‘Black Females Are Valued By No One'

The Village Voice reports on a new study of the attitudes of the “hip-hop generation.” Thulani Davis writes: “In reality, the teens interviewed—between 16 and 20 years old—are probably children of the first hip-hop generation (usually considered people born between 1965 and 1980). The subjects of this study, then, have been raised during the rise of this influential culture and may reflect the long-term effects of the devastation of black communities following the civil rights and black-power movements. The most telling attitudinal change from the ‘movement’ years is the absence of any influence of feminism and the open disdain for black women. As the authors put it, ‘Black females are valued by no one.’ The study’s glossary includes six nouns used to describe males: Dog, homeboy, playa, lame, sugar daddy, and payload, another word for sugar daddy. For women, there are at least 15, none good: Block bender, woo-wop, flip-flop, skeezer, ‘hood rat, ‘ho, and trick all mean promiscuous female. In addition, there are freak, bitch, gold digger, hoochie mama, runner, flipper, shorty, and the more ambiguous wifey. Young women in the interviews also use some of these terms.”

“In the survey of 2,000 teens, who were contacted through 80 community-based groups in nine urban areas, the ‘play or get played’ ethos is equally influential among males and females, along with this disrespect for black women. The survey found that urban youth continue to engage in risky sexual behavior in relationships the teens themselves describe as lacking emotional intimacy and trust.”

Previous Comments

This is really quite horriffic. The irony is that as I read this, my daughter’s in her room, listening to Sweet Honey in the Rock, and wishing she could sing as well as those women.

#63611 | Author: kate | Date: Mar 21 2004

African American women have been objectified since the birth of their existance in this country. For the Hip hop generation to continue this legacy is disappointing yes but this is not a new concept.

#63612 | Author: Ayana Taylor | Date: Mar 26 2004

Are we hard-wired for sexism, or is it cultural conditioning — or some combination of the two?

#63613 | Author: Philip | Date: Mar 26 2004

How can we be hard wired for treating half of the species poorly? That doesn’t make much sense. It’s a long history of devaluing “feminine traits” and overvaluing “masculine traits.” Supported by a long history of men making the rules and the laws and denying women property rights and education and self expression. For me, it’s easier to look at from a perspective of Yin vs. Yang, rather than female vs. male, since it makes it less personal. Then it really becomes clear that the things we value, like aggression, action, dominance, etc are all Yang, or masculine. The feminine is denigrated in all forms, and as a result, we are all out of whack. We may be hard wired for certain tendencies (if that’s your real question) – but, for my money, the sexism that is so prevalent is purely cultural. If sexism (denigration of women) were hard wired, then so many early cultures would not have worshipped godesses instead of, or in addition to, gods.

#63614 | Author: kate | Date: Mar 26 2004

It’s interesting to me how reflective hip hop is on different cultures. In the UK, hip hop has a more positive tempo and less agression unless they are purposefully attempting to duplicate American hip hop. I guess, ultimately they’ve been more influenced by pop and the ‘love/peace/unity’ aspects of the rave culture. In the UK, ‘bird’ is a term often used in many songs I’ve heard… It basically translates to ‘chick’ and has a less objectifying meaning/feeling about it. Still, they do have words like ‘bint’ which closely translates to ‘ho’. While most cultures discuss drugs and ghetto life, I’m always intrigued with the vast differences of the hip hop cultures around the globe. European by default is much more tame and less violent than American hip hop — unless they’re purposefully attempting the ‘American’ sound.

#63615 | Author: kaust | Date: Mar 26 2004

P.S. Excellent points regarding ‘female’ gods, Kate.

#63616 | Author: kaust | Date: Mar 26 2004

Black female are not just in the “hip-hop” world. you can not put them into a class just by seeing some on videos. What about the other hundreds of thousands of black females in the world, many who are lawyers, doctors, teachers, journalist, at home mothers and many more. One of the most important women in our country is black, the presidents advisor, Condoleeza Rice. So all of the stereotypical attitudes towards black females should be eliminated because those attitudes is nothing more than ignorance [email]reddingq1@mail.montclair.edu[/email]

#63617 | Author: redding | Date: Sep 21 2004