Gender
Representation of Independent Women in Postmodern Music
Postmodern music and dance encompasses popular music, rap and hip-hop where depictions of gender in these genres are controversial. Masculinity has always been prominent in postmodern music and dance. Attempts are also taken to broaden and deepen our knowledge of women’s roles and representations as women are increasingly engaged in music making (Bartlow & Hobson, 2008). “However, there is a troubling yet promising relationship between women and the contemporary music scene” (Bartlow & Hobson, 2008, p.12).
Literature Review
Themes of male sexuality, fertility, and dominance are associated to masculinity especially in postmodern music and dance. Males often obtain an affirmation of their masculinity through Hip-hop dance (LaBoskey, 2001/2002). In this male-dominated art, battle of libido and ego in dance battles allow males to demonstrate their masculinity. While females have always been discouraged from joining this male dominated art, in recent years, women are present in popular music videos containing hip-hop dance. However, they are present simply for the male dancers to perform sexual actions on them (LaBoskey, 2001/2002). Women’s gain in foothold in hip-hop dance simply enforces male dancer’s masculinity.
Similarly, according to Sommers- Flanagan (1993) and Conrad (2009), popular music often placed emphasis on “materialism and misogyny”; female characters were “often placed in positions of objectification” (Moody, 2011). Male dominance and sexual prowess were frequently boasted in relationships (Moody, 2011) as masculinity of males in popular culture is regarded as having authority over their sex lives and women (LaBoskey, 2001/2002). Women were often placed in positions where men exerted dominance of them sexually as it was regarded as a masculine act for men.
In gangsta rap music, misogyny has always been ubiquitous and women are portrayed as mere objects, objects only good for sex
Postmodern music and dance encompasses popular music, rap and hip-hop where depictions of gender in these genres are controversial. Masculinity has always been prominent in postmodern music and dance. Attempts are also taken to broaden and deepen our knowledge of women’s roles and representations as women are increasingly engaged in music making (Bartlow & Hobson, 2008). “However, there is a troubling yet promising relationship between women and the contemporary music scene” (Bartlow & Hobson, 2008, p.12).
Literature Review
Themes of male sexuality, fertility, and dominance are associated to masculinity especially in postmodern music and dance. Males often obtain an affirmation of their masculinity through Hip-hop dance (LaBoskey, 2001/2002). In this male-dominated art, battle of libido and ego in dance battles allow males to demonstrate their masculinity. While females have always been discouraged from joining this male dominated art, in recent years, women are present in popular music videos containing hip-hop dance. However, they are present simply for the male dancers to perform sexual actions on them (LaBoskey, 2001/2002). Women’s gain in foothold in hip-hop dance simply enforces male dancer’s masculinity.
Similarly, according to Sommers- Flanagan (1993) and Conrad (2009), popular music often placed emphasis on “materialism and misogyny”; female characters were “often placed in positions of objectification” (Moody, 2011). Male dominance and sexual prowess were frequently boasted in relationships (Moody, 2011) as masculinity of males in popular culture is regarded as having authority over their sex lives and women (LaBoskey, 2001/2002). Women were often placed in positions where men exerted dominance of them sexually as it was regarded as a masculine act for men.
In gangsta rap music, misogyny has always been ubiquitous and women are portrayed as mere objects, objects only good for sex
References: Adams, T., & Fuller, D. (2006). The words have changed but the ideology remains the same: Misogynistic lyrics in rap music Hobson, J., & Bartlow, R. (2008). Introduction: Representin ': Women, Hip-Hop, and Popular Music Jordan, M. (2008). Teenagers, Mannequins, and Guitars: A Study of Pop Music and Femininity MOODY, M. (2011). THE MEANING OF "INDEPENDENT WOMAN" IN MUSIC ETC: A Review Of General Semantics, 68(2), 187-198.