MUSIC THAT CHANGED THE WORLD #4

In this lecture, Kim Dankoor takes you on a historical journey through feminist (protest) songs in Hip Hop. Which feminist themes are expressed by women rappers? And how might they impact listeners? She also explains the theoretical concept of Hip Hop feminism, as proposed by Morgan and further developed by subsequent scholars, as well as its intellectual predecessors. Through this framework, she highlights why Hip Hop feminism may be considered one of the most inclusive forms of feminism today.

Kim Dankoor is in the final phase of her PhD at Utrecht University, which examines the impact of rap on young people’s self-evaluations and emotions, and the gatekeeping role of strip club dancers within the Southern rap world. Her work has been published in journals including Journal of Counseling Psychology and Sexuality & Culture. Her dissertation’s final chapter (on dancers) inspired her to further investigate the theoretical framework of Hip Hop feminism. She is currently a postdoctoral researcher at Leiden University, where she examines feminist messages in women’s rap and how these messages may shape listeners’ feminist attitudes.