This thesis investigates the rise of the cultures and music of hip-hop and rap in the West and its
effects on its female listeners and fans, especially those in academia. The thesis consists of two
parts. First I conducted a content analysis of 95 lyrics from the book, Hip-Hop & Rap: Complete
Lyrics for 175 Songs (Spence, 2003). The songs I analyzed were performed by male artists
whose lyrics repeated misogynist and sexist messages. Second, I conducted a focus group with
young female university students who self-identify as fans of hip-hop and/or rap music. In
consultation with my former thesis supervisor, I selected women enrolled in interdisciplinary
programmes focused on gender and race because they are equipped with an academic
understanding of the potential damage or negative effects of anti-female or negative political
messaging in popular music.
My study suggests that the impact of hip-hop and rap music on young women is both positive
and negative, creating an overarching feeling of complexity for some young female listeners who
enjoy music that is infused with some lyrical messages they revile.
The attraction to hip-hop and rap music and cultures by young women in academia seems to be
largely contingent upon an appreciation of the aesthetics of the genre and music, including its
rhythmic flow, melodic structure and the general appeal of the artists. Therefore, even when the
messaging comes across as antagonizing or antithetical to the well-being of the young female
academic listener, her enjoyment of the music remains intact.
By organizing a discussion group and candid dialogue between young academic women who are
self-described hip-hop and/or rap fans, I was able to obtain an intimate understanding of their
personal struggle between this appealing musical aesthetic and the sometimes-violent messages
of hip-hop and rap.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:OTU.1807/36081 |
| Date | 13 August 2013 |
| Creators | Zichermann, Sandra Claire |
| Contributors | Dehli, Kari |
| Source Sets | Library and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada |
| Language | en_ca |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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