Subjects and objects

linguistic performances of sexuality in the lyrics of black female hip-hop artists

Authors

  • Maeve Eberhardt University of Vermont

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1558/genl.v10i1.16507

Keywords:

hip hop, feminist stylistics, objectification, transitivity

Abstract

An ongoing debate is the extent to which women’s explicit sexuality transgresses or reinforces the patriarchal status quo that serves to objectify and marginalize women. In this article, I consider this issue through the lens of hip hop. Specifically, I examine the sexually-explicit lyrics of two female rappers, Lil’ Kim and Missy Elliot, in an attempt to explore questions about sexual objectivity and subjectivity, language and agency, and linguistic productions of sexuality in female-produced hip hop. Through a feminist stylistic analysis of the transitivity choices and anatomical fragmentation exhibited in these lyrics, I link the overt sexuality in this music to larger discussions about women’s sexuality and post-feminist discourses.

Author Biography

  • Maeve Eberhardt, University of Vermont

    Maeve Eberhardt is an assistant professor of linguistics at the University of Vermont. Her research focuses on language and the projection of identities surrounding race, gender, and sexuality, as well as on the appropriation of linguistic forms, particularly African American English.

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Published

2016-03-17

Issue

Section

Articles

How to Cite

Eberhardt, M. (2016). Subjects and objects: linguistic performances of sexuality in the lyrics of black female hip-hop artists. Gender and Language, 10(1), 21-47. https://doi.org/10.1558/genl.v10i1.16507