With all of the hype surrounding the new song by Rihanna and Eminem (Russian Roulette/Love the Way You Lie) I have been thinking a lot about domestic violence in the media. I found this post on Sociological Images this morning and I really cannot express how I feel any better than they already have so just read the article…
Here is a great quote to wet your appetite,
Don’t get me wrong, I think it’s a beautiful song. Rihanna’s vocals are gorgeous; it’s was hard to not feel heartfelt while listening to them. And that’s the problem. It’s a powerful form of socialization. That we might internalize the message that passionate love and incontrollable rage go hand-in-hand is really very scary. It suggests not only that you should tolerate interpersonal violence but that, if there is no violence in your relationship, perhaps you don’t really love one another. Better go out and find someone who will beat you.
People might disagree with me and some might say they only like it for the catchy tune. The fact still stands, glamorizing domestic violence by combining hurtful lyrics and a nice beat is ALWAYS harmful, even if we “don’t even listen to the lyrics.”
I think that author of this post is right, the fact “that Rihanna of all people, a woman who could have made a powerful statement against this type of message, is participating in glamorizing the very violence she suffered, is very disheartening.” If change is to occur, perhaps victims of violence should speak out against their abuse, instead of giving in a glamorizing it.
And that’s all I have to say about that…
…but here’s one more article, just in case you are as fired up about this as I am.
Life as it happens 