Big girls don't cry, or play video games

John Sanbonmatsu says in his intro "the video-game is both a mirror of existing relations of power and authenticity and a powerful cultural force in it's own right...[for example] the vast majority of game protagonists and heroes are male." Likewise there are also racial stereotypes such as the Asian being a ninja, or blacks and Hispanics as the antagonists or the person the game is trying to "beat." Also, video games also make violence seem norma, and without consequence: physical or legal. Characters just regenerate after being blown up with a grenade (hint:this does not happen in real life).

None of this is physically, or scientifically possible outside of Video games

I am not, and have never been an avid video game player...maybe because I'm following my gender stereotype. I also prefer games where you can't die such as Animal Crossing or online scrabble. One game I have been exposed to as a result of hanging out with jocks/ male sports fans is Madden, MLB the Show, and fantasy sports.

I prefer the calm of fishing in games

Sports knowledge is considered an indicator of masculinity in our society. The biggest, strongest and winningest players are the most coveted. Successful passes or scoring is often indicated by a loud "Fuck yeah!" or some other form of "boo-yah." Shit talking is also included in there. You lost in Madden? you're less of a man, and will hear about nothing less for the next 24 hours or until you play again and win. In MLB the show, graphics have been updated to make the characters as realistic as possible, including their batting stances, favorite pitches to throw and hit. The players physicality is also copied, so better players are marked by their muscles and strength. Once players succumb to "the Madden Curse": players on the cover either get injured or suspended, they are not the most sought after ones anymore. More manly players have to take their place

The Madden Curse

Secondary players, i.e. not the star of the team are disappointing to have and can be embarrassing for the male players of the game. Fantasy sports echoes this, as it can be a head to head competition to see who can draft the best, strongest team and be the best. There are the "joke" players, and always shit talking going on. Fantasy sports is also a male pastime, with paid leagues and prize money. I have listened to countless conversation debating the athleticism of Peyton vs. Eli Manning, or the power numbers of Albert Pujols vs. Prince Fielder.

These players, with the best records, stats, and stature, are all the faces of their respective organizations. You will also never see a fantasy woman's soccer or softball team, the players and lineups are mostly male. I got into a fantasy discussion and argued that Ray Rice is more of an asset as a runningback then Ben Roethlisberger is as a quarterback. The response I got was "I'm not sure about all that, bro." Once I responded "it's not 'bro', it's sis," that was the end of the discussion, no further debate. I've been denied trades when my logo was pink, but have no problems when I stick with team colors. Women are not supposed to be allowed in on the male pastimes of fantasy and Madden..as long as video games, including war games, are male dominated.

Sidenote: My current record in fantasy baseball is 30-9-2....and i'm in first place. None of my league knows i'm a girl. Just Sayin'

Jungle Fever

There is the saying "once you go black, you never go back." I have witnessed people who went black, went back to white, then right back to black, and maybe add a lesbian or latino in there somewhere. Interracial relations had been considered a pariah in mainstream society until recently, and even today some people (looking at you, baby boomers and their parents) still don't like it.

Thomas Jefferson kind of put interracial relations on the map because of his relationship with his slave Sally Hemmings. Historically, white women fears blacks because they thought they were "animalistic" or "sexually depraved." Emmitt Till was lynched for whistling at a white girl. Interracial sex is still taboo for some, but has an entire niche within porn. Black male sexuality has gone from undesirable to being known for forceful rough sex and alleged large penis sizes.

While I do not think rappers are necessarily sexist (see prior blog), they are definitely playing into the popularity of the masculine black man who worth is based on pimping abilities and how many different color females orifices he can fill with his genitalia. Black men today are stereotyped as having the larger dicks, and all the while having sex with a black man is still taboo, yet desirable and sought after simultaneously. Our society today is more interested in interracial relations within porn.

