Sexually Objectifying Music Videos and Lyric Increase Sexual Violence - Research Paper Example

Lecturer: Sexually Objectifying Music Videos and Lyric Increase Sexual Violence Content analytic studies conclude that women areportrayed as sex objects in music videos with most of the literature on music videos focusing on the effects of exposure to the broadly defined sexual themes within music videos as opposed to sexual objectification on sexually permissive attitudes. Although there is a link between sexually objectifying media and attitudes regarding sexual aggression, the link was established in different media like pornography (Aubrey, Megan and Wanjiru 360). Various authors seek to test if sex objectification in music videos cause similar impacts on men’s sexual beliefs and attitudes regarding sexual aggression. Various scholars point out sexual objectification of women and men in popular media to show western cultures to have been sexualized. However, it is unclear if men or women have become more intensely sexualized overtime; nevertheless, analytical framework shows that sexualized images of both men and women have increased but women continue to be frequently sexualized than men (Aubrey, Megan and Wanjiru 361). Increasingly, representations of women are refracted through sexually objectifying imagery; however, it is not only women who are sexualized in media but also men are sexualized as well. Since the introduction of pop music in 1981, it has grown in popularity; nevertheless, rap music has been a source of controversy since it has been accused of encouraging controversial messages about sex and violence and materialism (Conrad, Travis, and Yuanyuan 134). Previous investigation suggest that the music content promote undesirable behavior, but there are other findings proposing that rap music consists of contentious as well as community promoting themes. Artists in the videos of rap music demand attention since despite other categories, black artists dominate rap music, recent debate on rap music accuse it of being overly sexist and demeaning to women. Rap music as genre is associated with black male which can result in increase of sexism theme and misogyny for women (Conrad, Travis, and Yuanyuan 135). Research shows that female characters are consistently portrayed in sexually submissive positions compared to male characters since music videos portray women as sex objects because they use revealing or provocative clothes which display excessive skin exposure. Recent analysis of rap and hip hop music videos documents the presence of misogyny, which is defined as a sexualizing women and the dominance of men over women. The theme is visible in when numerous and highly sexualized women dance provocatively while wearing revealing clothes and being submissive to male artists other characters who are male in the music video. The result suggests that even though male characters are associated with various themes, female characters are mostly associated with position of objectification. Another recent content analysis study examined various sexual objectifications in other video music genres that include country and hip hop. The study showed that most of the sample video of female artists contained sexual objectification indicators like close-up shots of private body parts, touching of personal sexual body parts, sexualized dancing or ample skin exposure. Therefore, sexual objectification is not exclusively done to female characters by their male counterparts; but rather most female artists engage in acts of sexual objectification of their bodies. In accordance with objectification theory, sexual objectification is conceptually defined as a considering an individual as a body only valued by its use by others. Thus, basing on the definition, sexual objectification operationalized both in visual representation of female artists’ bodies and their behavior. Sexual objectification is common in media culture; however, music videos offer the potent example of it (Aubrey, Megan and Wanjiru 365). To understand how exposure to sexually objectifying music videos link to constructs of adversarial sexual beliefs, the study draws upon the priming framework. The premise of priming bases on what people hear, see, or read media stimuli, ideas that share the same meaning are activated for a short period and afterward used to process subsequent stimuli. Therefore, introduction to music videos in which female artists get involved in sexual objectification may lead a group of women being sexual items (Papadopoulos 6-11). The activated schema may contain related attributes like the idea that sexual objects invite male gaze, which results in male attention. The female artists invite sexual attention which can alleviate responsibility in men in the context where the attention crosses to sexual aggression. Any effects of aggression-related attitudinal measures result from the schema activated by music videos (Aubrey, Megan and Wanjiru 366-368). Well established literature shows the influences of pornography on men’s sexual behavior and attitudes, thus the exposure to the portrayal of women as sexual objects in pornography encourages men to engage more in sexually motivated behaviors toward women. Studies suggest that e exposure to women showed as sex objects primed in men a belief that victims were responsible for the sexual aggression, which diminishes men belief of credibility of rape victims. Moreover, connection can exist in interpersonal violence within sexual relations, as well as acceptance of rape myth, in addition to a disbelief in legitimacy of sexual harassment. Experimental evidence shows exposure to music videos music