If both men and women listen to and buy rap music, does that make rap any less hateful to women?

Question

Another poster asked if the media is making rap music sound worse than it is, they asked if rap really is as women-hating as the media says. Then they justified their stance by saying that since women listen to it and buy it, it's really women's fault for rap's popularity, since they are supporting it too.

If both men and women listen to and buy rap music, does that make rap music any less hateful to women?

Answer 1

Not at all. What makes some forms of rap music hateful to women are the degrading lyrics and images that accompany said rap music.

The fact that both women and men listen to rap music doesn't neutralize the negative effects of this kind of mainstream demoralization. All this shows is that pointing fingers at each other has not been working, and we need to come together as human beings, both men and women, and demand that what we listen to is not harmful or demeaning to an entire half of the world's population.

I just don't buy that these rappers are "poets" describing the terrible conditions of poverty when they are rapping about driving fancy cars, sleeping with hot chicks and being hardcore gangster. These men (and women, sometimes) are in fact brought up in a world that glamorizes all of these things, and they bought into that and flourished in that, and now they are perpetuating these very same desires and ideals in the next generations. The fact that this is what they are taught to aspire to doesn't absolve them of their guilt in this vicious cycle. Nor does it absolve us of our own guilt when we fund the cycle by buying their albums.

There's plenty of blame, enough to go around to everyone and probably then some. Pointing fingers may make us feel better while we continue to consume the ridiculous, misogynistic nonsense that they put out over a wicked beat. But at the end of the day, we all have to stand together to change this trend.

Ericktravel: I totally agree with you that there are respectable rappers out there, especially when you mentioned MosDef and Common. However, it's pretty clear that they're a definite minority on the radio and on the charts. And this is the sad trend that needs to change. Rap itself isn't bad: rap is notes on a page. It's what we choose to do with those notes that matters.

Also, there's a difference between the occasional song describing the actions of a man in a distasteful way and having women described in almost every single song as subhuman objects who are only notable in terms of how hot their various body parts are. There may be prejudice and stereotypes of men in other genres of music, but it really doesn't compare on any level to the way that the current trends in rap and hiphop mainstream the demoralization of women, let alone diminish the fact that this trend exists.

Answer 2

Never said rap wasn't hateful. As some rappers and songs can be disrespectful to women and treat them as property. BUT, from what I wrote, don't ya think women should be blaming other women also?

For example, u hear people complain how McDonalds and fast food joints are bad and makes them fat. But guess what they are still eating the food. No one is making them eat it, so it's their own fault. And then to top this off. There are people who complain about how bad this food is. So they avoid eating it. But there are plenty of other people who like it and don't care that it might be bad for their health. So instead of it being the end of unhealthy food being sold, it only adds more support to these franchises. Which if people cared and did something about it, it would be the end of the franchises. Thus not having to worry about the bad food anymore.

So, while the fast food should be blamed, shouldn't the complainers also blame the people buying a lot of fast food? Therefore, rap can be degrading and should be blamed, but shouldn't other women be blamed just as much? That's the problem. People are always willing to blame other things, but sometimes it's good to look around and see that people might be part of the problem also or your sex, or for u to look in the mirror and see that u might have something to do with it. I'm not defending rap music, just saying that while rap music deserves a good amount of blame, so should a good portion of women. Yet u don't see women get upset or blame other women feeding the rap industry, dancing to it, and supporting it, do u? It just seems to be solely on rap music and not other women. Which I think the blame should be spread all around.

Answer 3

When women wore corsets or had their feet bound, did that mean it was their fault? When women go through FGM, is it their fault? Society dictates what men and women do, and men, in most parts of the world, dictate social policy as they are the ones in power. Now, that does not mean rap is social policy, but in some subcultures, that is exactly what it is. Rap is a way of life for some people; people in these groups will tell you that rap is meant to reflect their living conditions. Given that the rappers themselves say this, what does that say about how they think about women? Are women complicit because they, too, listen to this c-rap? I'm wondering what choice they have if they're surrounded by it, if the "music" is indeed representative of their living conditions. There's the suburban white kids who listen to it, but it is so far removed from any reality they know that I can only assume they're trying to be rebellious or make some statement.

