1. Sexuality in Music: Gender & Audience Response Presented at the 2014 WKU Gender and Communication Conference, Bowling Green, KY By Jennifer Wright, M.A., M.L.S.

2. 2003 Brit Awards Justin Timberlake and Kylie Minogue Justin Timberlake and Kylie Minogue Picture © Rex Features, accessed from http://www.reveal.co.uk/showbiz-celeb-gossip/news/http://www.reveal.co.uk/showbiz-celeb-gossip/news/ a455481/justin-timberlake-confirmed-to-sing-at-brit-awards.htmla455481/justin-timberlake-confirmed-to-sing-at-brit-awards.html, April 17, 2014

3. 2013 VMA Awards Picture © Kevin Mazur/WireImage for MTV, accessed from http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/ tv-movies/vmas-2013-lady-gaga-kicks-first-ever-mtv-video-music-awards-brooklyn-article-1.1436697, April 17, 2014

4. Miley Cyrus By the numbers: By the numbers: “Miley Cyrus VMAs” garners 2000 hits. “Miley Cyrus VMAs” garners 2000 hits. “Robin Thicke VMAs” garners 400 hits. “Robin Thicke VMAs” garners 400 hits. “Twerking wild child.” (People, Sept. 9, 2013) “Twerking wild child.” (People, Sept. 9, 2013) “Miley-shaming” “Miley-shaming”

5. Miley vs. Justin “Wild Child” and “Miley Cyrus”: 1,300 hits. “Wild Child” and “Miley Cyrus”: 1,300 hits. “Wild Child” and “Justin Bieber”: 8 hits. “Wild Child” and “Justin Bieber”: 8 hits. Based on hits, Justin is more popular than Miley (507 Mil vs 687 Mil) Based on hits, Justin is more popular than Miley (507 Mil vs 687 Mil) Arrests vs. legal, if distasteful public behavior. Arrests vs. legal, if distasteful public behavior.

6. Sexuality in the Media 2004 Super Bowl Halftime Show 2004 Super Bowl Halftime Show Janet Jackson’s Wardrobe Malfunction Janet Jackson’s Wardrobe Malfunction Jackson’s Career faltered. Jackson’s Career faltered. Blacklisted by media companies. Blacklisted by media companies. Timberlake remained as famous as ever. Timberlake remained as famous as ever. Indecency fine from the FCC. Indecency fine from the FCC.

7. The Argument Against Sexuality in Music Inspiring teens to engage in sexual activity. Inspiring teens to engage in sexual activity. Study by A. Bleakley et al. Study by A. Bleakley et al. Nonrecursive relationship Nonrecursive relationship Supported by Brown et al., 2006; Collins et al., 2004 and Martino et al., 2006. Supported by Brown et al., 2006; Collins et al., 2004 and Martino et al., 2006. Exposure as behavior. Exposure as behavior. Proportion of sexual content in media. Proportion of sexual content in media.

8. Sexuality in the Media Adolescents look to media for information. Adolescents look to media for information. Learning gender roles. Learning gender roles. “Mass media can affect awareness of, beliefs about, and possibly actual sexual behavior (Brown, 2002, p.49). ” “Mass media can affect awareness of, beliefs about, and possibly actual sexual behavior (Brown, 2002, p.49). ”

9. Gender Definitions General Media Portrayal (Liebert, Spraken, & Davidson, 1982) : General Media Portrayal (Liebert, Spraken, & Davidson, 1982) : Males should strive for power. Males should strive for power. Female should strive for marriage. Female should strive for marriage. American teenage pop stars: American teenage pop stars: Female, sugary, innocent. Female, sugary, innocent. Male, aggressive, physical attraction. Male, aggressive, physical attraction.

10. Contradictions “Sometimes portrayed as talented … always emphasized their bodies and facial features.” (Gow, 1996, p. 159) “Sometimes portrayed as talented … always emphasized their bodies and facial features.” (Gow, 1996, p. 159) Britney Spears - “I’m a Slave 4 U.” Britney Spears - “I’m a Slave 4 U.” Selena Gomez – “Come and Get It.” Selena Gomez – “Come and Get It.” Jessica Simpson – “These Boots are Made for Walking” Jessica Simpson – “These Boots are Made for Walking”

11. Gender Definitions, Revisited Female: sexual, but subordinate. Female: sexual, but subordinate. “…women are sexual objects, ready to be consumed by men (Wallis, 2011, p. 169).” “…women are sexual objects, ready to be consumed by men (Wallis, 2011, p. 169).” Male: aggressive, dominant. Male: aggressive, dominant. Media participates in maintenance of gender status quo. Media participates in maintenance of gender status quo.

