The Hip-hop Takeover: How Female Asian-american Artists Made a Politically Charged Genre Their Own
Open Access
Author:
Janesch, Kassia Alina
Area of Honors:
English
Degree:
Bachelor of Arts
Document Type:
Thesis
Thesis Supervisors:
Tina Chen Goudie, Thesis Supervisor Lisa Ruth Sternlieb, Thesis Honors Advisor
Keywords:
hip-hop women misogyny Asian-Americans
Abstract:
The formation of the musical genre of hip-hop came about with the help of a variety of influences. Since its birth in the 1970s, hip-hop has continued evolving, becoming the music we are used to hearing everyday on the radio. However, as a result of the turn the genre has taken -- towards a focus on the acquisition of money and the representation of women as disembodied sexualized beings -- new forms of the genre have arisen. This paper explores the history behind the genre, from a political movement about race, to one that is now raising awareness about sexism and gender equality. The new trend of "hip hop feminisms has addressed such lyrical objectification, particularly those directed toward Asian American women, in responses done by Asian American women through hip-hop and spoken word.
