Date of Award

5-1-2024

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies

First Advisor

Maura Bernales

Second Advisor

Daniel Coleman

Third Advisor

Lakeyta Bonnette-Bailey

Abstract

Can women's liberation organizations draw inspiration from Black female rappers as contemporary feminist role models and embodiments of anti-misogynoir? Black female rap music asserts that women and femme-identifying individuals can counter harmful and oppressive portrayals by rapping life into alternative realities. Artists like Megan Thee Stallion, Cardi B, and City Girls actively resist patriarchal and heteronormative norms through their assertive and explicit lyrics, distinctive wardrobes, and performances. This paper utilizes intertextuality to delve into the themes and patterns across Black female rap music to illustrate how these artists use their craft to subvert violence, racism, and sexism, thereby reshaping the prevailing images of Black womanhood. The intertextual analysis presented in this paper aims to describe and justify a curriculum designed to enrich identity exploration among young people and to be instrumental for feminist organizations. Through a critical examination of the lyrical content of Black female rap music, this study aims to uncover how these artists transcend traditional stereotypes of Black womanhood and sexual objectification, providing a survival guide for subverting patriarchal dominance for us all.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.57709/37003217

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