Sunday, February 2, 2014

Guest Post: "Rape Culture Set to a Melody"

Marshall University defines rape culture as “an environment in which rape is prevalent and in which sexual violence against women is normalized and excused in the media and popular culture.” This term is very broad and can be used to describe many sexist issues taking place in our country.  From rape victims being at fault to songs suggesting women “want it” and even when we teach women to avoid getting raped, but men are not taught what “no” means.  These examples are all prominent in first-world cultures.

Music is unavoidable, especially pop songs that reach Top 40 Billboard chart status. The presence of rape culture in popular music is horrifying.  One of the biggest hits this year was a song by Robin Thicke, entitled “Blurred Lines.”  The song title itself sounds like it could be an article discussing the blurred lines of what is and is not considered rape.  There is one line that Thicke repeats in the song eighteen times. He says over and over again to a girl he feels attracted to, “I know you want it,” “it” being implied as sexual intercourse with the artist. Does this woman not get an opinion? Is Robin Thicke assuming that because she is drinking at the club in a fun dress that she is looking for sexual intercourse with someone?

Another song that glorifies our rape culture is one sung by the band The Wanted titled “Glad You Came.” There are lyrics in it that are more startling than Thicke's entire song.  “I decided you look well on me” is a lyric that as a feminist I find absolutely horrifying in many ways. The line itself puts a woman in her place as being the submissive one and the male is the dominant figure who makes the decisions, decisions such as if he would allow her to have sex with him. The song is more upsetting as it goes on with lyrics such as “let's go somewhere no one else can see” and the whole entire chorus that is repeated says, “Now I'll take you by the hand, hand you another drink, drink it if you can.”  This whole song is rape culture set to a melody.  These songs are being played on repeat all around the world, on the radio, in commercials, at parties, everywhere.  They are only feeding into society's rape culture in a way that works against females.

The problem with these songs and other influences from media and entertainment is the effect it has on both males and females.  As proven in the Movie Dreamworlds 3: Desire, Sex, & Power in Music Video, many music videos and songs, especially pop and rap songs, showcase females in a not so positive light.  Many times directors have almost naked women draped over men or wait eagerly for their man to return from wherever he may be.  These portray women as submissive and weak and males' power is based on how many women are surrounding him, according to music videos.  This gives the wrong idea to males of what shows their success and what roles and appearance women should have.

Rape culture is a feminist issue that is growing like a weed.  More and more women are being sexually assaulted, most of them college-aged, and with the growing acceptance of sexist lyrics, it is becoming normalized.  In a time period with so much social conflict, many of it based in equal rights, changing the way we think and speak can get pushed into the shadows.  But this is the generation that can change and end rape-culture.  This is the generation that if we came together, we could end sexism in media and journalism. As a feminist I want to unite my peers and help them make rape culture a thing of the past.

- Caitlin Johnson