AGA Roll Call: Pop Goes Feminism

When I come across blatant misogyny in mainstream articles; clichés, stereotypes and sexist jokes that are enjoyed tolerated or ignored, I often ask myself; Would this be acceptable if it was written about black people?
In most cases it wouldn’t be. It would not be acceptable for a college newspaper to publish an article about how black people who go to nightclubs are sluts. It would not be acceptable for a respectable news channel to label a news segment about a black celebrity with a racial epithet. At the same time though, just last week a recognized comedian launched into a hate tirade against the black people heckling his standup routine. How can we even consider having defeated prejudice when Mel Gibson decides to defend him?

It's three in the morning, and sleep is just not happening. So turn on the TV, start flipping through that channels, but prepare yourself. As you near MTV's sugarcoated schlock and pass VH1's flavorless offerings, you'll see it. You'll see it, and you'll hear it in all its misogynistic glory. BET, Black Entertainment Television, sets forth its 'least' marketable video offerings in a more loosely-censored time slot called Uncut.

These are the videos that BET can't play during its regularly schedulded programmin due to the graphic and usually sexual content of this pieces that can only be slices out of black American life. After all, what girl who identifies as African American or black *doesn't* go out to the local club to 'shake her sally'? Who, in perfect honesty, can really resist a 'tip drill'?

Just ripping a cd of mashups that a friend from the club made me this week- crazy stuff- "Pray for Pop" is a mashup of Duran Duran, Prince, Madonna, and MC Hammer!

Got me thinking. We are all literally immersed in pop culture. As feminists, how do you handle it?

For example, there's a lot of music out there that I love, and a lot that I hate; some of it's even offensive to me. Yet, I admit, sometimes I love to dance to a song when I know I probably wouldn't like the group if I ever met them.

What goes for music goes for tv shows, movies, and books, too.

I find it interesting that I've never been very excited by "feminist" media: Mists of Avalon does little for me, Ani & her ilk can be incredible singers, but I don't own the cds and haven't seen a show since 97, etc.