GWSS Post #2

Candace Chang

The most interesting idea in this week’s readings for me is the way that seemingly opposing forces work together within the framework of hip-hop feminism. For instance, the Wikipedia page notes that “Hip-hop feminism acknowledges the problematic, misogynist nature of culture… and empowers [women] by enabling participation, response, and owning self-identification.” Rather than ignoring issues that may harm participants of hip-hop culture, hip-hop feminists acknowledge them and work at reframing them in ways that can be beneficial. This idea that empowerment can exist within a problematic culture can also be seen in “The Stage Hip-Hop Feminism built” which details the way hip-hop feminism both challenges and embraces certain aspects of hip hop culture. For instance, in the intro the authors note “[hip-hop feminism] involves coming up with a language to talk about both the pleasure and pain of sex and sexuality outside a single heteropatriarchal lens” (Durham, 2013, p. 724). Through it, we can understand pain and pleasure not as separate entities, but forces that work together, and often produce one another. It is not as straightforward as saying hip-hop culture is good or bad. It is not something that should be simply accepted as is or discarded. Through hip-hop feminism, such dichotomous thinking is challenged. Through hip-hop feminism, sexuality can be celebrated while still being critical of the forces it may have been influenced/bred by. It is a way for women to take control of narratives that have been made without them and begin to empower themselves and their sexualities.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OK1TioosaFQ

The first song I think relates to this topic is Heaven’s Little Bastard by Bbymutha. Bbymutha owns her sexuality and stands against those who have a problem with it in this song. She challenges the policing of black women in many ways - notably by celebrating her own features and sexuality. She further challenges dominant standards with her openness to being with both men and women. She very unapologetically owns her narrative in this song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgSpeV-bklk
The second song I chose is Screwed by Janelle Monae. This songs openly talks about the relationship women have with sex. Specifically, it challenges common understandings of the way women should approach and have sex.