REPRESENTATIO N OF GENDER

Learning Objective: To explore and discuss the gender stereotypes presented of both men and women in hip hop.

INTRODUCTION
Hip hop has moved to the forefront of Western pop

culture over the past twenty years. This underground movement has spread rapidly, and the culture as a whole has left few people without some exposure to its artists and their messages. Hip hop listeners, scholars, sociologists, authors, artists, educators, record companies, media, and critics all view the hip hop movement in their own way. Additionally, they all view gender within the hip hop subculture differently. Todays lesson will look specifically at gender stereotypes within this subculture.

STARTER ACTIVITY
Look at the following lyrics by female rapper Queen Latifah. What do

you think that her message is?

Some think that we cant flow Stereotypes they got to go

Im gonna mess around and flip the scene into reverse

With what? With a touch of ladies first. - Queen Latifah Ladies First. (1989)

SEXISM IN HIP HOP

Hip Hop has forever been a male dominated

discourse; the culture certainly has misogynistic customs. Women are usually viewed as sexual objects, and the male a sexual predator.
Discuss in pairs whether you agree or disagree

with the following statement: In hip hop, the male prevails as the elite, and the female powerless and ineffective. Weedon (1997:2)

EMINEM SUPERMAN
Eminem in his 2001 rap Superman, presents male self-glorification and

a strong hatred of women. The aspect of masculinity throughout the lyric is also evident and is immediately foregrounded in Eminems conscious choice of title, with emphasis placed on the iconic superhero.
Take a look at the two images below and discuss within your groups how

Superman and Wonder Woman are gender stereotypes.

AN ANALYSIS OF EMINEMS SUPERMAN

Eminem begins the lyric with an interrogative, directed at the

woman: you want me to tell you something? I know what you wanna hear.
What do you think that Eminem is implying here?

What are the underlying connotations of this opening lyric?

He implies that he is familiar with the needs of the woman; of

her supposed constant want of love and affection from her lover. This statement however, is both condescending and patronising, in that he has no intention of satisfying her desires, as they are merely secondary to his own sexual agenda.

Eminem also declares Im here to save you girl,

come be in Shadys world () they call me superman, Im here to rescue you. Do you believe that there are elements of Gender Stereotyping within this lyric?
Within this lyrical construction, there are elements of gender-

stereotyping, in which the male is observed as the knight in shining armour, and the female - the damsel in distress. Obvious typecasting furthermore creates disproportion of power, as the story of Superman is always that of a super man (Attenbery, B. 1988:62) What is more, Eminems objective is not to rescue the female, but to semantically corrupt and debase her feminine identity through sexual degradation. Therein, he calculatingly alters the traditional conventions of a superhero; exercising his supremacy as a means of gaining further control over women and as a consequence, knowingly subverts the conventional notion of chivalry.

POLITICAL AND SEXUAL INDEPENDENCE FEMALE RAPPERS TAKE A STAND.

Heres something I just cant understand, If a guy have three girls then hes the man, () But a girl do the same and shes a whore, But the tables bout to turn, I bet my fame on it! - Lil Kim Cant Hold Us Down. (2003)

LIL KIM
For Lil Kim, her sexual expression is a form of rebellion

against a male dominated sub-culture. She safeguards herself from male sexual aggression by subversion of traditional male-governed notions of masculinity. She blurs the sexual ideology enforced by patriarchal society by propelling herself into a masculine domain, asserting herself as an erotic subject to be both respected by men, and admired by women. Lim Kims lyrics cause a disproportion of power in favour of feminism, by result of rebellion against masculinity and the restrictions of female sexuality.

GROUP TASK
In your groups, you will each be given a verse from hip hop lyrics to analyse.

Your main focus is gender stereotyping. Focus specifically at the lexis and look at the semantic loading of the lexis used. Explain your views in detail.
Lyric 1: Lil Kim Notorious K.I.M Lyric 2: 50 CENT P.I.M.P

Live from NYC it's Queen Bee The heavy weight champ female emcee Girls say they different but uh see In all actuality they wanna be me

Now shorty, she in the club, she dancing for dollars She got a thing for that Gucci, that Fendi, that Prada That BCBG, Burberry, Dolce and Gabbana She feed them foolish fantasies, they pay her Lyric 3: Nicki Minaj Pound the wanna Alarm cause they
Sexy, sexy that's all I do If you need a bad bitch Let me call a few Pumps on and them little mini skirts is out I see some good girls, I'mma turn 'em out Ok bottle, sip, bottle, guzzle I'm a bad bitch, no muzzle, hey?

HOMEWORK
On Wednesday 16th and Thursday 17th you will deliver presentations in groups

of no more than 4. You must have a POWERPOINT presentation (images and limited text.) Your presentation must last no longer than 10 minutes. You can choose from the following titles, or you can choose your own. The focus must be on REPRESENTATION OF GENDER.
Representation of Gender in ADVERTISEMENTS Representation of Gender in MUSIC VIDEOS Representation of Gender in LITERATURE Representation of Gender in POP MUSIC Representation of Gender in MOVIES

You will be graded on this. The higher grades will be given to students to explain and analyse their chosen medium in detail, giving examples where necessary. Also, aim to tie in relevant Gender Theories. A handout must also be given to both the students you are delivering to and myself.