videos with sexual content most likely results in endorsement of casual and stereotypical attitudes regarding sex and opinions that sexual relations are adversarial. A study carried out on African American students who watched sexually stereotyped music videos significantly demonstrated support for stereotypical beliefs about gender and sexual roles compared to students who watched videos without stereotypes. Moreover, another study showed that male students who viewed highly sexual music videos expressed high objectification of women, stereotypical gender attitudes and sexual permissiveness compared to male students who viewed less sexual music videos. Experimental studies establish a link between sexually objectifying music videos’ ability to create sexual stereotypes and more apathetic attitudes regarding sexual violence. Studies show that men accepted rape if they were exposed to sexual music videos instead of non-sexual videos. Moreover, in another study, young women who were exposed to sexual music videos indicated a willingness to accept teenage violence compared to when they were prior to watching the sexual music video. In both cases the acceptance of violence results from the exposure of objectified women, which makes the participants feel that violence, is justified. Therefore, recent evidence suggests that effects of sexual music video on gender related attitudes primarily occurs in men; in addition, men often begin and perpetrate sexual aggression. Women on TV are likely to dress provocatively compared to the male counterparts and scenes of violence targeting women are increasingly common. The failure to present women in diverse characters which are helpful in identifying them results in the visibility of the only hyper-sexualized heroines who inevitably have a big impact. Music videos through all categories tend to sexualize and represent women regularly showing them in offensive clothing that depict them as being ready for sex. On the other hand men are depicted as hyper-masculine and being dominant sexually; thus, there is a link between sexualized music lyrics and its influences on shaping sexual activity since the cause is not only related to sexual content of the lyrics but also the demeaning nature. Music video often develops from pornographic imagination where women are seen as sex symbols that must have sex and willing to submit to any fantasy men have. Both cultural and industry expectations encourage female artists to indulge themselves in sexual objectification; moreover, recent studies show that female artists are more readily available to objectify themselves compared to male artists willingness to objectify female characters in music videos. The most deceptive way the media emphasizes physical attractiveness through objectifying bodies, sexual objectification has conceptualized into separating a person’s body, body parts or sexual functions from the individual, thus reducing the individual into a mere instrument. The corresponding bias for women objectification focuses on women bodies or parts and sometimes removing their heads altogether; nevertheless, men are also objectified. According to Bartky: Sexual objectification occurs when a woman’s sexual parts or functions are separated from her person, reduced to status of mere instruments or else regarded as if they were capable of representing her (35) Sexual objectification experiences socialize girls and women to perceive themselves as objects looked at and evaluated according to their bodily appearance. Research show that music video often differs in the way they portray men and women; generally showing men in more positive light compared to females. Specifically women are depicted in positions of submission compared to men; besides, men are likely to perpetuate violence and women are portrayed as victims. Music videos often show women dressed in provoking clothing specifically in sexually objectified music videos, the variation in the depictions of both men and women signifies the significance of considering gender differences in music video (Conrad, Travis, and Yuanyuan 137-138). Significant increase in sexualized videos results in idealized body perfection in young children, which is difficult to attain even for models that perpetuate the industry practice. Objectified music videos lead people to believe in reality that never exists which is detrimental especially to adolescents. Repeated exposure to sexually objectified music results in gender-stereotyped ideas and images that contribute to sexist attitudes and beliefs like sexual harassment, stereotyped perceptions and violence against women. Though, sexual objectification is one type of gender harassment, it takes into consideration other hosts of oppressions that women face ranging from employment discernment, trivialization and sexual violence. Consumption of sexually objectified music allows women to accept the tendency of viewing women as objects and the approval of aggressive behavior to be the norm. Works Cited Papadopoulos, Linda. Sexualisation of Young People. n.d. Web. 30 April 2013 Bartky, Sandra. L. Femininity and domination: Studies in the phenomenology of oppression. New York: Routledge. 1990. Print. Aubrey, Jennifer Stevens, K. Megan Hopper, and Wanjiru G. Mbure. "Check That Body! The Effects Of Sexually Objectifying Music Videos On College Men's Sexual Beliefs." Journal Of Broadcasting & Electronic Media 55.3 (2011): 360-379. Conrad, Kate, Travis L. Dixon, and Yuanyuan Zhang. "Controversial Rap Themes, Gender Portrayals And Skin Tone Distortion: A Content Analysis Of Rap Music Videos." Journal Of Broadcasting & Electronic Media 53.1 (2009): 134-156. Read More