Hate Language in Rap Music

In a recent survey of Americans, 75% reported believing that exposure to violence in popular music, television shows, and movies, inspires young people to act aggressively (Lacayo, 1995; Smith et al., 2000). The consumption of media containing heterosexist and homophobic languages, by young adults and children, harbors aggression and sexual confusion. Jung and Smith (1993) define heterosexism as, “a reasoned system of bias about human sexual orientation...rooted in a largely cognitive constellation of beliefs about human sexuality” (Hecht, 1998, p. 113). The constant exposure to hateful lyrics found in some of today’s most popular music desensitizes the young to violence against and mistreatment of gays and lesbians. It may also instill a fear in those young adults who may be confused about their own sexual orientation, causing extreme frustration and emotional pain.

With the recent success of rapper Eminem’s sophomore release entitled, The Marshall Mathers LP, much attention had been drawn to this topic. There has been a tremendous backlash against Eminem’s music and the messages he delivers to the millions of listeners he has acquired. The most audible criticisms h

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Some common words found in the essay are:
MTV Eminem, Hecht Baldwin, Mathers LP, Jung Smith, Eminems CD, John Baldwin, Rap Music, Entertainment Weekly, Rolling Stone, Accessed September, world wide, 2000 world, world wide web, 2000 world wide, wide web, entertainment weekly #554, weekly #554, entertainment weekly, mathers lp, marshall mathers lp, marshall mathers, hateful lyrics, accessed october, #554 pp, 2000 august 11,
Approximate Word count = 1542
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)