This dissertation, titled Shake Ya Ass, But Watch Yourself: An Intersectional and Decolonial Approach to Exploring the Sexualization of Female Recording Artists and the Empowerment of Women in the United States, critically examines the phenomenon of sexualization of women in the music industry and its impact on female empowerment. Through an intersectional and decolonial feminist lens, the study delves into the historical and socio-cultural contexts that shape the portrayal and perception of female recording artists in the United States.
The research traces the roots of feminism and the commodification of racial stereotypes through music, exploring how female empowerment has been influenced by these dynamics. It questions whether the sexualization of female artists serves as a form of empowerment or perpetuates patriarchal oppression. By analyzing contemporary examples, such as the works of Lil' Kim, Cardi B, and Megan Thee Stallion, alongside historical contexts from blues to modern hip hop, the study seeks to uncover the complexities of sexualization as both a potential tool for liberation and a mechanism of subjugation.
Empirical data is drawn from surveys with diverse participants, examining their perceptions of empowerment through sexualization. The study employs frameworks of empowerment theory, intersectional feminism, and decolonial approaches to provide a comprehensive analysis. Ultimately, it aims to understand the real impact of the sexualization of female recording artists on women's perceptions of empowerment and contribute to the discourse on gender, race, and power in the music industry.
","abstract_html":"<p>This dissertation, titled Shake Ya Ass, But Watch Yourself: An Intersectional and Decolonial Approach to Exploring the Sexualization of Female Recording Artists and the Empowerment of Women in the United States, critically examines the phenomenon of sexualization of women in the music industry and its impact on female empowerment. Through an intersectional and decolonial feminist lens, the study delves into the historical and socio-cultural contexts that shape the portrayal and perception of female recording artists in the United States.</p> <p>The research traces the roots of feminism and the commodification of racial stereotypes through music, exploring how female empowerment has been influenced by these dynamics. It questions whether the sexualization of female artists serves as a form of empowerment or perpetuates patriarchal oppression. By analyzing contemporary examples, such as the works of Lil' Kim, Cardi B, and Megan Thee Stallion, alongside historical contexts from blues to modern hip hop, the study seeks to uncover the complexities of sexualization as both a potential tool for liberation and a mechanism of subjugation.</p> <p>Empirical data is drawn from surveys with diverse participants, examining their perceptions of empowerment through sexualization. The study employs frameworks of empowerment theory, intersectional feminism, and decolonial approaches to provide a comprehensive analysis. Ultimately, it aims to understand the real impact of the sexualization of female recording artists on women's perceptions of empowerment and contribute to the discourse on gender, race, and power in the music industry.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Rebeka, H.B."],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Ph.D. Doctor of Philosophy","degree_level":"Dissertation - Public Access","degree_discipline":"Community Psychology","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Raymond Legler","Suzette Fromm-Reed","Judah Viola"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2024,"date_issued":"2024-06-01T07:00:00Z","date_published":"2024-06-01T07:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T03:21:20Z","subjects":["sexualization","empowerment","intersectionality","decolonial","female recording artists","Africana Studies","African Languages and Societies","American Studies","Appalachian Studies","Art Practice","Community Psychology","Education","English Language and Literature","Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies","Film and Media Studies","History","History of Art, Architecture, and Archaeology","Music","Psychology","Social and Behavioral Sciences","Social Justice","Social Psychology"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://digitalcommons.nl.edu/diss/839","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Raymond Legler","Suzette Fromm-Reed","Judah Viola"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Rebeka, H.B."]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2024-06-30T07:00:00Z"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Community Psychology"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Dissertation - Public Access"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Ph.D. Doctor of Philosophy"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["sexualization","empowerment","intersectionality","decolonial","female recording artists","Africana Studies","African Languages and Societies","American Studies","Appalachian Studies","Art Practice","Community Psychology","Education","English Language and Literature","Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies","Film and Media Studies","History","History of Art, Architecture, and Archaeology","Music","Psychology","Social and Behavioral Sciences","Social Justice","Social Psychology"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://digitalcommons.nl.edu/diss/839"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["This dissertation, titled Shake Ya Ass, But Watch Yourself: An Intersectional and Decolonial Approach to Exploring the Sexualization of Female Recording Artists and the Empowerment of Women in the United States, critically examines the phenomenon of sexualization of women in the music industry and its impact on female empowerment. Through an intersectional and decolonial feminist lens, the study delves into the historical and socio-cultural contexts that shape the portrayal and perception of female recording artists in the United States.
