Gender-Based Violence and Music

            It is interesting to think about how much music influences the way we look at life. I was alarmed when I started listening more closely to the words of some of my favorite songs. For instance, the song "Face Down" by Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, is quite disturbing. Lyrics like, "do you feel like a man when you push her around?", "face down in the dirt, she said this doesn't hurt", and "a new life she has found", make me almost embarrassed that I've enjoyed this song for so long! Taking such a heavy topic and weaving it into catchy music can hinder the way we address topics such as abuse.

Take a listen for yourself... catchy right?

            Gender-based violence is the act of an individual placing harm upon someone of the opposite sex, often times in the desire to "gain" empowerment or control. Young children listen to songs that promote learning and education. Young teens are drawn to songs about dancing and upbeat rhythms. So, as an adult, why am I drawn to songs like "Face Down" that are all about abuse? This song generalized this "female" as a victim of abuse. Never do they promote woman-power, express the emotional/mental tolls of abuse, or even give the "victim" a voice. Ultimately, this leads to the idea that women are always played as victim, never stand up for themselves, and do little to stop the process of violence.

           

           I think it is very important to understand the influences of our music. Gender-based violence is not inherited, it is learned. Today's music is expressive towards drugs, alcohol and partying; it is very well known that the leading attributes to gender-based violence is drawn from the three exact things. That's the problem with music- it have evolved from harmless to suggestive, and our youth may be suffering the consequences. The song "Face Down", like many other catchy songs, denote a scary stigma about society: men are punishers and women play victims. Is this really how we want to portray our genders?