Conference analyzes gender, sexuality and hip-hop
An intensive series of discussions about “hip-hop feminism” drew a group of scholars, activists, students and performers from across the country to the Tulane University uptown campus on Thursday and Friday (Dec. 5 and 6) for the Gender, Sexuality and Hip-Hop Conference.
Held at the Lavin-Bernick Center, the conference featured presentations and performances that examined different aspects of the new branch of feminism that has grown out of contemporary hip-hop culture. The term “hip-hop feminism” was coined by author Joan Morgan, who gave the meeting's keynote speech at Dillard University.
The conference's focus was the intersection of gender, sexuality and hip-hop, and how this has affected feminist attitudes, racial stereotypes and other social issues.
Presenters utilized a broad range of ideas and questions to explore this intersection, from stereotypes to “gender-bending” to the effect of performers like Nicki Minaj on the evolution of hip-hop culture.
In one presentation, Jasmine Brito and Autumn Robinson of Breaking the Silence: Passing the Mic to Our Daughters Project used clips from a documentary that they are creating to highlight some of the “gaps” in hip-hop feminism.
“The 'ideal' female figure in hip-hop culture,” said Brito, “is portrayed as acquiescent to the needs of the male figure or rapper,” thus undermining the image of a confident, independent woman that hip-hop feminists strive to cultivate.
On its website, the Anna Julia Cooper Project is creating a database of conference materials. Harris-Perry said she will include a segment on the conference in her MSNBC talk show, which airs on Sunday (Dec. 15) at 9 a.m. CST.