Research Proposal

Problem
Black Women participate in misogynistic hip hop mass media as consumers (fans, promoters, etc) and producers (artists, dancers and industry personnel).

Research Question
Who has been involved as an influential leader in the public discourse on Black women’s participation in misogynistic hip hop mass media?

Methodology
Primary Source Literature Review

Theoretical Framework
Critical Social Theory;
Black Feminist Thought (Collins, 1990);
Standpoint Theory (Hartstock, 1985);

Literature Review (1987-2007)
(1987-1994) Angela Davis, Michelle Wallace, bell hooks, Delores Tucker, Patricia Hill Collins
(1994-2000) Tricia Rose, Sista Souljah, Joan Morgan, Kristal Brent Zook
(2000-2007) Gwendolyn Pough, T. Denean Sharpley-Whiting, Tia Smith-Cooper

Leading the Discourse
Joan Morgan
When Chickenheads Come Home to Roost: A Hip Hop Feminist Breaks It Down (1999)

T. Denean Sharpley-Whiting
Pimps Up, Hoes Down (2007)

Fatimah Muhammad
“How To NOT Be 21st Century Venus Hottentots” (2007)

Patricia Hill Collins
Black Sexual Politics (2005)

Johnetta B. Cole/Beverly Guy-Sheftall
Gender Talk: The Struggle for women’s equality in African American Communities (2003)

Common Threads
Morgan vs. Muhammad vs. Sharpley-Whiting
Morgan: Black women can refuse to give men permission to exploit them.
Muhammad: Black women’s audience participation is detrimental to their womanhood.
Sharpley-Whiting: Mass media uses the “lure of sex” to influence

Collins vs. Cole/Guy-Sheftall
Collins: Representation of Black women in mass media is negative
Cole/Guy-Sheftall: Black communities are responsible

Progress
Black women must acknowledge their economic power and pressure media conglomerates to stop producing negative content.

Ex. Stop buying/downloading music from artists who use derogatory language
Stop requesting degrading songs on the radio

Black women must mentor and empower the next generation through self affirming messages of love and appreciation.

Black women must create and foster a public space to educate, motivate, empower and inspire individuals to “Take Back the Music”

Black Women's Participation in Misogynistic Hop Hop Mass Media

This is a part of my research that began in 1989 when I first heard N.W.A. "Gimmie that Nut". I've been obsessed with hip hop culture for almost two decades. The musical genre that began as a tool to bring awareness to the trials and tribulations in the African-American and Latino community has evolved into a materialistic and misogynistic art form. After having the opportunity to work in the entertainment industry as a production assistant, director's assistant and talent liaison on hip hop music videos and commercials for four years I began to question my role in this industry. I despised watching young Black women exploit themselves through performing in videos as dancers and entertainers. While I understood the economic circumstances that caused Black women to use their sexuality to their financial benefit, I was perplexed as to why Black women as a whole where not discussing this phenomenon. In an attempt to create a public space to foster a healthy and productive dialogue, I present to the world, this blog. Let's talk!