Misogyny in Rap Music: A Content Analysis of Prevalence and Meanings

Men and Masculinities, Vol. 12, pp. 3-29, 2009

28 Pages Posted: 26 Mar 2012

See all articles by Ronald Weitzer

Ronald Weitzer

George Washington University - Department of Sociology

Charis E. Kubrin

University of California, Irvine

Date Written: March 23, 2012

Abstract

Rap music has a reputation for being misogynistic, but surprisingly little research has systematically investigated this dimension of the music. This study assesses the portrayal of women in a representative sample of 403 rap songs. Content analysis identified five gender-related themes in this body of music — themes that contain messages regarding ‘‘essential’’ male and female characteristics and that espouse a set of conduct norms for men and women. Our analysis situates rap music within the context of larger cultural and music industry norms and the local, neighborhood conditions that inspired this music in the first place.

Keywords: rap music, sexuality, gender, mass media, hegemonic masculinity

Suggested Citation

Weitzer, Ronald and Kubrin, Charis, Misogyny in Rap Music: A Content Analysis of Prevalence and Meanings (March 23, 2012). Men and Masculinities, Vol. 12, pp. 3-29, 2009, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2028129

Ronald Weitzer

George Washington University - Department of Sociology ( email )

United States

Charis Kubrin (Contact Author)

University of California, Irvine ( email )

Department of Criminiology, Law and Society
Social Ecology II, Rm 3379
Irvine, CA 62697-3125
United States

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
717
Abstract Views
4,727
Rank
66,204
PlumX Metrics