Paper Title
The Unique Sexualization of Women of Different Ethnicities in Pop Music
Location
Room 222, DiGiorgio Campus Center (DiGs)
Keywords
music, race, african american, asian, hispanic, latina, women, sexualization, cultural appropriation, fetishization, pop music industry, representation
Start Date
April 2016
End Date
April 2016
Abstract
This paper details the sexualization of different nonwhite ethnicities in the music industry, primarily focusing on black women, latina women, and asian women. All of these ethnic groups are sexualized in unique ways and held to different standards than white women. They are sexualized in lyrics and music videos, but representation for these women is seriously lacking. Black women with curves are hypersexualized. Everyone in the world knows what twerking is but most people would not be able to tell you black women statistically are more likely to have a sexual health problem. Latina women seem to be stuck in the role of “sex symbol” or “the help.” They are characterized as “fiery and uncontrollable” but stuck in submissive positions. Popular latina pop stars are almost all light-skinned. Their accents are sexualized and racial slurs comparing them to food are common. The fetishization of Asian women is closely related to pedophilia in some cases. The school girl outfit is sexualized and Asian women are characterized as submissive. White pop stars can show more skin without being hypersexualized. They can appropriate other cultures without the same consequences and still be accepted. Representation is important and that is why this issue needs to be addressed and discussed.
The Unique Sexualization of Women of Different Ethnicities in Pop Music
Room 222, DiGiorgio Campus Center (DiGs)
This paper details the sexualization of different nonwhite ethnicities in the music industry, primarily focusing on black women, latina women, and asian women. All of these ethnic groups are sexualized in unique ways and held to different standards than white women. They are sexualized in lyrics and music videos, but representation for these women is seriously lacking. Black women with curves are hypersexualized. Everyone in the world knows what twerking is but most people would not be able to tell you black women statistically are more likely to have a sexual health problem. Latina women seem to be stuck in the role of “sex symbol” or “the help.” They are characterized as “fiery and uncontrollable” but stuck in submissive positions. Popular latina pop stars are almost all light-skinned. Their accents are sexualized and racial slurs comparing them to food are common. The fetishization of Asian women is closely related to pedophilia in some cases. The school girl outfit is sexualized and Asian women are characterized as submissive. White pop stars can show more skin without being hypersexualized. They can appropriate other cultures without the same consequences and still be accepted. Representation is important and that is why this issue needs to be addressed and discussed.
