Representaion of women in music videos

In the music industry women have a very interesting portrayal. It is rare that videos show female artists in conservative clothing. Instead it is small, skimpy and usually provocative outfits that are worn. It is argued that it is not in fact the artist who chooses such raunchy outfits and dance routines, but instead the label they are signed to, who want their brand to have a particular image.

For my first focus I am looking into Nicki Minaj. Nicki is a hip hop/R&B artist signed to Lil Wayne's label Young Money. To escape her parents fighting when she was a child, she invented characters in which she would pretend to be. This is where her identity as 'Harajuku Barbie' came from. For this image she had bleach blonde hair, pink lipstick and and barbie accessories.

Here is Nicki Minaj with her barbie image:

This character carried on into her music videos until her most recent ones like 'Starships' and 'Pound the alarm' where she has taken on a more provocative look.In the video for 'Starships' Nicki is in a small pink bikini strutting up and down a beach, where camera shots are frequently zooming in on her breasts and bum. In addition her extremely flat stomach is also emphasized. Here are some print screens I took from the video:

Here is the link to the Starships music video:

Not only is this giving out the wrong image to younger fans who look up to her, but also for women as a whole, as it suggests that big breasts, a large bum and a super flat stomach is 'the look' and that all women should look like this, which is not the case. It is from scenarios like this that in the long run lead to girls having eating disorders and even depression because they may feel fat or ugly. The pressure that the media and music artists indirectly put on girls to look this way is too much.

For my second focus I am looking into Flo Rida.  He is a rapper/songwriter signed to Atlantic Poe Boy International Music Group. The video i am referring to is 'Whistle' one of his latest releases. The song name itself has sexual connotations as he is not actually talking about a whistle. In the video he is topless and the girls are all in bikinis, having fun in the water and acting playful. There is also various close ups of them emphasizing their figures and breasts as well as pouring water over themselves attracting attention from the males.
Here is a picture of Flo Rida:

Here are some print screens I took from the video:

The whole point of the women in this video is to please the man, not only are they pretty to look at but they are portrayed as 'up for it' as well. Once again it is ridiculously thin girls setting the bar that this is what all women should look like, which is just not reality.

Here is the link to the Whistle music video: