Go Back Research Article June, 2021

Sexual Objects, Sexual Subjects and Certified Freaks: Rethinking ‘Objectification’

Author Feona Attwood Author Clarissa Smith Author Susanna Paasonen Author Alan McKee Author John Mercer

Abstract

In 2020 Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion’s Summer hit WAP entered Billboard’s Hot 100 at No. 1. The song’s unapologetically bawdy lyrics were amplified in an accompanying video which caused some critics to lose their minds. ‘Wet Ass Pussy’ had, one claimed, ‘set the entire female gender back by 100 years’. (Lorraine 2020) Another noted that the song had made him ‘want to pour holy water in [his] ears’. (Bradley 2020) Russell Brand asked whether WAP was a ‘Feminist Masterpiece or Porn?’ and, after musing on contemporary feminism, concluded ‘It’s still ultimately a sort of capitalist objectification and commodification of, in this case, the female.’ (Brand 2020)

Keywords

objectification feminism female sexuality popular culture wap music videos gender politics sexual empowerment capitalism and sexuality commodification feminist critique sexual subjects media controversy cultural debate pornification sexual expression sexual autonomy feminist media studies certified freaks wet ass pussy the male gaze self-representation sexual agency media reception performance of sexuality cultural critique certified freak feminist debate sex fantasy
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ISSN 2003-167x