Morgan, Why Is Misogyny Expressed in Rap Essay

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Morgan, why is misogyny expressed in rap music? In what ways do you support her point-of-view, in what ways do you disagree? Be specific. Give examples from research, experience AND the readings to support your points.

The controversial 'hip-hop' feminist Joan Morgan states that: "we are all winners when space exists for brothers to honestly state and explore the roots of their pain, and subsequently their misogyny, sans judgment" (Morgan 9). However, she also writes that it is vital and essential to view both black men and women as 'winners' when oppression is lifted from female shoulders. The solution is not banning rap music, rather it is to understand that rap is an expression of the pain felt by African-Americans and the mask that men wear to hide their frustrations (Morgan 74). She states that black women must love black men "for who they are," not who they want them to be (Morgan 75). Even critics of rap music like writer and actor Sarah Jones state that: "The image of scantily-clad women [in rap] is supposed to affirm some image of masculinity, the man as a mack.... But in actuality, what they [men] show themselves to be is incredibly insecure" ("Misogyny and Women of Color," Independent Lens, 2007).

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Morgan's point is legitimate in the sense that it is not fair to demonize rap for its sexism without taking into consideration the plight of those who produced it. Rap music is not 'the same' as white sexism because of the fact that it has historical roots in the discourse of powerless people, versus the discourse of white male privilege. However, Morgan's assertion that women should unequivocally support black men is troubling. What about women in abusive relationships? What about a woman in a relationship whose husband or boyfriend takes out his frustrations upon her? Male oppression of women is not justified simply because males may suffer oppression to because of race, class, ethnicity or religion. Morgan says that feminism is useless when it fails to acknowledge that black men live in a warzone. Yet what about the war zone of the bedroom that smothers female autonomy and pride? The images perpetuated in rap lyrics and videos suggest that "these men are so important and so powerful, and these women conversely are so dime a dozen… that they don't matter, they're just eye candy, they're worthless" ("Misogyny and Women of Color," Independent Lens, 2007). Even….....

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"Morgan Why Is Misogyny Expressed In Rap", 24 April 2012, Accessed.31 May. 2025,
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/morgan-misogyny-expressed-rap-79600