I’ve seen several posts (and a lot of reposts of those posts) talking about the misogyny in rap music produced by men, and while I think that having a conversation about misogyny in entertainment is incredibly important, I also think it’s important to think about why we’re focused so heavily on demonizing rap music in particular.
A lot of mainstream music produced by men, regardless of it’s genre, has the same messaging of misogyny, rape culture, sexism, etc. If you read a lot of the lyrics of popular club/dance music especially, it’s hiding in plain sight. However, in a world in which white is the norm, we’re used to hearing that type of messaging disguised underneath the soothing, fun loving, catchy melodies sung by familiar voices so we sing along without thinking about the words leaving our mouths. Rap, while it’s still a very popular genre, goes against that familiar, comfortable habit of hiding lyrics and is very straightforward, and therefore our condemnation increases because it forces you to interact with the lyrics instead of shutting off your brain.
I don’t advocate for a lack of critical thinking or criticism for the genre, in fact I’m asking for the opposite. Is Rap truly the worst genre for misogyny? Because I could, and am, arguing that abusive lyrics hidden in songs that play over the speakers at every establishment (and especially around children) with no issue, is just as bad if not worse. Genres such as Country, which is just as full of misogyny, are treated with a kind of “roll your eyes and get over it” attitude. We treat it as a joke, if we acknowledge it at all. Those silly, backwards folk living in a cornfield town don’t know any better, really.
Socially, we also forgive and forget about male violence much quicker when the man is white. I’ve watched people blow up angrily about a white man’s crime and after 6 months it’s forgotten to the point nobody remembers it when I bring it up. However a black man in that same situation will have his disgrace last years longer. This is not me advocating in any way for everyone to get the white man treatment, but for everyone to have an accurate social reaction to the crime itself without the person’s race tainting how we view him (and by extension, those in his racial group).
Rap, while it has some serious bad apples now, has an incredibly important cultural history of pushing for social change that other popular genres in the world today do not, and it’s ironic to me that it is now seen as the most morally corrupt and oppressive genre. Associating the entire genre solely with low intelligence (both in the artist and the audience), general moral failing and filth, and a backwards view on society when there are so many rappers who have pushed for social changes harder than any other musicians, when you do not similarly condemn other musical genres, is unfortunately a case of internalized racism.
I will reiterate once again that I am not in any way saying that anyone or anything should get off scot-free or without deep criticism. Pointing out an unfair balance in how we condemn groups of people is simply that, pointing it out. I think we need more criticism but I think that criticism needs to be nuanced, complete, and informed. I would also urge you to look into smaller or more underground rappers/rap movements because there is a lot to enjoy and many good people to support when you’re able to get past the big names that do well for a reason. The majority of our culture today is misogynistic so misogynistic lyrics appeal to the general masses, and people who refuse to fall under that group don’t end up as famous as those who do.
[Edited to hopefully make my point easier to understand bc I was getting several reposts that seemed to be taking away a message I didn’t mean to put across]
Any other eco radfems out here?
Environmentalism and Feminism are two of the most important movements to me, especially since I find them both very closely tied together. The treatment of the planet and the treatment of women by the patriarchy are one and the same and we’re seeing the rot that comes of that destructive exploitation now more than ever. The male obsession with exploitation and abuse of such deep beauty and power will never not sicken me.
I also feel such a connection between womanhood and the earth. She’s the one entity who is almost always female, and I’ve always loved that so much ever since I was a young catholic girl wishing I could worship Gaea instead of the detached male god up in the sky who didn’t really seem to represent anything other than passive judgment and condemnation. The earth is real and beautiful and offers life and creation and that’s just such a womanly thing to me.
And I don’t mean that in a pseudo conservative “Women’s highest good is giving birth” way, but about all forms of female creativity. Female creatives are an endless source of wonder and inspiration to me. Women now dominate fiction writing, for instance, and in my (completely unbiased lol) opinion, they write much better books than men. I rarely find a book by a man that I feel is genuinely a good book.
I know I’m a lot more “woo woo” than most of my mutuals on here lol, but womanhood, not femininity, is something I love and revere very deeply and in a spiritual way. The reality of women and what we do is enough for me to find them basically angelic. I don’t need some farce of performative, perfect, clean girl femininity when my god is covered in the residue of her creation, whether it’s soil or paint or ink stains, or even the invisible ideas in her head and how they affect what she talks about.
This is a bit of a ramble but I’m feeling like a lot less of an angry dyke than usual lol and god I just love women. Or maybe I’m just very lesbian.
And then people try to claim that it’s because being sapphic is “normalized in media” —you mean porn?? Being fetishized is not the same as being accepted, and it’s still incredibly dangerous. Sure maybe some men will ask you for a threesome and then get grumpy when you refuse and leave it at that (which is still sexual harassment) but many other times they get violent when you don’t fulfill their fantasies. Or they try corrective rape.
The real reason this happens is because our collective understanding of sexuality is phallocentric and a lot of people cannot fathom a healthy and fulfilling relationship between two women. Somehow a dick needs to be involved in some way.
Additionally, in terms of actual media, it is in general more accepted to be a homosexual man and gay men get more time, better story development, and way more attention from fans, as a general group.
You know how sometimes people act like homophobia toward women barely exists? I feel like that definitely plays into the way people act toward bisexual women vs men. Like men are oh so brave for coming out as bisexual and braving homophobia to be true to themselves and why would they lie about it when he could have saved face and stay closeted until he dated a man, how brave. vs with women it's like why would she even come out if she's not dating a woman, she's probably faking it for the clout (no mention of bravery for risking homophobia)
I hate when people (men or male-centric women) try to claim, “And they’re both the same bc it’s impossible standards 😔💔” NO TF IT IS NOT.
Wanting a literal underage-looking (or actual underage) sex slave and personal maid is not the same thing as wanting a competent and compassionate partner. Just look at lesbians. Lesbians literally act like how most male characters in those types of escapist romances act, (NOT the weirdo alpha bro shit but the normal stuff). We take care of each other on our periods. We prioritize each other’s sexual pleasure and health. We’re kind and soft and actually like to spend time with each other outside of sex. We take interest in each other’s interests. Don’t let men fool you into believing that’s some impossible standard of kindness. It’s the men that won’t grow tf up that’s the problem, not your desire to be treated like a fucking human being. Chocolate is $3 at the grocery store and a massage takes 10 minutes. Do better.
01: Do you have a good relationship with your parents? 02: Who did you last say “I love you” to? 03: Do you regret anything? 04: Are you insecure? 05: What is your relationship status? 06: How do you want to die? 07: What did you last eat? 08: Played any sports? 09: Do you bite your nails? 10: When was your last physical fight? 11: Do you like someone? 12: Have you ever stayed up 48 hours? 13: Do you hate anyone at the moment? 14: Do you miss someone? 15: Have any pets? 16: How exactly are you feeling at the moment? 17: Ever made out in the bathroom? 18: Are you scared of spiders? 19: Would you go back in time if you were given the chance? 20: Where was the last place you snogged someone? 21: What are your plans for this weekend? 22: Do you want to have kids? How many? 23: Do you have piercings? How many? 24: What is/are/were your best subject(s)? 25: Do you miss anyone from your past? 26: What are you craving right now? 27: Have you ever broken someone’s heart? 28: Have you ever been cheated on? 29: Have you made a boyfriend/girlfriend cry? 30: What’s irritating you right now? 31: Does somebody love you? 32: What is your favourite color? 33: Do you have trust issues? 34: Who/what was your last dream about? 35: Who was the last person you cried in front of? 36: Do you give out second chances too easily? 37: Is it easier to forgive or forget? 38: Is this year the best year of your life? 39: How old were you when you had your first kiss? 40: Have you ever walked outside completely naked? 51: Favourite food? 52: Do you believe everything happens for a reason? 53: What is the last thing you did before you went to bed last night? 54: Is cheating ever okay? 55: Are you mean? 56: How many people have you fist fought? 57: Do you believe in true love? 58: Favourite weather? 59: Do you like the snow? 60: Do you wanna get married? 61: Is it cute when a boy/girl calls you baby? 62: What makes you happy? 63: Would you change your name? 64: Would it be hard to kiss the last person you kissed? 65: Your best friend of the opposite sex likes you, what do you do? 66: Do you have a friend of the opposite sex who you can act your complete self around? 67: Who was the last person of the opposite sex you talked to? 68: Who’s the last person you had a deep conversation with? 69: Do you believe in soulmates? 70: Is there anyone you would die for?
