My Response to the Evangelical Response to WAP
WAP certainly garnered an interesting response. While clearly not for everyone, the lyrics nonetheless conveyed an empowered, experienced version of female sexuality that we don\u2019t often see in mainstream media. Adding to the conversation surrounding this song two years after it was released might feel late, irrelevant, or pointless. However, viewing the song, and what it represents, through the lens of the Christian Right\u2019s response to it feels as topical as ever, especially when you realize that this response is symptomatic of the ways in which this culture views women and sexuality, as well as the creation and consumption of media. In this episode we are examining these views through one pop culture commentator\u2019s response to WAP, a response that I believe is representative of Evangelical Christian culture\u2019s as a whole\u2026 and indicative of not only how these people feel about female empowerment and sexuality, but how they feel about the female body and women in general.
\nSpoiler alert, like so many other things that are \u201cof the world\u201d, this culture sees WAP, and the sexually empowered woman the song represents, and a targeted attack on their religion and beliefs. All I can really say is that if they want a war, they\u2019ve got one.
\nContent warning: sex and sexuality
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- Cardi B, WAP, And Our Kids... Some Thoughts\u2026, Walt Mueller (this guy abuses ellipses more than I do) \n
- \u2018WAP\u2019 and the politics of Black women\u2019s bodies, Ko Bragg \n
- Why Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion's Empowering Anthem \u201cWAP\u201d Is So Important, Brianna Holt \n
- What the WAP: Part 1 - Black Feminist Scholars on Black Women's Popular Culture, by Black Feminisms contributors Dr. Jennifer Turner and Dr. Melissa C. Brown (please check out parts 2 and 3 as well!) \n
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