The music video was released last week, and is a celebration of the best twerkers in the world. At one point, Cardi even dances in just body paint. All the women in it are very clearly owning their sexuality, but not everyone thinks so.
Fox news presenter Stephanie Hamill recently accused Cardi of not empowering women on Twitter.
"In the Era of #meToo how exactly does this empower women? Leftists, @iamcardib , feel free to chime in. THX .." she wrote.
And boy did Cardi “chime in”!
In her response, Cardi explained that the music video is empowering women and emphasises that women can wear what they want, do what they want and their “no” is still be a clear “no”:
“It says to women that I can wear and not wear whatever I want. do w.e I want and that NO still means NO. So Stephanie chime in..If I twerk and be half naked does that mean I deserve to get raped and molested ? I want to know what a conservative woman like you thinks,” Cardi wrote in response.
In the age of high rape statistics, especially in South Africa – a country which has one of the highest rates of rape in the world – one can’t help but ponder Cardi’s words. Rape and violent crimes against women in South Africa are so bad that other countries’ trip advisors have to warn citizens travelling to our shores.
And still, those numbers are accurate as the Rape Crisis Organisation believes that most women don’t report their perpetrators because of the fear of being blamed.
“Most rape myths lay the blame or responsibility at the door of the victim, by suggesting that her behaviour somehow led the rapist to rape her. This can lead to further under-reporting, as rape victims suffer feelings of guilt, or fear of facing the blame of their community or family.
In addition, many survivors only report several months, or even years, after the incident. Opening old wounds and reliving the trauma of rape all over again can be daunting.”
A few years ago, there was a conversation about women who would get beaten up by men at the Noord MTN taxi rank in Johannesburg if they wore miniskirts and short shorts. For one young woman, it got very traumatic:
“Taxi drivers allegedly put their fingers in her private parts while others poured alcohol on her head and called her names,” reported News24.
“Ebby Phakula of Meadowlands said women should not wear miniskirts as this aroused men and led to rape and other crimes against women, ‘I will never allow my children to wear those skimpy skirts, I will never pay for such skirts’," he told reporters.
Of course a lot has changed since 2008 – a lot of people have been educated through various platforms but rape cases seem to be on a steady increase. And if it is true that what women wear influence the behaviour of rapists, then what about little babies who get raped and even killed?
READ MORE: Gauteng has the highest number of reported rape cases in SA
Statistics in South Africa show that 41% of rapes committed in South Africa are against children.
Some Cardi B fans defended the music video, saying the fact that these women are twerking half naked with no man in sight, is a powerful statement on its own that liberates women, and does not in fact portray them as sex symbols.
Tell us what you think.
WATCH the music video here:
