"There are Bitches and Hoes" Article Summary

Tricia Rose's article, "There are Bitches and Hoes,"talks about some of the most popular pimp icons, which include Snoop Dogg, Ice T, Pimp, Dr. Dre, and many more. This article comes across how rappers have evolved their music which wreaks of  degrading lyrics towards women. The popularity of these male rappers stem from their control over women. The male rappers receive praise from fans all over because of this power they possess. Some of the songs even use physical violence. Rose mentions how this ultimately degrades women emotionally and physiologically.

The lyrics and music video's focus is to name women as "bitches and hoes." Many women are rewarded when they live up to this term. They use their bodies and sexuality to receive recognition and to attain fans and money. The women who follow through with the hyper sexual pop culture are the ones who become successful and are idolized.

Tricia Rose also describes how hard it is for a female to become a rapper. Women are not praised for their talents; they are praised for their bodies. In the article, it is mentioned how a female rapper broke down crying because the rap industry tried to conform her and force her to be seen as a "whore" rather than a rapper. The signifies how sexist this industry is.

The article also explains how hip hop serves as an attack. Black popular culture affects many black women. The ones who try to take a stand against sexism are degraded even more. This is why many go along with the sexist ideas because it is culturally and socially acceptable. Rose states, "Being anti-sexism doesn't come naturally in a system that rewards us for participating." Therefore, not only is it acceptable, but those who are sexist are rewarded for it.

On page 388, Rose states, "the gangsta rapper image needs bitches and hoes." A rapper cannot be the successful image he desires to be unless he is controlling women and depicting these females as "bitches and hoes." It is sad that this industry has fans only because the hyper sexual images of these women are the center of it. Without "bitches and hoes," the industry is very likely to make no money, have no fans, and have little to no success.