Rape.
A subject, it seems, everyone is uncomfortable with. But a subject that desperately needs to be talked about.
Uncomfortable? Get comfortable.
One incidence of rape has broken the Internet this week, pertaining to pop star Kesha. The star has not produced new music since 2013. Why? Because she’s been locked into a contract with her alleged rapist, Lukasz Gottwald or “Dr. Luke.”
New York State Supreme Court Justice Shirley Kornreich ruled that Kesha cannot be exempt from her contract with production company Sony, which links her with an alleged rapist (not just any alleged rapist, her own).
But wasn’t it just recently that the hearts of tweens across the world were shattered over a group member’s departure in the boy band One Direction? That’s right, Zayn Malik had a contract with—guess who—Sony when he decided to split. But, it’s totally justified. He was unhappy.
A much more compelling argument than being raped by one of his coworkers, right?
Perhaps this isn’t even the worst of it.
Fans were left wondering what the self-proclaimed feminist Taylor Swift thought about Kesha’s verdict when she did not comment on the situation. Turns out, Swift wouldn’t be commenting at all. Instead, she opened her wallet and donated $250,000 to Kesha, one of the first legitimate actions a fellow celebrity has taken in her case. And, of course, she received backlash for it. Why wouldn’t she? She is a woman in Hollywood, after all.
Swift’s largely female critics have preached that, rather than send money, Swift should have taken another action. Fellow Hollywood star Demi Lovato stated that Swift should have “taken something to Capitol Hill” in order to “impress” her. Yes, Demi. I believe Swift’s reason behind donating that money was solely to impress you.
Speaking out about the issue rather than doing something about it—what a great idea. After the ruling in Kesha’s case, it’s obvious that women have a loud, firm voice in our justice system, right?
Wrong.
Talking about how upset she is won’t do anything. The only way to survive a long-term legal battle in this system is with one thing: money. What happened to the age-old adage that “actions speak louder than words”? The only celebrity to take action has received ridiculous negative criticism, because, obviously, helping Kesha has just become a battle in a game of “who is really the best feminist?”
If incidences like this are going to stop—to really, truly come to an end—women need to stand together. Women attacking other women in these circumstances has got to stop. These women who have the power to affect change need to be an example to others, and it’s disgusting when that example turns into tearing at each other’s throats.
As a woman, I have heard the “dress code” card for my entire life. In middle and high school it was no spaghetti straps, no skirts three inches above the knee, no yoga pants. Instilling moral values, sure, I’m all for it. But how many times did I hear the “no means no” talk? I can count on one hand.
In college, it’s all about “staying with a group,” “never go anywhere alone,” “dress modestly” and “never put your drink down.”
Girls don’t need lessons in how to avoid being raped.
Men need to stop raping women.
Emily Mulcahey is an Associate Editor for the Bona Venture.
Her email is mulcahek12@bonaventure.edu