Fun times with Tommy and Pam

An example of this can be seen in the comparison of two leaked sex videos. Who can forget the memorable moment when Tommy Lee blows a horn with his "well endowed cock." This scene has been emphasized within popular culture because large penis's are supposed to be associated with black men, so Tommy Lee is proud of himself because he has a large dick and is white, and wants the world to know he isn't like other "smaller" white men.

On the other hand, Kim K and Ray J's porn wasn't focused so much on his genitals, as much as Kim was sleeping with a black man. She has since been notorious for her supposed jungle fever (also a very racist term). While this can be a positive stereotype, it is a stereotype nonetheless. Racial stereotypes of the animalistic black man are very racist, and wouldn't be allowed in mainstream society, but in Porn, it is accepted, and even sought after.

From 21401 to 90210

               

Cosmetic surgery as an industry has expanded exponentially within the past decade. Plastic surgery had a negative reputation during its early days because of highly publicized botched boob jobs, over stuffed lips, tummy tuck scars, or is only for celebrities. Dr. 90210 attempts to dispel these stereotypes. 

The first way the show does this is to “cure” patients who had botched surgeries and make them right again. Also the doctors repeatedly emphasize how they will give patients a “natural look” with minimal scars and recovery time. The doctors are very reassuring, and to their credit, they are very good at what they do. Specifically, Dr. Rey does a procedure in which the breast implant is inserted through the belly button. Every time he does this procedure, he emphasizes the lack of scarring associated with it.

                 

Dr. 90210 also wants the audience to think cosmetic surgery is easily accessible, and isn’t just for celebrities and the wealthy. The show also makes the surgery seem like an errand that you would fit in between grocery shopping and picking the kids up from work. The show also showcases the many procedures people can choose from, again showing that cosmetic surgery can be more universal then it once was. Examples of surgeries shown are various nose jobs, butt injections, and penile implants.

                Procedure by Dr. Kinodia on Dr. 90210

 Dr. 90210 also brings a sense of humanity to the doctors, as the show also follows their personal lives. This is supposed to make the surgeons seem “more like me and you.” This may also be a tactic used to soften the image of the actual brutality of surgery, and calm people’s fears about back alley-way cosmetic procedures.  The show does show parts of the procedures, but little attention is paid to the recovery process. 

Dr. Jason Diamond with his wife and son who are also featured on Dr. 90210

 Melanie Latham, writing for the Oxford Journal, says that concerns about plastic surgery are usually feminist ones. Dr. 90210, includes many male patients as well. The show addresses feminist concerns by showing procedures not meant for strictly cosmetic reasons such as a nose job to help breathing, dental help for eating problems, among others. It's not all about looking perfect anymore. Either way, perfection is relative.

Example: She thinks she looks good.

Til death do us part, or until im sick of you

It is widely accepted that little girls fantasize about their own wedding and meet Prince Charming. Embarrassingly, I actually dressed up as a bride for Halloween when I was 5 (white dress, veil, fake bouquet…horrible).



Yeah, it was something like this.

Weddings are a multi-million dollar business, which also arguably makes divorce into a multi-million dollar industry. In the book Ingraham says “weddings, marriage, romance and heterosexuality become naturalized to the point where we consent to the belief that marriage is necessary to achieve a sense of well-being, belonging, passion, and love.”  If your total wellbeing and the best day of your life depends on a man (or woman), then you need to rethink your priorities.

Jon and Kate minus 8

Couples are willing to start their new lives together completely in debt perhaps because spending money on the most important day(s) of your life is more important than financial stability with your lifetime partner. Bridal magazines contribute, but the over-exposure of celebrity weddings doesn’t help.



Brad and Jen (I'm still on Team Aniston)



I remember watching a VH1 show about lives of the rich and famous, which covered celebrity weddings in an episode. Famous couples and their wedding planners were interviewed and explained how they “fell in love”, but mainly about the wedding planning process, and costs. They discussed in detail their image of the perfect day, how their wedding planner made that image into a reality, and how much money it cost. They say their weddings are a couple million dollars like its nothing, but I guess you can never spend too much on the “most important day of your life”.