12. What Gives? Sexuality is not the problem. Sexuality is not the problem. Sexual Objectification is not the problem. Sexual Objectification is not the problem. It is a problem, but does not explain this issue. It is a problem, but does not explain this issue. The problem is dominance vs. submission. The problem is dominance vs. submission.

13. Female Sexual Dominance By overtly acting sexual, women assert dominance over their own sexuality. By overtly acting sexual, women assert dominance over their own sexuality. May still incorporate submissive role. May still incorporate submissive role. May engage singularly, leading to elimination of male role. May engage singularly, leading to elimination of male role. Pelvic thrusting Pelvic thrusting

14. Conclusions Audience reaction to sexuality: Audience reaction to sexuality: Based on dominance vs. submission Based on dominance vs. submission Punishes women who are dominant. Punishes women who are dominant. Pressures women to conform to gender roles. Pressures women to conform to gender roles. How does this affect males? How does this affect males? Punished for not being dominant enough, “emo.” Punished for not being dominant enough, “emo.” “Emo bands resent … the genre label itself because of the gender implications ( Williams, 2007, p.156).” “Emo bands resent … the genre label itself because of the gender implications ( Williams, 2007, p.156).”

15. Selected Bibliography Aubrey, Jennifer Stevens & Cynthia M. Frisby (2011). “Sexual Objectification in Music Videos.” Mass Communication and Society, 14:475-501. Aubrey, Jennifer Stevens & Cynthia M. Frisby (2011). “Sexual Objectification in Music Videos.” Mass Communication and Society, 14:475-501. Bleakley, Amy, Michael Hennessy, Martin Fishbein, & Amy Jordan (2008). “It Works Both Ways: The Relationship Between Exposure to Sexual Content in the Media and Adolescent Sexual Behavior.” Media Psychology, 11:443-61. Bleakley, Amy, Michael Hennessy, Martin Fishbein, & Amy Jordan (2008). “It Works Both Ways: The Relationship Between Exposure to Sexual Content in the Media and Adolescent Sexual Behavior.” Media Psychology, 11:443-61. Brown, Jane D. (2002). “Mass Media Influences on Sexuality.” The Journal of Sex Research, 39(1):42-45. Brown, Jane D. (2002). “Mass Media Influences on Sexuality.” The Journal of Sex Research, 39(1):42-45. Gow, Joe (1996). “Reconsidering Gender Roles on MTV: Depictions in the Most Popular Music Videos of the Early 1990s.” Communication Reports, 9(2):151-61. Gow, Joe (1996). “Reconsidering Gender Roles on MTV: Depictions in the Most Popular Music Videos of the Early 1990s.” Communication Reports, 9(2):151-61. Liebert, R.M., Sprafkin, J. N., & Davidson, E.S. (1982). The Early Window: Effects of Television on Children and Youth (2 nd ed.). New York: Pergamon Press Liebert, R.M., Sprafkin, J. N., & Davidson, E.S. (1982). The Early Window: Effects of Television on Children and Youth (2 nd ed.). New York: Pergamon Press Pardun, Carol J., Kelly Ladin L’Engle, and Jane D. Brown (2005). “Linking Exposure to Outcomes: Early Adolescents’ Consumption of Sexual Content in Six Media.” Mass Communication & Society, 8(2):75-91. Pardun, Carol J., Kelly Ladin L’Engle, and Jane D. Brown (2005). “Linking Exposure to Outcomes: Early Adolescents’ Consumption of Sexual Content in Six Media.” Mass Communication & Society, 8(2):75-91. Wallis, Cara (2011). “Performing Gender: A Content Analysis of Gender Display in Music Videos.” Sex Roles, 64:160-72. Wallis, Cara (2011). “Performing Gender: A Content Analysis of Gender Display in Music Videos.” Sex Roles, 64:160-72. Williams, Sarah F (2007). “A Walking Open Wound: Emo Rock and the ‘Crisis’ of Masculinity in America.” In Freya Jarman-Ivens (Ed.), Oh Boy! Masculinities and Popular Music, pp.145-60. Routledge: New York. Williams, Sarah F (2007). “A Walking Open Wound: Emo Rock and the ‘Crisis’ of Masculinity in America.” In Freya Jarman-Ivens (Ed.), Oh Boy! Masculinities and Popular Music, pp.145-60. Routledge: New York. Wright, Paul J. (2009). “Sexual Socialization Messages in Mainstream Entertainment Mass Media: A Review and Synthesis.” Sexuality & Culture, 13:181-200. Wright, Paul J. (2009). “Sexual Socialization Messages in Mainstream Entertainment Mass Media: A Review and Synthesis.” Sexuality & Culture, 13:181-200.