:

Stallion, M. T. (2019, February 28). Megan Thee Stallion - Big Ole Freak [official video] - YouTube. Youtube. Retrieved April 22, 2022, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBYf6gpVvRA

Saweetie, & Aiko, J. (2020, November 20). Saweetie - back to the streets (feat. Jhené Aiko ... Youtube. Retrieved April 22, 2022, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7JigFZ-iZQ

Latifah, Q. (2002). Queen Latifah - U.N.I.T.Y. (official music video) - youtube. Youtube. Retrieved April 22, 2022, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8cHxydDb7o