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Youth Say Too Much Sex, Violence in Rap

~ Portrayals of Women, Black Men Offensive ~
   
WASHINGTON (March 22, 2007) -- Too much sex, violence, and negative 
portrayals of black men and women.  That's what young people are saying about 
hip-hop music and videos, according to a new study headed by Professor Cathy 
Cohen at the University of Chicago.  Youth activists in the nationwide 
GenderYOUTH Network are responding to these declarations with a campaign that 
focuses on homophobia, hyper-masculinity, sexism, and transphobia in hip-hop. 
 

"Youth receive distorted messages about masculinity and femininity from 
mainstream hip-hop, where it's all about 'macho' men and gyrating, 
half-clothed women," said Tyrone Hanley, Youth Program Coordinator of 
GenderPAC.  "Youth activists in the Network want to make sure that young 
people look critically at the images and messages that they hear and see in 
rap lyrics and videos."

More than 70 percent of Black and Hispanic youth -- as well as 68 percent of 
White youth -- agreed that mainstream rap music videos contain too many 
references to sex, according to the Black Youth Project, which examines the 
attitudes, resources, and culture of African American youth ages 15 to 25, 
and explores how these factors influence their decision-making.  

"We have to pay attention to hyper-sexualized images of young people -- 
especially young people of color and in particular, young women of color.  
They are bound to have some negative impact on how they view themselves and 
how others perceive them," said Professor Cohen.

The study, which interviewed 1590 young people (of whom 635 were Black), also 
found that a majority of youth also agree that mainstream rap music videos 
are too violent and portray black men and women in bad and offensive ways.  

"There is a demand for music that transcends the prevailing imagery of 
homophobia and sexism.  But in the end, it is up to young people as agents of 
change to transform hip-hop into our own image," said Aries Dela Cruz, a 
Columbia University student.

With rap sales dropping 21 percent from 2005 to 2006, GenderYOUTH activists 
around the country are running with this data to facilitate open dialogues 
with youth about the portrayals of hyper-masculinity, misogyny, and 
homophobia in rap music in order to stop the gender-based harassment and 
violence that is plaguing young people.  

According to "50 Under 30: Masculinity and the War on America's Youth," 
almost 50 young people of color have been murdered in the last 10 years in 
highly violent assaults that targeted them for not being masculine enough.

The Gender Public Advocacy Coalition has teamed up with filmmaker Byron Hurt 
to host a series of community dialogues about representations of manhood, 
sexism, and homophobia in hip-hop culture as documented in the groundbreaking 
documentary HIP-HOP: Beyond Beats & Rhymes.  

The campaign's feature event takes place before a capacity audience on 
Thursday, March 22 at the Harlem Children's Zone in New York City.  Film 
director Byron Hurt, former NFL quarterback Don McPherson, GenderPAC 
Executive Director Riki Wilchins, Author Raquel Rivera, and student Aries 
Dela Cruz join youth activists and community leaders to discuss hip-hop's 
role in promoting homophobia, sexism, and hyper-masculinity among youth.   

Get Involved:

* If you're in the NYC area, call 202.462.6610 to R.S.V.P. for tonight's 
event .  Limited seats remaining!

* Email 

 to work with GenderPAC on organizing a screening and discussion about Beyond 
Beats & Rhymes in your community.

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The GenderYOUTH Network empowers youth leaders to build safer classrooms and 
communities where all youth can learn, grow and succeed, whether or not they 
conform to expectations for masculinity and femininity. To support the 
GenderYOUTH Network,  visit www.gpac.org/give.

###
 




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