# How did rap music get to have such a large base of female fans? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 2, 2016, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-rap-music-get-to-have-such-a-large-base-of-female-fans/758949 "2016-07-02T19:42:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2016, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-rap-music-get-to-have-such-a-large-base-of-female-fans/758949/1 "2016-07-02T19:42:26Z")
I mean, it seems like a lion’s share of rap music is chock full of misogyny. Yet, this very music is adored by women who hate misogyny. Please take me at my word when I tell you, I don’t pass judgement on women who like this type of music, I’m just curious how they make the disconnect between the music and misogyny. ---
**Author:** ![LC\_Strawhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e19adc/32.png) [@LC\_Strawhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LC_Strawhouse)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2016, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-rap-music-get-to-have-such-a-large-base-of-female-fans/758949/2 "2016-07-02T20:00:06Z")
In my personal experience… there’s a certain type of person (either male or female) who over-identifies with underdogs and will make excuses for this kind of stuff to the bitter end, if it’s supposed to be the voice of a disadvantaged community. They think it’s fighting the good fight, I guess. I have heard quite a bit of silliness from women about how (insert awful lyric) “is actually making a feminist statement if you think about it, because…” (insert convoluted argument) ---
**Author:** ![G0sp3l](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c68b51/32.png) [@G0sp3l](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/G0sp3l)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2016, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-rap-music-get-to-have-such-a-large-base-of-female-fans/758949/3 "2016-07-02T20:10:49Z")
The same reason people like mob movies or horror movies. It’s not real, it’s entertainment. There’s something in it that appeals to you on some level but nothing you’d want to live with. It’s consumed not analyzed. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2016, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-rap-music-get-to-have-such-a-large-base-of-female-fans/758949/4 "2016-07-02T20:12:52Z")
Like Chris Rock said “he ain’t talking about me”. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2016, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-rap-music-get-to-have-such-a-large-base-of-female-fans/758949/5 "2016-07-02T20:48:26Z")
I suspect some percentage of them are like my wife, and don’t pay attention to the words. ---
**Author:** ![planetcory](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/planetcory/32/1032_2.png) [@planetcory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/planetcory)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2016, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-rap-music-get-to-have-such-a-large-base-of-female-fans/758949/6 "2016-07-02T21:09:19Z")
> [@G0sp3l](#): > > The same reason people like mob movies or horror movies. It’s not real, it’s entertainment. There’s something in it that appeals to you on some level but nothing you’d want to live with. > > It’s consumed not analyzed. This. It’s visceral fantasy and many people, enlightened or not, are into visceral fantasy. ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2016, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-rap-music-get-to-have-such-a-large-base-of-female-fans/758949/7 "2016-07-02T21:54:28Z")
> [@G0sp3l](#): > > The same reason people like mob movies or horror movies. It’s not real, it’s entertainment. There’s something in it that appeals to you on some level but nothing you’d want to live with. > > It’s consumed not analyzed. Horror movie fan right here that agrees with you. It’s for entertainment (for the most part) and nothing else. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2016, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-rap-music-get-to-have-such-a-large-base-of-female-fans/758949/8 "2016-07-03T00:47:27Z")
If the beat is good and the hook is catchy, folks will be too busy dancing to clutch their pearls. ---
**Author:** ![pool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pool/32/4152_2.png) [@pool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pool)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2016, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-rap-music-get-to-have-such-a-large-base-of-female-fans/758949/9 "2016-07-03T00:49:49Z")
Beaten to the punch by **monstro** , but that’s what I was gonna say ‘‘its gotta beat and I can dance to it’’ essentially. ---
**Author:** ![actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/actualliberalnotoneofthose)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2016, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-rap-music-get-to-have-such-a-large-base-of-female-fans/758949/10 "2016-07-04T05:46:07Z")
I would say only certain sub-genres are filled with misogyny. That said, women enjoy dancing, partying and sex as much as men do. ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2016, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-rap-music-get-to-have-such-a-large-base-of-female-fans/758949/11 "2016-07-04T05:59:29Z")
Large base. Big butts. No lie. ---
**Author:** ![Omega\_Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7c8e57/32.png) [@Omega\_Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omega_Glory)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2016, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-rap-music-get-to-have-such-a-large-base-of-female-fans/758949/12 "2016-07-04T14:16:50Z")
> [@G0sp3l](#): > > The same reason people like mob movies or horror movies. It’s not real, it’s entertainment. There’s something in it that appeals to you on some level but nothing you’d want to live with. > > It’s consumed not analyzed. Yep. It’s funny that some of the same people who love violent and misogynistic tv and movies are horrified by violence and misogyny in rap music. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Lowry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Sam\_Lowry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Lowry)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2016, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-rap-music-get-to-have-such-a-large-base-of-female-fans/758949/13 "2016-07-04T21:35:46Z")
> [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](#): > > I would say only certain sub-genres are filled with misogyny. That said, women enjoy dancing, partying and sex as much as men do. Also, it’s not like other types of music are free from misogyny. ---
**Author:** ![planetcory](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/planetcory/32/1032_2.png) [@planetcory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/planetcory)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2016, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-rap-music-get-to-have-such-a-large-base-of-female-fans/758949/14 "2016-07-04T21:43:38Z")
> [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](#): > > I would say only certain sub-genres are filled with misogyny. I’d also say “sensitive male” rap is a lot more popular today than those sub-genres. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2016, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-rap-music-get-to-have-such-a-large-base-of-female-fans/758949/15 "2016-07-04T21:55:52Z")
Shirtless young black men? ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2016, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-rap-music-get-to-have-such-a-large-base-of-female-fans/758949/16 "2016-07-04T22:28:14Z")
Gloria Steinem already answered this question very succinctly. > [@](#): > > “They’re going to get more activist as they get older,” Steinem said. “And when you’re young, you’re thinking, ‘Where are the boys?’ The boys are with Bernie.” ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2016, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-rap-music-get-to-have-such-a-large-base-of-female-fans/758949/17 "2016-07-05T01:15:55Z")
> [@Sam\_Lowry](#): > > Also, it’s not like other types of music are free from misogyny. Yeah, I’m a rock fan and not a rap fan at all, but I can’t pretend that rock music isn’t often extremely sexist. At their worst both genres are pretty bad…but both also have many examples of songs that aren’t sexist at all and some that even criticize sexism.