Sex and Youth
Essay Preview: Sex and Youth
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In todays society sex is the primary causes of almost everything. Ever heard of the phase “Sex Sells?” Everything we do today there is something sexual that prompt us to buy it. When women go shopping for clothing they make sure the outfit looks sexy and/or appealing to the opposite sex. The dress or pants is suppose to compliment women hips and the top is meant to nicely show the curve of her breast. Men also go through the same thing, they dress to make certain that whatever their wearing may be able to catch a womans attention. Sex sells whether its perfume, a magazine, clothing, billboards, commercials, and music. Everyone loves sex, and the facts must be faced, whether it is the LMFAO ” Im sexy and I know it”, or rapper Big Sean rhyming and about womens rear-end. So, it seems that in order to be successful in the music industry, particularly if you are a woman, one must use sex and ones body as a product before the music itself.
The music industry is fast-paced, fickle and ultracompetitive. Musical tastes changes, hits grow stale and new tasks and technologies supersede the old. Over the years as music changes, lyrics got more vulgar, clothes got more skimpier, self pride increased, sexual experiences are shared at a younger age, and everyone goes to the club or strip-club to get their desires met.
In the Hip-Hop culture the music provides the roles for women and men, in which men are superior sex. Men are suppose to dress with the best outer garments; preferably designer, have the hottest ride with rims, all in all making a statement. “In contrast hip hop songs and videos often portray men as pimps and thugs who have more power in intimate relationships.” Women are typically all dolled up with makeup, making sure that little is left to the imagination so the men can have their pick. If the men are “bling blinging” enough the women are sure to leave with them. In the lyrics of the famous Sex lyrical himself R. Kelly, he states in his song “Ignition” Remix- “Crystal poppin in the stretch Navigator, we got food everywhere as if the party was catered, we got fellas to my left, hunnies to my right, we bring em both together we got junkin all night.” Glitz, glamour, and sex.
In the Hip-Hop music videos it clearly states men with money gets the women and the woman knows her role with these men. “Controlling images of black women are going as hypersexual jezeblez, loyal Mammys, emasculating Matriarchs, materialistic Welfare Queen, foul-mouthed sapphires provide the foundation for similar sexual scripts in contemporary Hip-Hop culture]. In these videos you see where men flaunt money and their materialistic possessions and the women are dancing, grinding and gyrating on them. This is perceive to be called the “Good Life”.
One of the most famous known video vixen “Karrine Steffans wrote a book called ” Confessions of a Video Vixen, where she tells about her sexual liaisons with men in the music industry and professional athletes. Includes but is not limited to Irv Gotti, Usher, Ray J, Ja Rule, Bobby Brown, Dr. Dre, Shaquille ONeal, and Jay Z. She also spoke about how she met these men and she engaged in sexual behaviors with them and in return received, money, houses, and cars. Steffans is also known by the term “SuperHead”, a name that was given to her by Hip-Hop star Ja Rule.
On the flip side, the people who buys and listens their music are the young impressible minds. These young adults imitate what they see and think that is what life is all about. They take it to the schools and to the clubs reeacting such behaviors and getting involved in sexual relations before there are even ready for it. Everyone else is doing it, their favorite artist is advertising it so why not try it. Does it make it okay?
Its hard to pass by a mirror without looking into it. Some young women like what they see, happy to know that the little-girl shape is changing into a womanly figure. Others dont like the young woman staring back whose hips have expanded or legs have filled out. These feelings- what a young woman thinks about her body- make up what is called body image. And most young women worry ( even just a little bit) about something, whether its one body part or the whole package, especially during the teens.
One thing that affects our feelings about our bodies is our culture. African American, Latino, and Native American communities generally view the large bodies of our mothers, grandmothers, aunts, and sisters as a sign of power. For example, in Africa- past and present- a large body is a sign of prosperity and fertility, while a thin, frail body is a sign of poverty and hunger. Whats ideal? There is no ideal. Accepting your own unique body shape means feeling comfortable with yourself.
“The process of developing a sexual identity is particularly