Hip-Hop: An Emerging Carrier for Feminist Expression
Research Article
Open Access
CC BY

Hip-Hop: An Emerging Carrier for Feminist Expression

Yunqi Yu 1*
1 Jiangsu Wuxi Tianyi High School
*Corresponding author: yyq1550843374@sina.com
Published on 14 October 2025
Journal Cover
LNEP Vol.126
ISSN (Print): 2753-7056
ISSN (Online): 2753-7048
ISBN (Print): 978-1-80590-327-7
ISBN (Online): 978-1-80590-328-4
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Abstract

African youths utilize Hip-Hop culture to express their resentment and rebellion against mainstream culture and external oppression, reflecting the instinct of underprivileged people to pursue their rights and freedom. However, during the process of resistance and self-expression, they often neglect to respect other, more vulnerable groups, such as women, ultimately leading to oppression and rebellion within Hip-Hop community. When people rebel against certain authorities, they may unconsciously create new forms of inequality and violence. This paper explains how men in Hip-Hop rap objectify women, and how female rappers, having been influenced by feminism, use music to fight back. The research is conducted by collecting references about Hip-Hop music, analyzing the differences between a large number of male and female Hip-Hop songs in terms of lyric content, music videos, and target audiences, and investigating the improvements in female rappers’ status in the Hip-Hop world. According to the study, in Hip-Hop music, men objectify and degrade women through lyrics containing sexist and misogynistic language, the objectification of women’s bodies in music videos (MVs), and disrespectful attitudes toward women. To fight back against the situation, women draw on Black feminism and express dissatisfaction through music.

Keywords:

hip-hop, feminism, lyrics, rebellion

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Yu,Y. (2025). Hip-Hop: An Emerging Carrier for Feminist Expression. Lecture Notes in Education Psychology and Public Media,126,66-71.

References

[1]. Larsen, JK. (2006). Sexism and Misogyny in American Hip-Hop Culture. CORE. 1-93

[2]. Collins, P. H. (1990). Black feminist thought in the matrix of domination. Black Feminist Thought: Knowledge, Consciousness, and the Politics of Empowerment, 138, 221-238.

[3]. Young, I. M. (1990). Five faces of oppression. Justice and the Politics of Difference. 39-65

[4]. Moultrie, K. L. (2024). Reclaiming My Identity: A Philosophical Deconstruction of Stereotypes Placed on Black Women in Hip-Hop. https: //digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/honors-theses/1019

[5]. Clark, M K. Feminisms in African hip hop. Meridians, 2018, 17(2): 383-400.

[6]. Ling, X., Chen, Y., & Zhu, X. (2025). Expanding the discourse: a critical analysis of hip-hop feminism in the era of globalization. Frontiers in Sociology, 10, 1525981.

[7]. Fernandes, S. (2011). Close to the edge: In search of the global hip hop generation. Verso Books.

[8]. Kolesová, A. (2023). Depiction of Women in Contemporary American Hip-hop Culture. https: //theses.cz/id/vpib3t/

[9]. Audre Lorde. (2000). Uses of the erotic: The Erotic as Power. Kore Press. https: //medialibrary.uantwerpen.be/oldcontent/container2607/files/Lorde%20-%20Uses%20of%20the%20Erotic.pdf

[10]. Durham, A. (2007). “Using [Living Hip Hop] Feminism: Redefining an Answer ðtoÞ Rap.” Pough et al., 2007, 304-12.

References

[1]. Larsen, JK. (2006). Sexism and Misogyny in American Hip-Hop Culture. CORE. 1-93

[2]. Collins, P. H. (1990). Black feminist thought in the matrix of domination. Black Feminist Thought: Knowledge, Consciousness, and the Politics of Empowerment, 138, 221-238.

[3]. Young, I. M. (1990). Five faces of oppression. Justice and the Politics of Difference. 39-65

[4]. Moultrie, K. L. (2024). Reclaiming My Identity: A Philosophical Deconstruction of Stereotypes Placed on Black Women in Hip-Hop. https: //digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/honors-theses/1019

[5]. Clark, M K. Feminisms in African hip hop. Meridians, 2018, 17(2): 383-400.

[6]. Ling, X., Chen, Y., & Zhu, X. (2025). Expanding the discourse: a critical analysis of hip-hop feminism in the era of globalization. Frontiers in Sociology, 10, 1525981.

[7]. Fernandes, S. (2011). Close to the edge: In search of the global hip hop generation. Verso Books.

[8]. Kolesová, A. (2023). Depiction of Women in Contemporary American Hip-hop Culture. https: //theses.cz/id/vpib3t/

[9]. Audre Lorde. (2000). Uses of the erotic: The Erotic as Power. Kore Press. https: //medialibrary.uantwerpen.be/oldcontent/container2607/files/Lorde%20-%20Uses%20of%20the%20Erotic.pdf

[10]. Durham, A. (2007). “Using [Living Hip Hop] Feminism: Redefining an Answer ðtoÞ Rap.” Pough et al., 2007, 304-12.

Cite this article

Yu,Y. (2025). Hip-Hop: An Emerging Carrier for Feminist Expression. Lecture Notes in Education Psychology and Public Media,126,66-71.

Data availability

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study will be available from the authors upon reasonable request.

About volume

Volume title: Proceeding of ICIHCS 2025 Symposium: Integration & Boundaries: Humanities/Arts, Technology and Communication

ISBN: 978-1-80590-327-7(Print) / 978-1-80590-328-4(Online)
Editor: Enrique Mallen
Conference website: https://2025.icihcs.org/Kunming.html
Conference date: 21 October 2025
Series: Lecture Notes in Education Psychology and Public Media
Volume number: Vol.126
ISSN: 2753-7048(Print) / 2753-7056(Online)

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