The research traces the roots of feminism and the commodification of racial stereotypes through music, exploring how female empowerment has been influenced by these dynamics. It questions whether the sexualization of female artists serves as a form of empowerment or perpetuates patriarchal oppression. By analyzing contemporary examples, such as the works of Lil' Kim, Cardi B, and Megan Thee Stallion, alongside historical contexts from blues to modern hip hop, the study seeks to uncover the complexities of sexualization as both a potential tool for liberation and a mechanism of subjugation.
Empirical data is drawn from surveys with diverse participants, examining their perceptions of empowerment through sexualization. The study employs frameworks of empowerment theory, intersectional feminism, and decolonial approaches to provide a comprehensive analysis. Ultimately, it aims to understand the real impact of the sexualization of female recording artists on women's perceptions of empowerment and contribute to the discourse on gender, race, and power in the music industry.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["SHAKE YA ASS, BUT WATCH YOURSELF: AN INTERSECTIONAL AND DECOLONIAL APPROACH TO EXPLORING THE SEXUALIZATION OF FEMALE RECORDING ARTISTS AND THE EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN IN THE UNITED STATES"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Raymond Legler","Suzette Fromm-Reed","Judah Viola"],"dc:creator":["Rebeka, H.B."],"dc:date.available":["2024-06-30T07:00:00Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["This dissertation, titled Shake Ya Ass, But Watch Yourself: An Intersectional and Decolonial Approach to Exploring the Sexualization of Female Recording Artists and the Empowerment of Women in the United States, critically examines the phenomenon of sexualization of women in the music industry and its impact on female empowerment. Through an intersectional and decolonial feminist lens, the study delves into the historical and socio-cultural contexts that shape the portrayal and perception of female recording artists in the United States.
The research traces the roots of feminism and the commodification of racial stereotypes through music, exploring how female empowerment has been influenced by these dynamics. It questions whether the sexualization of female artists serves as a form of empowerment or perpetuates patriarchal oppression. By analyzing contemporary examples, such as the works of Lil' Kim, Cardi B, and Megan Thee Stallion, alongside historical contexts from blues to modern hip hop, the study seeks to uncover the complexities of sexualization as both a potential tool for liberation and a mechanism of subjugation.
Empirical data is drawn from surveys with diverse participants, examining their perceptions of empowerment through sexualization. The study employs frameworks of empowerment theory, intersectional feminism, and decolonial approaches to provide a comprehensive analysis. Ultimately, it aims to understand the real impact of the sexualization of female recording artists on women's perceptions of empowerment and contribute to the discourse on gender, race, and power in the music industry.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://digitalcommons.nl.edu/diss/839"],"dc:subject":["sexualization","empowerment","intersectionality","decolonial","female recording artists","Africana Studies","African Languages and Societies","American Studies","Appalachian Studies","Art Practice","Community Psychology","Education","English Language and Literature","Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies","Film and Media Studies","History","History of Art, Architecture, and Archaeology","Music","Psychology","Social and Behavioral Sciences","Social Justice","Social Psychology"],"dc:title":["SHAKE YA ASS, BUT WATCH YOURSELF: AN INTERSECTIONAL AND DECOLONIAL APPROACH TO EXPLORING THE SEXUALIZATION OF FEMALE RECORDING ARTISTS AND THE EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN IN THE UNITED STATES"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Community Psychology"],"thesis:degree_level":["Dissertation - Public Access"],"thesis:degree_name":["Ph.D. Doctor of Philosophy"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T03:21:20Z"}