The Negative Effects from Exposure to Rap Music

I am studying the effects of rap music, specifically on teenagers towards violence against women.  My research question is "Does exposure to hip hop music increase acceptance of violence against women?"  This is so important because rap has become a huge part of society's culture, it influences the way people speak and the clothes they wear.  It also is prevalent in movies and television shows, whether the characters are listening to rap, or it is background music to help set a scene.  Rap has changed popular culture, and I plan on studying these effects.  I am most interested in the effects rap music has had on teens, because of the explicit and negative lyrics that make up the music.  These lyrics are often very angry, depict violence towards women, and refer to women in derogatory, and sexist language.  By studying and decoding rap lyrics, and through different research studies and materials that have been published, I will be able to study the effects of rap music on teenagers.  

In this video, Dr. Michael Rich from Boston Children's Hospital says that music is a very strong influencer of children, particularly teen's, behavior.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecCsAeRjSMg  This is so important because if teens are listening to rap music with aggressive lyrics towards women, they may find this behavior acceptable, and it may influence their future actions.