The mainstream media's sexual imaginary is a growing capitalist venture and increased visibility of women's overt sexuality continues to grab attention. The ongoing battle about the commodification of terms such as "pimp" and "ho" in music, video, advertising and film is a complicated one that plays off different stereotypes about women's sexuality and men's masculinity. What is up with the popularization of "pimp chic" and how do racial stereotypes interplay with the construction of these sexualized identities?

Anita Roddick President of The Body Shop speaks out against the use of the terms and the marketing of these images. She says,

"A lot of people seem to think that it's cool to be a pimp or whore. It's not cool. The reality is dark, evil and appalling and unregulated. The reality is sex trafficking, which is about young women being forced into rooms to have sex however many times a day so that the pimp can take all the money."

Now I have to say I agree with this. But I think there is more then just a lack of education as to the dangers and reality of sex trafficking in this equation. Pimp/ho culture or as the article calls it "pimp chic" is a manifestation of capitalist desire playing out in exaggerated sexual (and racial) stereotypes. It is the American dream.

Dame Anita criticised stars such as Beyoncé and Britney Spears for simulating sex in their music videos, and highlighted the trend among some hip hop artists to make porn films to be marketed alongside the graphic lyrics of their songs. "What we have now is what I call "pimp and ho chic" with all aspects of the sex industry presented as hip and cool," she said."Pole dancing as exercise, lap-dancing clubs as places to see celebrities, fancy-dress balls and the everyday use of the words "bitch" and "ho" to refer to women are just some of the examples I have come across."

Glamorizing pimps and hoes is problematic, I think that point is obvious. But I think there is a fine line between being portrayed/objectified as a "ho" and being empowered about your own sexuality (or profession as the case may be). I think a lot of women in media ARE empowered and visible in their sexuality and not just within the constraints of a male vision of sexy, but one that they own. Or is that empowerment just more marketing and feeding into dominant ideas of sexy (which are usually determined by male/capitalist desire)?

Spike Lee has also come out against "pimp culture."

He said: "We are bombarded by these gangsta images again and again and again and again ... they do make a difference to human behaviour. No one gets upset any more that pimpdom gets elevated on a pedestal."

So we have the age-old is this empowerment/visibility for women and men (often of color who historically are left out of the mainstream) or objectification and fetishizing of women as "hoes" and men as "pimps"?

via The Independent.

Oh and I made the mistake of looking up the word "hoes" on urban dictionary. Read and weep.