Is it me, or does Nick Lachey look pretty unsure.....



Jessica and Nick discuss their (her?) dream wedding on vh1



Example #1



Specifically I remember the interviews of loving and enduring couples such as: Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey, Carmen Electra and Dave Navarro, Marc Anthony and former Ms.Universe: Dyanara Torres, Jamie Lynn Sigler and A.J. Discala, among others, Ashlee Simpson and Pete Wentz. Needless to say, they threw really expensive parties, and are going to have more than 1 “most important day of their life.”

The main focus of the show was on the material aspects such as the reception, flowers, and of course, the dress. There are entire shows dedicated to wedding dresses. These multi-million dollar weddings became the example of what the perfect wedding should be, and what everyone else down here in the 99% are willing to go into debt for. Brides want that exclusive location in Napa Valley, the Vera Wang dress with Swarovski crystals, diamonds for party favors, you name it. The problem is most of us don’t have the equivalent of a down payment on a house to pay for a dress that will be worn once. Husbands become second to the dress, as the bride is the complete focus of the day. All you have to look at are the covers of magazines. In many, the cover is just of the bride, the husband, love and marriage are an afterthought.



Example #2



A wedding should be a celebration of couples who potentially will not kill each other after 50 years. Many stay with their partners because divorce lawyers are a pain in the ass. Weddings have become the equivalent of a party in which only one person is allowed to wear a white dress. During all the planning commotion, couples may forget that marriage is a government institution, and the couple are now legally linked, and pay taxes together accordingly.  Changing your name isn’t just something cute that goes along with love and marriage, all legal documents for the rest of their lives reflect that name (if they so choose to take their husbands name), and to change it back is another pain in the ass. Love and consummation are not factors in making a wedding “legal”, as I could marry my gay best friend tomorrow and no one would ask questions.

If Heidi Klum and Seal can't make it, then no one can

Celebrities are infamous for their quick weddings, and divorces. Perhaps the reason for this is because they can afford to pay for both a wedding and a lawyer more than once. Money doesn’t buy happiness, but the wedding industry would like you to think otherwise.



She can now afford several weddings, and divorces.



Hating on Oprah

“…We are responsible for ourselves, that you create your own reality by the way you think and therefore act”-Oprah

“You cannot blame apartheid, your parents, your circumstances, because you are your possibilities. If you know that, you can do anything”-Oprah

Victims of South African apartheid have no excuse for not going to college. They did this to themselves.

 I <3 Oprah. I love her interviews, her demeanor and her respectful professionalism. Oprah has made me cry at her show more than once. So on that note, it pains me to disagree with the Big O. Oprah has always been an advocate for self help and personal responsibility, yet as one reads into her philosophies, it seems to me that Oprah is blaming the victim for their own perils. You got raped? You’re responsible for every circumstance that put you there. You get cancer? Same deal. This seems a bit ironic given the sexual abuse she endured. I’m pretty sure apartheid is a good reason for not getting into college or living a long, prosperous life. I like the whole “no excuses, play like a champion” mentality, but she seems to take it to the extreme.

Because this is entirely possible for every person, regardless of genetics,health insurance, or access to medical care.

I’m going to focus on some positive self-help in the form of a book (not movie) titled He’s Just Not That into You. I’ve decided to focus on relationships here, because there are entirely too many people need help with, so I’m just going to pick one. Maybe Oprah should take the hint and stop with the all-encompassing umbrella advice. While Oprah is an advocate of “whatever negativity is in your life, you brought it on yourself,” Greg Behrendt (who has appeared on Oprah) decided that women should, and can have more control over their relationships, even when certain circumstances are out of your control. You cannot control who other people are, but you can control your reactions to them.

