In Rana A. Emerson's reading, "Where My Girls At?" Negotiating Black Womanhood in Music Videos, she explains that Black women in music videos tend to be hyper sexualized though some videos do portray Black women with a strong sense of empowerment and independence. When I read this article, a certain song and music video came to my mind. Niki Minaj and Ciara's song "I'm out" is the perfect example of hyper sexualization while still maintaining empowerment and independence. The song's focus is on a break up and how that now after the man is out of the picture the women are better off. Though the song speaks of empowerment and independence, all of the women, including the two artists, are scantily clad and dancing provocatively. What kind of message is this sending? That yeah, as women we don't need a man but we still need to shake what the good Lord gave us in order to get back at them? Either way, when I'm in a certain mood I find the song empowering and when I look at it through my student eyes I'm appalled at how the women are portrayed. What do you think?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-TTNdyIMAE
Emily, I completely understand how you feel. There are countless songs made by women who I admire in the music industry where the message of their songs are of empowerment, independence and individuality but at the same time these women are scantily dressed and dance provocatively. It’s hard to completely disregard them because of their choices of dance and dress because this happens to be THE way women are portrayed and will always be. There is a difference I think with Beyoncé and how she chooses to express her sexuality in her music videos. I think she embodies sexiness in ways that many women in the music industry do not. She is able to be sexy and classy at the same time! Her choreographed dances also maintain that image, which allows her to separate herself from the typical provocative dancing we see in music videos.
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