This study investigated African American males' perceptions and attitudes toward women and rap music. One hundred males between the ages of 13–25 were given a survey to assess their perceptions of women and rap music. Upon completion of the survey, five participants were randomly chosen to be interviewed. Four research questions guided the analysis: (1) How do young African American males respond to the images of women in rap music? (2) How do young African American males perceive manhood? (3) How do young African American males perceive heterosexual relationships? (4) How do young African American males perceive rap music and their relationship with women? The major findings of this study offered a complex, multi-faceted view of the role of rap music in the lives of young African American males including its impact on their attitudes toward women. Despite images of violence and sexual conquest in many popular rap songs, participants in the study affirmed a personal view of manhood that includes a rejection of violence against women. Participants also rejected a view of male-female relationships built on sexual relations in favor of more mutually supportive relationships with women. Participants also overwhelmingly rejected views of women as “gold diggers” interested in men for material gains. Participants further rejected a view of rap music as a form of personal and social control. They viewed it as a form of entertainment and escapism that offers African Americans opportunities for expression that are necessary to resist influences of a larger racist society.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:UMASS/oai:scholarworks.umass.edu:dissertations-1753 |
| Date | 01 January 1999 |
| Creators | Harvey, Bonita Michelle |
| Publisher | ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst |
| Source Sets | University of Massachusetts, Amherst |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Source | Doctoral Dissertations Available from Proquest |
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