Hussen, Tigist ShewaregaNgabaza, Sisa2019-07-042019-07-042018Hussen, T. and Ngabaza, S. (2018) �We don't really see a problem in music because that s**t makes you want to dance�: Reflections on possibilities and challenges of teaching gender through hip-hop, Agenda, 32:2, 93-98, DOI: 10.1080/10130950.2018.14456052158-978Xhttps://doi.org/10.1080/10130950.2018.1445605https://hdl.handle.net/10566/4710Hip-hop culture has been criticised as sexist and misogynist. It is also condemned for being exploitative of black women�s identity and for perpetuating gendered and sexualised assumptions about female musicians. This perspective explores pedagogical possibilities and challenges of using popular culture, such as hip-hop music performances, in a gender studies course. We critically reflect on our experiences of working with second-year students exploring gender performances in music. We encouraged students to analyse music of their own choice within the hip-hop genre, interrogating gender performances beyond simplistic good/bad or right/wrong body and sexual conduct. Data collected in online chat rooms on the teaching and learning platforms show students� enthusiasm in engaging with hip-hop as subject matter. However, in their analysis quite often students struggled to move away from the dominant narrative of hip-hop as sexist and misogynist, their critique focusing on the exaggerated femininity and hypersexuality of female hip-hop artists. Students struggled to critically explore other counter-narratives and counter-representations of the performances. We reflect on the possibilities and challenges of using hip-hop as subject matter in feminist pedagogy.enHigher educationHip-hopPedagogical reflectionReflective practiceGenderCritical pedagogyArticle