Women in Hip Hop: Balancing Hyper Sexualization and Critique

In 2018, Mary J. Blige became the first person to clinch an Oscar nomination in both the acting and music categories for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role and Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures (Original Song), as well as the first African American woman nominated for multiple Oscars in the same year. Both nominations were for “Mudbound,” where Blige plays the wife of an impoverished farmer, and for which she wrote and performed the theme song “Mighty River.” Blige has also acted in several television shows including, “Empire,” “Power Book: Ghost,” “Black-ish,” and “The Umbrella Academy.”

In Hip Hop Culture, if you’re not selling sex as a woman, navigating Queen Bey’s internet is a rough ride. Last week, Angela Simmons posted some stunning photos for her collaboration with Pinky Cole’s Slutty Vegan restaurant chain. Among the comments, one read, “She has the sex appeal of a cactus.” Seriously? This got me thinking: Why do wholesome women face such criticism within “the culture?”

Although I believe in defining my own value, I still shake my head when I see it unfold in real time. We watched Ciara get repeatedly dragged online for valuing herself enough to leave a toxic relationship and move on with a good man. We also saw that good man labeled a “simp” for loving her and her child. Podcasts feature men tearing down women in the culture for behaviors they deem “low value.” Yet, if you scroll through their social media, you’ll find them liking every rap artist, reality star, video vixen, and influencer who sells sex. Algorithms don’t lie.

In a genre that celebrates power, wealth, and ostentation, women in hip hop often find themselves forced into hypersexualized roles. Female artists who own their sexuality are celebrated, leaving little room for those who prefer a more modest approach. Wholesome or conservative women may find themselves marginalized or criticized.

This struggle reflects a larger societal issue where a woman’s worth is often tied to her looks and sex appeal. In hip hop, where visuals are paramount, this mindset is amplified. Women who don’t conform to the sex symbol trope must work even harder to prove their worth, facing brutal backlash that overshadows their talents and contributions.

Moreover, hip hop’s young and impressionable audience perpetuates these stereotypes. Fans constantly see highly sexualized female icons in music videos, fostering unrealistic expectations and making it tougher for women who don’t fit this mold to succeed. While there are exceptions, the pressure to hypersexualize remains a significant hurdle.

In summary, hip hop’s obsession with sexual appeal makes it challenging for women who prefer a wholesome image. We need to broaden our perspectives and respect diverse representations of womanhood in the culture. Through ongoing conversations and conscious efforts, hip hop can evolve to embrace all facets of female identity, allowing every woman to shine in her unique way.

Victoria “Babydoll” Johnson is bringing you inside The Dollhouse, middays from 10a to 3p on Foxy 99. She was born and raised in Eastern North Carolina, and grew up listening to legendary heritage Hip Hop Foxy 99 personalities, all while secretly dreaming of one day becoming one of them. Babydoll is known to be an “around the way girl” amongst Foxy listeners, connecting with them and writing about music, pop culture, and holistic wellness.
She is a graduate of Carolina School of Broadcasting, in Charlotte North Carolina. Babydoll colloquially delivers compelling content and information. She connects with listeners not only over the airwaves, but also through social media platforms; as well as in their communities where it counts most.