The message at this year’s Grammys was loud and clear – stop
violence against women. We watched as President Obama made his proclamation to
end violence against women, and challenged artists to encourage their
supporters to do the same. The President spoke the truth, 1 in 5 women will be victims
of rape or attempted rape, and 1 in 4 women will face violence or abuse at the
hands of an intimate partner. He claimed
violence against women is not OK, and launched the White House #Itsonus
campaign – because in fact, it is on us all to stop the violence.
In many songs and videos, violence against women is not only
condoned but celebrated. Following the
President’s speech, Target aired a 3-minute music video ad of Imagine Dragons’
“Shot” about shooting everything they love. The President’s words were
addressed to an audience that included Grammy nominees, Chris Brown, and R. Kelly.
What kind of message is being sent by
saying we needed to stop the violence, while rewarding those personally
involved with the violence. Violence against women is celebrated in many artists’
songs and videos. Songs and videos may demonstrate violence and the degradation
of women, but these albums sell millions of downloads every day. When asking
these artists to help stop the violence, what are we asking them to do?
It is time to stop violence against women, and it is time to
change the stigma associated with rape and abuse. Still assault against an
intimate partner is not prosecuted as harshly as assault against another
associate or a stranger. Somehow we
still see domestic violence as only a family problem, but violence against
women is a social and a public health issue. The President is right that in one
way #Itsonus, but in another way, it is on him and on every elected official.
It is on us to keep up the pressure, to make sure the Violence Against Women
Act is reauthorized next year, to make sure campuses receive needed fund to keep
students safe from assault, and to make sure state and local laws support
adequate shelter and permanent housing for survivors of domestic violence. It
IS on us – AND our elected officials – AND on popular culture heroes like
musicians and athletes - to change the conversation to help eliminate violence
against women.
