Sarah Lawrence College Hosts Women’s History Conference on Hip-hop: Noting that most popular music is misogynistic, Dr. Maria Cristina Santana, interim director of women’s studies at the University of Central Florida, began her talk on women and rap by posting the question, “How do we find respect in popular music?”
Santana was among the several media gurus and women’s studies scholars who exchanged notes and had robust discussions this weekend at a conference hosted by Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, N.Y. The event, “Womens History Conference: The Message is in the Music: Hip Hop Feminism, Riot Grrrl, Latina Music, and More,” started Friday evening and included the former president of Def Jam Recordings, Carmen Ashhurst, as the keynote speaker.
Santana presented on the queen of reggaeton, Ivy Queen, during the “Women Rap” panel discussion. Ivy Queen is staking a claim for women in the popular genre yet perpetuating women’s objectification and oppression with her video-vixen look, Santana said.
