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Slide 3 of 5

Argument #3: “The Song Promotes the Over-Sexualization of Young Women”

Women have been sexualized and over-sexualized by men for ages, in many contexts where they didn't want to be — but God forbid a woman sexualizes herself.

Don't get me wrong — there's no justifying or down-playing the gross sexual objectification that women have faced over the course history, especially women of colour. (Because let's be real: Lady Gaga has a song illustrating vivid sex dreams and lyrics about taking a ride on a "disco stick", but she was met with almost exclusively positive feedback for her sexually liberating lyrics and empowering spirit. Do you see what I'm getting at here?) Nonetheless, any argument that suggests that women shouldn't sexually express themselves if they don't want to be sexually objectified is not only misogynist, but it's a bit sadistic.

It's also a similar line of logic to that which justifies girls in public schools being prohibited from showing their shoulders because it might distract and entice their male counterparts. A woman is not a piece of meat, and it's regressive to suggest that based on how she dresses, how she dances, or how she artistically (or sexually) expresses herself, that she should be looked at as such. "WAP" is explicit, no doubt. But it's flawed to assume that Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion are somehow condoning or promoting that kind of sexist narrative by making a graphic song about sex.

Image Source: YouTube user Cardi B