Ashley Judd Calls Hip Hip "the Contemporary Soundtrack of Misogyny"

In her new memoir, All That is Bitter and Sweet, Ashley Judd calls hip-hop a "rape culture, and "the contemporary soundtrack of misogyny. Her comments caused quite a backlash, and rightfully so. It's also unfortunate that what could have spurred lots of honest discussion about sexual abuse (she talks frankly about her own abuse in her book), has shifted into a "Ashley Judd hates hip hop" meme. But it's also a good example of privilege and how it's used to create a narrative.

Is there sexism in mainstream hip hop? Yes, no one is denying that. But as a genre, it's also unfairly maligned, and calling it out as the "soundtrack to contemporary misogyny" plays into some pretty dangeous stereotypes about race, sex, and violence. It also lets other styles of music -- or hell, other art forms in general -- off the hook. (If they're the sole cause of all this violence and misogyny -- creating this "rape culture," it can't be us, right?)

New Wave Feminism says:

[...] I’m personally tired of feeling that I need to defend Hip Hop all the time. Of course I can see the glaring misogyny and overall problematic things in some lyrics. I can also see the glaring misogyny, classism and racism in a lot of other normative things our society consumes with no problem. But its so easy to say “you know what, we’re going to recognize that society is fucked up, and only use Hip Hop as an example because… they’re the REAL social deviants anyway.” I think Hip Hop is a beautiful art form that ISN’T mutually exclusive from respect. But all we hear on the mainstream media are glamorized minstrel shows… (Remind me, who picks and chooses what hip hop is worthy enough for radio play again? And who sets the standard that most aspiring rappers need to live up to again? Record execs? Who know nothing about real hip hop? oh yeah…)

Judd has since responded to the backlash, saying "There are elements, and that is the part that has been so distorted... what I'm being accused of is condemning rap and hip-hop as a whole, and the whole community and when they say community, they mean the fans, and African-Americans, it's become so generalized." (Pop Eater via Jezebel)

I don't fault her for backpedaling, but I think she's still missing the point. She took a old stereotype, one that still a lot of people accept (spend a couple hours in the company of white male rock fans if you don't believe me), and ran with it, without considering its larger implications.

(For anyone interested in reading about hip hop, sexism , and the lens though which society views it,  Tricia Rose's The Hip Hop Wars and Black Noise  is a good starting point, along with Jackson Katz's The Macho Paradox .)