I see this right after posting the original picture??? Blessed
Caitvi, Butchfemme
I actually do plan to take either wrestling or boxing soon, I’m just recovering from being underweight (and having a disability that effects the strength of my joints 😭) so I need to gain a bit more weight and get better in the gym first. I’m sorry you’re struggling too though, all my support to you 🖤
Gyns do you have any suggestions for stuff to help work through anger? I recently had a close female friend that I thought supported me suddenly turn around and spew a ton of alt right propaganda. Apparently she’s gone down a tradwife pipeline and now believes that women having rights is apparently the root of all problems in the world, and she told me (a lesbian who she also knows has experienced multiple counts of sexual assault) that she believes that all women must find a man to submit to sexually.
And while I’m grateful for the fact I can now feel anger instead of shame, I’ve gone a long way in healing, I’d also like to be able to step away from it because I’m legitimately losing sleep over it and it’s dredged up a lot of flashbacks. I’m not trying to fish for sympathy, I just want to know if y’all have any suggestions for me.
love calling myself a dyke like yes i am the mean and scary lesbian they warned you about on tv
i wish to be the sapphic version of wolfstar with someone
Back with another alternative Unsure-if-it’s-a-hot-take-here-but-would-def-be-a-hot-take-on-other-social-media-platforms.
“Well I have to buy from (fast fashion/unethical fashion brand) because I’m Alt and local/thrift stores don’t have any alt stuff that fits my style!!!” Is complete bullshit. Make it yourself like the original alternative subculture did.
You don’t know how?
The internet has a thousand tutorials. If you’re overwhelmed and don’t know where to start you can literally DM me and I will send you some of my favorite YT channels that I learned from when I started dressing alternative years ago. A bottle of dye cost me like $8 last time I bought it, and I can use that to dye a whole bucket of clothes black, and an even larger amount of clothes if I want some grey tones and I’m not too worried about having it all completely black.
But I don’t have time to learn all that right now!!!!
That’s completely fine and understandable! I’ve been there, but it’s not an excuse to constantly consume fast fashion. Pick up one skill at a time and change your wardrobe slowly. It’s not going to be instantaneous. Also skills you already have are transferable. You like drawing/sketching? Get a couple markers and transfer it onto a tshirt, and now you’ve got the coolest shirt in the room.
But what about disabled people????
I’m going to be so real with you rn, every single disabled person in my life (even ones I just casually talk to at art markets) are the most creative people I know and this one just feels like a random scapegoat that able-bodied people throw around. I’m disabled too, specifically surrounding muscle/connective tissue function, chronic pain, and motor skills. I work at a slower pace, with mediums I know I’m good with, and take breaks, as do all my friends and acquaintances who share similar problems. If you’re disabled enough you cannot do so, this does not apply to you and I support you getting your needs met in the way that makes the most sense for you.
It’s a lot more counter-culture to just listen to the music and wear a basic pair of jeans and a shirt from the thrift that you put a skull on with sharpie, than to wear plastic crap from Shein and Temu. It’s not really raging against the machine to buy into it. Being clothed is important and a human right, however having your perfect ideal wardrobe immediately, cheaply, and at the expense of the wellbeing of either the planet or other people is not a human right. There’s a bit of a difference between those two, and you can survive in a pair of basic blue jeans, I promise you.
20 | Butch lesbian | Feminist | diy enthusiast | Joculatrix | Lovergirl (Ik that contradicts being angry but trust me I have room for love and hatred)
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