The topic of challenging gender stereotypes within the music genre of Reggaeton is a timely and relevant one in the European Union, the research question that this thesis is aiming to answer is: To...Show moreThe topic of challenging gender stereotypes within the music genre of Reggaeton is a timely and relevant one in the European Union, the research question that this thesis is aiming to answer is: To what extent are female gender stereotypes challenged in the lyrics of Spanish female Reggaeton performers? In order to do so, two well-known Reggaeton songs were analysed. The analysis was made through the close reading of the denotative and connotative meaning expressed in the lyrics and critical discourse analysis with musical discourse analysis. By using two songs sung by women this thesis explores, through a feminist lens, the appropriation of the musical genre of reggaeton as a subversive tool for commentary on gender stereotypes. This research concluded that Reggaeton is transformed by the relevant artist into a feminist instrument for the dissemination of feminist messages since the female characters have a history of constantly defending themselves from prejudices for instance, whereas males do not.Show less
Reggaeton has risen in popularity, spreading outside its continent of origin and entertaining both Latino and non-Latino people alike in recent years. However, the songs within this music style...Show moreReggaeton has risen in popularity, spreading outside its continent of origin and entertaining both Latino and non-Latino people alike in recent years. However, the songs within this music style have been criticized for their degrading lyrics that perpetuate machista behavior, which is still prevalent in Latin American countries like Chile. This paper analyses how machismo manifests in reggaeton and the extent to which its songs’ specifically vulgar lyrics affect Chilean women’s perception of gender roles, their self-worth and the state of gender equality in their society. This investigation has been conducted via an online survey in Chile among women between the ages of 18 and 30. The findings of the research indicate that the women are more or less likely to be affected by the lyrics based on their individual state of mind and demographic factors such as age, education level, and geographical location. However, seeing as the majority of the women that answered the survey could be categorized as members of the middle- and upper-classes, the results cannot be generalized beyond these particular strata of women without further research. Nonetheless, the data indicates that reggaeton still plays a role in the reproduction of machismo in Chilean society.Show less
Given the social and cultural relevance of gender representations in Reggaeton and the social and political debate it has triggered in Latin America, the question that the thesis is aiming to...Show moreGiven the social and cultural relevance of gender representations in Reggaeton and the social and political debate it has triggered in Latin America, the question that the thesis is aiming to answer is: How are gender stereotypes of male and female sexual behavior represented and challenged in Reggaeton? In order to do so, four Reggaeton songs were analyzed. The analysis was made through the close reading of both lyrical fragments and video footage material and building upon Doing Gender Theory framework of Candace West and Don Zimmerman (1987). By choosing two songs sung by women -Reggaetoneras- and two by men -Reggaetoneros-, the thesis does not aim to generalize on these views but rather develop a comparative study on the discourse within singers’ gender. Regarding sexual behavior in Latin America, the three gender-based stereotypes analyzed in the four songs were (1) Objectification of Sexuality, (2) Machismo and (3) Heteronormativity. The thesis concludes that based on the representation found in Reggaeton of gender stereotypes of sexual behavior, the role of Reggaeton represents rather than challenges the status quo of gender identity in Latin America. This research concludes that the analyzed Reggaeton can be described as misogynist. Meaning that even though this music genre cannot be considered steady in its representation of what is the connotative understanding of the traditional Latin male and female, female characters in Reggaeton do present more prejudices than males.Show less
