Sending women to the ‘Khia Asylum’ is music’s latest cruel trend. But it reflects an old historical bias

Jordan Strauss/AP, Amy Harris/AP, Evan Agostini/AP, Richard Shotwell/AP, The Conversation

What do Bebe Rexha, Katy Perry, Meghan Trainor and Rita Ora all have in common? They’re all trapped in the “Khia Asylum”.

The Khia Asylum (pronounced “kye-ah”) is a metaphorical space carved out for famous music artists – primarily women – who have lost their so-called public “relevance”. The name references American one-hit wonder Khia, known for her 2002 track, My Neck, My Back (Lick It).