What does shorty mean in rap

HIP HOP FEMINISM 1

You should imagine this final paper as your evidence-based definition of hip hop after having done the readings (and watched the films) for this class. Has it changed? How so? What specific readings influenced your revised definition? You may use parts of your first definition, but this is not a revision of that particular paper. This is a revision of your ideas about the definition of hip hop. Please email me and let me know if you're confused about this. I'm not looking for a conversion narrative here ("I once hated hip hop, but now I see the light!") Please try to avoid this. In fact, please try to to limit your use of "I" as much as possible and instead position yourself in company with the experts we've read this quarter, supporting your final definition with evidence.

I noticed that a lot of people started their first paper with some version of the sentence: "Hip hop is difficult to define. It means different things to different people." Please try to avoid this. I'm looking for a perspective, a way into a longer conversation about hip hop that's been informed by our particular set of readings.

We've read a lot of material this quarter about the relationship between history, structural inequality and cultural politics. We've also watched several documentaries about how people have challenged institutionalized oppression and fought for a more democratic society. You may want to explore how these previous movements inform (or might inform) hip hop in its present form. In other words, it's fine to "stretch" your papers beyond just reciting and defining the four (or five) elements of hip hop and instead find a way into the conversation from a particular topic or viewpoint (like the fifth element in general, hip hop as a language, hip hop as visual art or hip hop feminism). Or you might want to organize your essay around a particular artist or song (like Kendrick Lamar's "Alright" and the Black Lives Matter movement). These are just a few examples, but the possibilities are endless. It's totally up to you how you want to organize your paper (I'm open to creativity), but it's important that you have a claim and that you support it with evidence from our class materials.

Your paper should be 4 pages in length and incorporate quotations from a range of our readings and films.
You do not have to have a certain amount of quotes, but it's a good idea to shoot for 2-3 per page (minimum).
I would encourage you to look over my comments on your first definition, but to also approach this final write-up from your current perspective.
If you have any questions or would like feedback as you're working through your paper, please do not hesitate to contact me.
I will upload all the work before.

HIP HOP FEMINISM 3

Hip Hop Feminism

Name

Institution

Who wrote the article?

Gwendolyn D. Pough

What is their position on the subject?

The author is against the gender exploitation of women in hip hop. The author is able to show this through the definition of the word “Shorty” that is often used to refer to both women and children in rap music. According to the author, the use of the word infantilizes women.

Do you agree with their position?

I agree with the position of the author especially on the use of the word “Shorty”.

What kind of evidence do they use to support their claims/critiques/observations about hip hop and feminism?

Hip hop feminists are both men and women who speak out against the exploitation of women in hip hop (Pough, 2007). A look at the various feminists shows that they have different approaches of condemning the exploitation of women in rap music. In the article the author critiques certain items in rap music. According to Pough (2007) “black men rapped surrounded by dozens of black and Latina women dressed in bathing suits, or scantily clad in some other fashion.” Rap videos are one of the evidences presented in the articles to show the objectifying of women.

The use of the word “Shorty” has been used throughout the article. The word is often used in hip hop culture and rap music to refer to women. The word objectifies women considering it is also used to refer to children. Pough (2007) “I use “shorty” throughout this essay because of its multiple meanings, because it showcases just how fraught the relationship between hip-hop and feminism is.”

Reference

Pough Gwendolyn. (2007). What It Do, Shorty?: Women, Hip-Hop, and a Feminist Agenda. Black Women, Gender + Families , Vol. 1, No. 2 (Fall 2007), pp. 78-99