Exposure to Hypersexualized Rap Imagery and the Relationship among Self-Esteem, Cultural Identity and Body Image of African American Female Students

The purpose of the study was to identify relationships among psychosocial indicators and exposure to hypersexualized rap imagery. African American female college students (N=112) indicated time spent viewing and listening to rap music, identified their attitudes and perceptions of rap music, and responded to measures of self-esteem, cultural identity, and body image. Participants who experienced excessive exposure exhibited more positive empowerment scores than participants who experienced minimal exposure. Respondents with minimal exposure exhibited less positive artistic/esthetic scores than those with moderate exposure. Participants with more positive violence/misogyny scores exhibited lower self-ideal. Implications for promoting healthy relationships are explored.