On September 25, the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection held a hearing, “From Imus to Industry: The Business of Stereotypes and Degrading Images.” The hearing addressed the impact of negative media images of women on today’s society and the effects of those images on children.
Chair Bobby L. Rush (D-IL) said, “This hearing is not anti hip-hop…I respect the First Amendment and I know that great art is always controversial, but we must also have responsibility in our freedom of expression…I am convinced that the so-called gangster rap and misogyny is on its way out of the hip-hop culture.”
Ranking Member Cliff Stearns (R-FL) said, “Music and images can be powerful influences on young minds, so I think this is an important discussion to have. However, Congress has been down this road many times, debating the regulation of speech and commerce. I have reservations about whether there is an appropriate congressional role or a legislative solution to this very difficult problem.” Rep. Stearns continued, “Much of what passes today as entertainment is expressed with such vulgarity and lack of a moral compass that it would have been unthinkable a short time ago. If that is progress, I worry for our future.”
Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) said, “Like many others, I want my granddaughters to be brought up in a society that values their worth and teaches them to be confident and empowered members of their community. I want them to grow up free from physical and verbal violence. Unfortunately, we have not yet created a society where that is guaranteed. Girls and young women of color, in particular, are faced with repeated onslaughts of disrespect and bigotry. As we saw so dramatically with Don Imus’s remarks, even those who accomplish great things are not immune.”
Lisa Fager Bediako, president of Industry Ears, said, “It is easy for me to understand why black folk would be in an uproar over a white man referring to young black women as “nappy-headed hoes” on a nationally syndicated radio show. As a black woman, that part should be intuitive. However, what appears to be more difficult to understand especially to our friends in the news media — is that there exists a large cadre of individuals and organizations that represent communities of color that also are in an uproar when the media permits content that is degrading to women and people of color to be broadcast.”
Ms. Bediako added, “These perpetuated stereotypes and demeaning images are reflected in the behavior and attitudes of children and specifically children of color. We see an increase in risky sexual behavior. [For example,] black girls 15 to 24 years old represent the fastest growing segment of HIV patients. [Among our children], there is a devaluing of education…reports show as high as a 75 percent dropout rate among black ninth grade boys. [In addition, many children display] unhealthy interpersonal relationships, [an] increase in aggression, and a normalization of criminal activity and materialism.”
Dr. Faye Williams, national chair of the National Congress of Black Women, spoke on behalf of the Women’s Coalition on Dignity and Diversity. “…We women, especially we black women and our children, have been bombarded with misogyny, violence, and obscenity through public airwaves day after day…Using the public airwaves may be a right, but the line must be drawn and balanced by the responsibility to refrain from painting an immoral image of an entire race of people and of black women in particular. Not only executives, but advertisers must act more responsibly.”
Dr. Karen Dill, a professor at Lenoir-Rhyne College, noted the effect that misogynistic and sexist images had on men, women, and their relationships with each other. “Research on music has demonstrated that exposure to violent rap videos increases adversarial sexual beliefs (viewing men and women as enemies in the sexual sphere), negative mood, and acceptance of relationship violence (for example, believing it is acceptable for a boyfriend to shove his girlfriend out of jealousy).” Dr. Dill went on to cite additional studies: “Research spanning different forms of media has clearly demonstrated that sexist content causes negative effects on girls and women…Those who watch more TV are more likely to hold dysfunctional beliefs about relationships and are more accepting of sexual harassment against women. Seeing ads where women are portrayed as sex objects increases rape-supportive attitudes in men.”
Dr. Dill referred to 2007 findings from the American Psychological Association Task Force on the Sexualization of Girls. “When girls are exposed to images in the media of females as sex objects, a variety of negative outcomes follow. Sexualization is linked to negative consequences for cognitive and emotional functioning (including impaired performance on mental activities), mental health (including eating disorders, low self esteem, and depression), physical health, and healthy sexual development.”
Rap artist Levell Crump, also known as “David Banner,” shared his perspective on the role of hip-hop music. “Some might argue that the content of our music serves as poison to the minds of our generation. If, by some stroke of the pen, hip-hop was silenced, the issues would still be present in our communities. Drugs, violence, and the criminal element were around long before hip-hop existed…Traditionally, multi-billion dollar industries have thrived on the premise of violence, sexuality, and derogatory content. This capitalistic trend was not created nor introduced by hip-hop. It’s been here. It’s the American way…I can admit that there are some problems in hip-hop. But it is only a reflection of what is taking place in our society. Hip-hop is sick because America is sick.”