Rap is hateful to men and women, but I do agree with its being the "voice" for populations that are not being heard. What rappers are saying is the reality in some places in North America, and that is how women are treated. And women listen to it--does that mean it's any less hateful? No. But it's a hateful place to be in, and the people producing it--many of them far removed from the environments in which they were raised--are making some important statements about poverty and helplessness.

What bothers me more about rap is the above-mentioned "artists" who are now blinging their way across popular culture. Yes, they've made their points about how rough life can be in some places...now what? What have they done to help the situation in these communities? The way I see it, they're only making it worse because they're deluding young people into thinking that "up in your grill" lifestyle is feasible for anyone, and that it should be mimicked by people who are still powerless.

Answer 4

Rap is from the streets,you do not understand the streets,half the racist people that answered do not understand the streets,you can call it "noise,You can call it "hateful", these rappers came from the ghetto and the ghetto is what they know people never had a problem with hip hop when it was underground but now that it is mainstream people are going crazy about it, moreover rap is not just "bithces,hoes,pimps and cadillacs" there are smart and intelligent rappers like common and mos def who use their music to express their views of the society and try to to give a message to younger ones encouraging them to go after their dreams, Rap is a music style,not some video on MTV and not what you and Tipper Gore depict it to be. Some people use it negatively,some use it positevely,how the society chooses to embrace the genre is entirely up to them,not the rappers, Moreover there are tons of pop singers out there who sing about how men are pigs and liars and dogs but I see no one saying anything about such music been hateful towards men or anything?

Answer 5

well lets see your acting as if the entertainment industry in general doesn't exploit and degrade women,

so if the both men and women support the entertainment industry, does that make rap any less guilty for doing the same thing ???

you see when you look at entertainment as a whole and not segmented categories, you see that rap music is only a portion of the problem, how ever it is used as the often scapegoated Major Playa That it and most of the so called artist truly aren't

Answer 6

Misogynistic music of ANY genre is harmful to women. Yes, most of the popular rap/hip-hop stuff is extremely offensive. So was much of the heavy metal back in the day.

Personally, I refuse to buy/listen to any hateful music.

I've seen many questions that ask why women listen to the stuff, but I've never seen anyone ask why MEN listen to the stuff. I think we all share a responsibilty to end the sort of "hate music" that is so popular today.

Answer 7

The nature of many rap songs are very derogatory towards women. However, as you stated, women who listen to rap continue to support it by purchasing cds, attending concerts and by being in the videos. But just because those women do support it doesn't make it any less derogatory to them, or other women in society. The lyrics remain the same, as do the videos and the meanings behind each word and act.

Answer 8

No,i agree with you. see i buy rap music only because i like the beat and it's the best music to dance to!!!!!! but ya even if women buy rap music, it still doesnt change the fact that rap is hateful to women.

Answer 9

NO WAY! Women are culturally trained to put themselves down and endorse actions and products, etc, that put women down. Most males don't like women who know that they are, in fact, equal to men; most men are obsessed with power and hierarchy and putting themselves at the top of that hierarchy (this begins in childhood). So women who want guys to like them accept this hierarchy and don't stand up to things that are hateful to women, and in fact might be culturally trained to think that hateful things against women are RIGHT. Many women have an inferiority complex.

The truth of the matter is that a lot of rap music (not all) is derogatory towards women (women are hoes and sexual objects who should just stand in the back of my music video jiggling their a ss while I squeeze it). And just because women are illusioned into buying it doesn't change what it is.

Answer 10

Does the fact that people buy crack make cocaine good for you? Women buying it does not make it any less hateful. It just makes some women less self-respecting. Then again, look at the fad diets, "fashionable" but totally impractical clothes, and horrible men some women bring upon themselves. So I guess it is no surprise. Some people (and not just women, of course) embrace self-destructive behavior. It is sad, but of course they are going to try to justify it somehow. Human nature, I'm afraid.