He explains warning signs of toxic relationships, and debunks every stupid excuse women (and men) make to stay with someone. He’s too busy to call you? Not possible, unless he’s in the Sahara. He makes the point that with today’s technology its “impossible not to talk to someone.” He is an advocate of healthy relationships through honesty, trial and error, instead of blaming the victim for being in a psychologically abusive relationship. Greg’s writing is empathetic to understanding that walking away is not always easy, or even safe in certain circumstances. There will be failure, but it’s okay, as breakups of any kind are a long process and part of life, and you should not blame yourself for choosing Mr.Wrong (as Oprah would say). Oprah places the blame on the women for staying with the men, Greg blames the men for treating their women disrespectfully and not being 100% honest about their feelings. He also teaches how to gain that respect from other “not-dickhead” sources, because not all men are scumbags.

He gives empowering advice that is applicable to everyday life and makes one think differently about how they view relationships and how others treat them. The difference is, if you fail, it’s your fault according to Oprah, but Greg lets the reader know it’s okay to fail, you cannot control other people, and shit happens. If your ex goes crazy and tries to commit arson, is that your fault? To Oprah: yes, you should have seen this coming and you did this to yourself.

Even when trying to empower yourself and make your own independence, any unforeseen/unexpected consequences of the break up (that you’re going through to try and get rid of the “negativity” Oprah discusses”) is your fault. Some things are your fault, and we all need accountability to an extent, but not everything. Her philosophy seems to be about beating yourself up, instead of being proud of what you’ve accomplished. Greg offers women a new way of thinking, not to make excuses for other people, and how to recognize unhealthy relationships. It should seem obvious, but often it is not. He is an advocate of “no excuses”, but not to the point where apartheid cannot be considered an excuse.

Oprah on Larry King explaining unataintable ideals 

Men are pretty straightforward in their actions, if they do not want to talk to someone, they won’t. If your boyfriend/spouse/whatever cheats on you, he’s just not that into you because if he loved only you, it wouldn’t have happened. If he constantly lies, he’s just not that into you. It isn’t always completely your fault if your boyfriend/spouse/whatever cheats, lies and steals. Oprah would say all the prior things listed you did to yourself, you “made your own circumstances”, but in reality it isn’t your fault if your other half doesn’t love you, shit happens.

Anthropologist Maurice Godelier agrees with Behrendts philosophy in a more universal way:

                “We should not seek explanations for the power of ideas within the ideas themselves, but look for them instead in the social relationships between human beings and nature…Ideas never contain in themselves all the reasons for their influence, and thought alone cannot produce these reasons”

To sum it up, You cannot always explain what you think, and how you feel and why. And certain circumstances can be beyond your control. You cannot control others and their circumstances, that is called “slavery.”

I can be your Fag Hag, You can be my Gay

The emergence of popular gay characters arguably went mainstream with Sex and the City. Homosexual characters in the media today are less viewed as diseased sexual deviants and more as a part of society. SATC also triggered a different phenomenon in the media: The gay best friend.

Love this dress. Good call Stanford

Anthony and Charlotte on a lunch date

In the reading Carrie Bradshaw’s Queer Postfeminism, Jane Gerhard says that SATC “insists that these (best girl friends) relationships are more lasting and trustworthy than those with men or potential husbands.” It seems with more shows, this is no longer the case, as the male homosexual friend is the one the main female character trusts the most. SATC is based around the concept of the best girlfriends, but it is Stanford and Anthony who often have the last say on what the best advice/course of action for any given event is…meaning their relationships are more lasting and trustworthy then their husbands, boyfriends and girlfriends.

They aren't listening to a word each other are saying

Homosexuals at one point couldn’t be out, and those that were became criticized. The homosexual community today still has the highest suicide rates of any minority or ethnic group. Today, it appears that the male gay best friend is now a hot commodity. In SATC, Stanford and Anthony were longer lasting characters then the men they slept with (sans Mr. Big). In the show they are almost shown as an upgraded female friend. Anthony made sure everything for Charlotte’s wedding was perfect. “I said tapers! Long tapers! Get rid of this shit right now! (Referring to candles for Charlottes wedding).” The first to see her wedding dress was Anthony. 

