Honors Theses
Date of Award
Spring 5-2026
Document Type
Undergraduate Thesis
Department
Sociology and Anthropology
First Advisor
James Thomas
Second Advisor
Amy McDowell
Third Advisor
Daniel McCarthy Howard
Relational Format
Dissertation/Thesis
Abstract
For this research, I examined how gendered relationships are depicted in the lyrics of 55 top-charting Hip-Hop/R&B and Country songs from the past decade (2015-2025). I employed Norman Fairclough’s Critical Discourse Analysis to examine how song lyrics use language to reproduce or challenge dominant ideas of gendered relationships. My analysis identified three prominent themes within the lyrics: Respect, Commodification, and Regret. Songs within the Respect category were characterized by these of romance, affection, and non-sexual intimacy. The commodification category included songs that had dominant themes of objectification, sexualization, and depicting individuals as disposable or interchangeable goods. The songs in the Regret category have lyrics framing gendered relationships as sources of heartbreak, pain, or disillusionment and included songs whose themes concerned the consequences and aftermaths of failed relationships. My findings revealed that while the themes of commodification and regret were more evenly distributed across top-charting country songs, top-charting Hip-Hop songs overwhelmingly drew upon the theme of commodification. My analysis argues that both historical factors and modern cultural norms have contributed to the differences in the genres’ themes. Ultimately, I argue that music from chart-topping genres functions as a mirror for audiences, reflecting and reinforcing dominant cultural discourses regarding gender and power. Further exploration into how such themes influence broader culture would complement my research into the dominant gendered themes in popular Hip-Hop/R&B and Country music.
Recommended Citation
Yarbro, Alyssa A., "Two Genres, One Narrative? A Critical Discourse Analysis of Gendered Relationships in Top Hip-Hop/R&B and Country Songs (2015-2025)" (2026). Honors Theses. 3522.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/hon_thesis/3522
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