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Sexism And Its Effects On The Media

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Sexism in the Media
Throughout her career, Beyoncé has been no stranger to controversy. From covertly sexual lyrics to blatantly sexual music videos, she always seems to make headlines; perhaps none bigger than those surrounding the recent release of the music video for her song “Formation.” The themes presented in “Formation” were similar to those displayed in another music video, “Alright” by Kendrick Lamar. Despite the similarities, the videos were received differently by their audiences. “Alright” received widely positive reviews from media outlets such as MTV and The Verge while “Formation” was perceived more negatively . The outrage surrounding Beyoncé’s “Formation” video, and lack thereof for “Alright” by Kendrick Lamar, exhibits the prevalence of sexism in the media today.
The similarities between “Formation” and “Alright” reach far beyond just their imagery and popularity; they are both a call to action targeted towards black people in America. Though both videos inspire and communicate to black people as a whole, “Alright” and “Formation” are more specifically speaking to black men and black women respectively. This becomes evident when analyzing the videos and their accompanying lyrics individually. Beyoncé rallies black women to “get in formation” while also glorifying many aspects of black culture itself. With lyrics such as “I got hot sauce in my bag, swag,” “I like my negro nose with Jackson 5 nostrils,” and “I like my baby hair with baby hair and afros,”

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