 Don't buy a dress without your gay best friends approval 

When Charlotte was first having marital problems, she turned to her gay best friend before Carrie, Miranda and Samantha. This type of behavior makes homosexuality less faux pas then in years past, and makes the characters more trustworthy, instead of being untrustworthy due to their sexual orientation.

Instead of female friends, The gay best friend shown in the media offers advice, and has a better grasp of the male psyche. Like Charlotte, Carrie also has her homosexual companion in Stanford Blatch, who provides her with such services as fashion advice, being her date to weddings, moral support at photo shoots, and writing editor among other things. 

Jessica Simpson in her show newlyweds co-starring then husband Nick Lachey, was sometimes with her high school best friend Cacee, but more-so with her stylist Ken Paves. Jessica not only confides in him during beauty sessions (which is all the time), she goes shopping, eats lunch and travels with him, and has him travel with her on business trips. She confides more in him then her husband and female best friend. Today, Nick is re-married and Ken is still Jessica's stylist and confidante. In past media, homosexuals were shown only associated with each other, and one usually died of AIDS or had to hide their identity or sexuality. 

Hint: One of these men is no longer in the picture...

 Another example of expanding homosexuality in the media can be seen in Keeping up with the Kardashians, and a spin off, Kourtney and Kim take New York.  Part of the premise of these shows is that no matter how crazy the Kardashian lifestyle may be, they can always rely on their sisters (and one brother) for support. In the latter show however, when Kim is having marital problems during her 72 day marriage (72 days is now a measurement called a “Kardash”), she doesn’t turn to Kourtney,Khloe, Kendall, Kris (mom, not husband), or Kylie…she turns to Simon, her gay best friend who is featured in many different episodes of various Kardashian shows. Her sisters do offer their opinion on the matter, and did make observations such as “newlyweds shouldn’t fight this much.” It’s not until she speaks to Simon and his friend Jonathan, and they tell her flat out that her husband moving 2000 miles away is not normal, that she starts comprehending that her marital problems are bigger then she realized. 

Too much estrogen to provide rational marriage advice

 Kim’s mom, Kris Jenner, suggests the same thing, that what is happening in her marriage isn’t normal, but she only takes this thought seriously when it is coming from Simon. This is another example of a gay character being shown in a positive light, and as a trustworthy person. Simon even offers to help her husband Kris Humphries work on their marriage, and yet with such a large family, she didn’t have any of her sisters try to talk to him.

In Ice <3’s Coco, her gay personal assistant/publicist is frequently featured in the show. He is always very well dressed, polite and put together. Coco trusts her entire image and media persona to this man.

 Oprah calls on the help of her interior decorator Nate Berkus. When Nate lost his boyfriend during Hurricane Katrina, Oprah did a whole show on homosexual relationships and love. She continues to be an advocate for gay rights and equality.

Lady Gaga credits the gay community for her success as an artist, because they were her first fan base who followed her and went to her various shows at bars and coffeehouses. She is the founder and C.E.O. of the Born this way foundation which gives support to those who are bullied, namely the gay community. Most of her production team, collectively called the Haus of Gaga, are homosexual. Recently during a concert in South Korea, a group titled the Civilians Group called on Gaga to cancel her concert, or to be boycotted because her show was deemed "too homosexual." Kids were also not allowed to attend for this reason. She responded on twitter "I hear you Korea...and i'm shaking." Full article here: South Korea Protesters Deem Lady Gaga too Homosexual and Pornographic

This is apparently not okay in South Korea

In all these appearances in the media, their sexuality is never questioned or frowned upon, and along with this media exposure gay shows have become main stream,gay marriage is now a hot political debate, and there is the joke that a gay best friend is a hot commodity.

There are many more that have been photographed shopping with their homosexual friend, or having lunch while their boyfriends or husbands are nowhere to be seen. Through all the divorces and cat-fights, the only constant companion in these shows is the gay best friend. Queerness is not frowned upon as much as it once was.The only problem with these homosexual portrayals is that it makes gay men into the stereotype of the metro-homo-sexual who loves fashion and interior decorating. As with any group, this is not the case, and being a gay man does not, and should not equate to being less masculine. In my experience, they have more balls then straight men i've dealt with. There is still a ways to go as far as homosexuality in the media is concerned, but at least there has been a shift from the negative portrayals of deviant "sinners" with AIDS, versus being shown as a companion, and trustworthy friend.

Fag Hag-Lily Allen

I could be your fag hag
And you could be my gay
I'll never make you feel sad
When you come out to play
(Repeat)

We don't give a fuck
What people are thinking
I know you'll always look out for me
When we go out drinking
I can ask you things I can't ask anyone
And you'll give me direction
Apart from me, you're the only other person I know
Who reads the travel section

Song dedicated to my best friend, Aj Menefee. Who always looks out for me when we're out drinking.

 

Bitches ain't shit?

Rap and hip-hop glorifies the concept of the bitch and a ho, because as Snoop Dogg said “bitches ain’t shit but hoes and tricks.” “Big pimpin’ and spendin’ the G’s” is a decent sound bite example of the lyrical content in most rap songs. Here is a verbal interlude on Eminem’s album The Marshall Mathers LP titled Ken Kaniff”-

Eminem: How are the album sales in the 1^st week?

Ken Kaniff: It would have been better if you gave me nothing at all. You know why Dre’s album was so successful? He’s rapping about blunts, forties and bitches, you’re rapping about homosexuals and Vicoden. I can’t sell this shit. Either change the record or its not coming out.

Mr. Kaniff eloquently makes the point that the rap/hip-hop industry wants forties and bitches on their albums, not female empowerment.  Business wise, it’s not likely an artist will sell many albums. Will Smith didn’t have to “cuss in his albums to sell records”, but he isn’t a rapper….I don’t know what he is exactly. Regardless he isn’t making money off of his music.

The book article says-

“Some hip-hop artists defend their endless self-aggrandizing talk about dominating bitches and hoes by saying that they are not talking about all women. But “bitches and hoes” [refers to] all the women they talk about. The valorization of the gangsta and pimp also highlights and celebrates the women they degrade.”

I almost find it sexist that Tricia Rose (if that is her real name…) says the terms bitches and hoes offends all women. Yes, these words are derogatory, and I cannot seem to find the male equivalent of bitch and ho, however she is forgetting that every one of these rappers had a mother, and came from a woman. 

They have sisters, nieces, aunts, mothers and daughters in their life. Tricia Rose, in making her statement, clearly has not listened to enough rap and hip-hop, since there are plenty of songs about praising, loving (not raping), and protecting women.  A whole album of this would not sell, but Miranda Lamberts (and Carrie Underwood…among others) scathing indictments of men that they are all cheaters and scumbags puts men into a negative light, and makes them seem like the whores that deserve to be mistreated, or have their car keyed.

A controversial rapper I feel is highly misunderstood is Eminem. Considered to be racist, sexist and homophobic, he addresses all of these stereotypes of him explicitly in his lyrics. Eminem goes for shock value. Some people can look past his lyrics such as

“these motherfuckers are thinkin’ im playin’/thinkin’ I’m saying this shit cause I’m thinkin it just to be sayin ‘ it/…Oh now he’s raping his own mother, abusing a whore and we gave him the rolling stone cover? /You God damn right bitch (referring to an entire audience, not women here)”.

By the end of this song he’s strangled someone, killed someone with a machete, among other things. While the audience is stunned by “bitch ima kill you!”, they skip the end of the song where he says “I’m just playin’ ladies, you know I love you.” This is his sarcasm, and many write him off, except he adores his daughter and has no qualms talking about it. The women he hates in the songs he specifically says are his ex girlfriend Kim, and his mother who was an absent, drug addict parent. Again, this is all explained in his songs. He never speaks ill of his daughter Hailie Jade, and many songs are dedicated to her.

'97 Bonnie and Clyde

Just me and my baby/is all we need in this world/Just me and you/Your da-da will always be there for you/…and love you/If you ever need anything just ask/Da-da will be right there/I love you baby

Hailies Song

I act like shit don’t faze me/inside it drives me crazy/my insecurities will eat me alive/but then I see my baby/suddenly I’m not crazy/it all makes sense when I look into her eyes

Eminem would not allow his daughter to referred to as a bitch or hoe, and obviously is not calling her a bitch, slut or ho. He gets mad at JaRule in one of his songs for bringing her up… “I heard him say Hailies name on a song and I just lost it.”Again, Eminems lyrics are for shock value and to keep up with the music the rap industry currently demands.

Jay-Z takes this idea a step further. When his daughter, Blue Ivy Carter was born, he vowed never to call any woman a bitch or ho again. His wife/baby-mama is in the industry, and understands record sales, as do his parents. A bitch ain't one of his problems anymore.

 Awwww

Tupac, a proud mama’s boy, wrote a very famous song/lyrical letter to his mom in “Dear Mama”

Even though you was a crack fiend Mama/ to me you was always a black queen Mama/…ain’t no woman alive who could take my mamas place/…You are appreciated

Dear Mama 

Also one must remember that fatherless-ness is a problem in the African-American community, so a large number of Rap/hip-hop artists grew up living with their mother or grandmother. Just a thought.

Tupac even directly addresses the bitch phenomenon in his song “Wonda why they call you bitch”

Reasons women may be called a bitch, explained in full below

Wonda Why they Call U bitch full song 

It was said you were sleazy/even easy, sleepin’ around for what you need/ See it’s your thing, you can shake it how you wanna/give it up for free or make your money on the corner/but don’t be bad and play the game/get mad and change/ then you wonder why these motherfuckers call you names/I love you like a sister but you need to switch/and that’s why they call you bitch

As long as bitches and hoes sell records, the rap industry will continue to put our songs that seemingly degrade women. People get mad at the industry for these words, but then you have Rihanna saying “chains and whips excite me” and Britney Spears telling people “I wanna go all the way/taking out my freak tonight.” 

Is this okay because they are women? They are still making women seem like sexual objects, but in a different genre they are not given the same treatment as rap. So the “sexist” lyrics should be taken with a grain of salt. At the end of “Wonda why they call you Bitch” Tupac also says

Dear Ms.DeloresTucker, keep stressin’ me, fuckin’ with a muthafuckin mind. I figured you wanted to know, you know? Why we call them hoes bitches. Maybe this might help you understand [that] it ain’t personal, it’s strictly business baby, strictly business

Just one more example, and there are many more, of why the author of the book article, Tricia Rose, need to fully listen to songs, and do research on the artists and lyrics she condemns. As in all music writing, even “non-sexist” music, lyrics shouldn’t be taken at face value. The entire music industry must change, male and female artists, and not just in the rap hip-hop industry. This universal shift must occur until feminists aren’t offended by lyrics, and people have to stop buying albums about female sexuality, and those calling them out on promiscuity. Perhaps they (those that are offended) should listen to Christian rock instead, and even then, the Bible is pretty sexist itself…and is the highest selling book of all time.

Biblical Bitches and Hoes

 

Keep Ya Head Up- Tupac Shakur (with lyrics)

Since we all came from a woman/got our name from a woman/and our game from a woman/I wonder why we take from our women/why we hate our women/do we rape our women?/I think its time to heal our women [and] be real to our women/and if we don’t we’ll have a race of babies who will hate the ladies who make the babies/ and since a man can’t make one/he has no right to tell a woman when and where to create one/So will the real men stand up?/I know you’re fed up ladies/but keep ya head up