Alternative representation of women in hip hop genre

Janet Jackson ft Missy Elliot- Son of a Gun (2001)

In this particular video, there are alternative representations of women which go against the stereotypical representations of women as subordinates and sex objects in hip hop music videos. The title of the song 'Son of a Gun' has connotations of sex and infidelity and revolves around women who are getting their own back on men for being promiscuous and unfaithful.

The low angle shot of the man in the opening of the video connotes male oppression, as Janet Jackson is seemingly being more intimidating, as signified through the use of a high angle shot, which also connotes her dominant status. In many ways, women in this video are dominant , due to their clothing and gestures and are constructed to be more androgynous

The use of the long shot connotes female power, as Janet Jackson is towering over the man which connotes power and is an alternative representation to women in other hip hop videos, as they seem to jirate around the men and are constructed to appear more seductive in order to raise the scopophilic pleasures of the male audience. However, this video is constructed in order to include the female gaze, as a female audience are seemingly encouraged to get pleasure out of being the dominant sex in this video.

The use of the long shot of Missy Elliot rising on top of the lion connotes female dominance, as the lion is iconic as being a symbol of masculinity. However, the lion is subordinated by Missy Elliot who is more dominant instead of the lion. Whats more, the fact that Missy Elliot is wearing a leather suit , signifies how she is more androgynous as she is more aggressive in terms of her rapping and is more assertive, as signified when she is swaying in a shot. In contrast to other videos, Missy Elliot and Janet Jackson are dressed more masculine. The use of the leather jeans are seemingly fetishized, as they are a symbol of sexual malice and arouse erotic pleasures out of a male audience. However the other women are wearing more revealing clothes and are more predatory, as signified in a close up shot of the women getting out from the sofa.

Missy Elliot is more dominant in this video, as her facial expressions are more resolute and are more intimidating as she is attacking men for being unfaithful and promiscuous. The use of close up shots signify her dominance, as well as her appearance which is androgynous, as she is moving like a rapper and has masculine traits.

On the contrary, men are negatively represented as being promiscuous, as signified with the over the shoulder shot, where the computer monitor reads, 'You're a pig'. Therefore men are subordinated due to their sexual promiscuity. Also, the long shot of the man emerging from the toilet connotes how men are objectified as being worthless and adulterous. The use of the low key lighting connotes how the man is being victimised by his girlfriend after having an affair and shows how he is trapped.

The use of the prop, in the form of a baseball bat is a phallic symbol, as Janet Jackson comes out of the lift in a medium shot with a bat which shows her power over the man. However, the long shot of Janet Jackson walking seductively connotes female seduction and could raise sexual gratifications from a male audience, as she is seemingly tempting the audience to have sex with her. The fact that she is wearing a short top raises scopophilic pleasures out of a male audience, as her stomach is fetishized , which most men would be attracted at.

The tracking shot follows the man as he tries to escape from Janet Jackson. This therefore connotes how women are in control and are dominant, as the men are the victims. The use of the medium shot of Janet Jackson breaking the water dispenser gives women an alternative representation as being violent and strong. As mentioned before, Janet Jackson is more androgynous, as she has physical power which would be stereotypical of men in hip hop videos, as they are strong and assert their physique in that sense.

The use of the dialogue signifies how women are getting their 'revenge' at men as they have cheated on women and are seemingly paying the price. In accordance, the use of the long shot of the other women wearing lingerie seemingly subordinates women. However, the reverse shot of the array of women connotes how the man is more vulnerable as he is intimidated by the women who are constructed as being predators, as signified by the way they are walking and looking intently at the man. Further on in the video, the man is being lifted unnaturally in the air by the women, which connotes how men are puppets who are being controlled by women who have been cheated.

The low angle shot of the man being hanged on the gate signifies the women's power in this video, as he is dragged up onto the gate by force which shows he is trapped by the women. Though, the low angle shot of the man being dragged connotes how he is subordinated in the video, whereas in other hip hop videos the men would be fetishised and be more dominant. The female audience would have negotiated readings with the video, as men are being punished for their infidelity by women, who are more dominant. Though, men could have oppositional readings to the video, as it undermines men and raises strong feminist messages, as men are inferior.


Near the end of the video, the same long shot at the beginning of the video of Janet Jackson on top of the man is used, which reiterates the ideologies of the song which are based on promiscuity and the fact that men are subordinated, as they are adulterous and are unfaithful to their wives and girlfriends. In contrast to other hip hop videos, women have the upper hand and are not stereotyped as being sex objects for the male gaze. Instead, the video responds to how women are cheated by men and seemingly get away with being more promiscuous.

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