I'm a Child not a Video Vixen: The Caricature of Black Women and Hip-Hop’s Conformity Towards the Patriarchy
Location
PANEL: Music Analysis, Culture, & Community
Mudd 113
Moderator: Christina Neilson
Document Type
Presentation - Open Access
Start Date
5-1-2026 11:00 AM
End Date
5-1-2026 12:00 PM
Abstract
Hip-hop originated in the Bronx during the 70s as a way for African Americans, Caribbean, and Latino citizens to be free to express themselves. This genre is made by marginalized people, for marginalized people, often politically and socially rebelling against the patriarchy of white America through art. Although hip-hop was made to be a safe space for black Americans, it does not always represent Black women respectably. This paper focuses on how the sexualization of black women in Hip-Hop music, and music videos, creates a detrimental environment for young black girls in America. I will be answering: do images of Black women in hip-hop inspire and liberate young black girls? Or are they detrimental to the growth away from negative stereotypes? I am arguing that female Black artists conforming to stereotypes white America has pushed on black women being a Jezebel, mammy, and sapphire, are preventing young black girls from being free from the control claimed by white America over black bodies. I will be using visual communication to analyze images, by male and female artists, that presents black women sexually in their music. This will help understand what messages are being sent with their bodies as well as how American stereotypes influence and respond to the portrayal of young black girls.
Keywords:
Hyper-sexualization, Stereotypes, Black, America
Recommended Citation
Battle, Maya, "I'm a Child not a Video Vixen: The Caricature of Black Women and Hip-Hop’s Conformity Towards the Patriarchy" (2026). Research Symposium. 1.
https://digitalcommons.oberlin.edu/researchsymp/2026/presentations/1
Major
Communications
Project Mentor(s)
Cortney Smith, Writing and Communication
2026
I'm a Child not a Video Vixen: The Caricature of Black Women and Hip-Hop’s Conformity Towards the Patriarchy
PANEL: Music Analysis, Culture, & Community
Mudd 113
Moderator: Christina Neilson
Hip-hop originated in the Bronx during the 70s as a way for African Americans, Caribbean, and Latino citizens to be free to express themselves. This genre is made by marginalized people, for marginalized people, often politically and socially rebelling against the patriarchy of white America through art. Although hip-hop was made to be a safe space for black Americans, it does not always represent Black women respectably. This paper focuses on how the sexualization of black women in Hip-Hop music, and music videos, creates a detrimental environment for young black girls in America. I will be answering: do images of Black women in hip-hop inspire and liberate young black girls? Or are they detrimental to the growth away from negative stereotypes? I am arguing that female Black artists conforming to stereotypes white America has pushed on black women being a Jezebel, mammy, and sapphire, are preventing young black girls from being free from the control claimed by white America over black bodies. I will be using visual communication to analyze images, by male and female artists, that presents black women sexually in their music. This will help understand what messages are being sent with their bodies as well as how American stereotypes influence and respond to the portrayal of young black girls.
