Intersectional Activism - Blog Posts
I’ve seen several posts (and a lot of reposts of those posts) talking about the misogyny in rap music produced by men, and while I think that having a conversation about misogyny in entertainment is incredibly important, I also think it’s important to think about why we’re focused so heavily on demonizing rap music in particular.
A lot of mainstream music produced by men, regardless of it’s genre, has the same messaging of misogyny, rape culture, sexism, etc. If you read a lot of the lyrics of popular club/dance music especially, it’s hiding in plain sight. However, in a world in which white is the norm, we’re used to hearing that type of messaging disguised underneath the soothing, fun loving, catchy melodies sung by familiar voices so we sing along without thinking about the words leaving our mouths. Rap, while it’s still a very popular genre, goes against that familiar, comfortable habit of hiding lyrics and is very straightforward, and therefore our condemnation increases because it forces you to interact with the lyrics instead of shutting off your brain.
I don’t advocate for a lack of critical thinking or criticism for the genre, in fact I’m asking for the opposite. Is Rap truly the worst genre for misogyny? Because I could, and am, arguing that abusive lyrics hidden in songs that play over the speakers at every establishment (and especially around children) with no issue, is just as bad if not worse. Genres such as Country, which is just as full of misogyny, are treated with a kind of “roll your eyes and get over it” attitude. We treat it as a joke, if we acknowledge it at all. Those silly, backwards folk living in a cornfield town don’t know any better, really.
Socially, we also forgive and forget about male violence much quicker when the man is white. I’ve watched people blow up angrily about a white man’s crime and after 6 months it’s forgotten to the point nobody remembers it when I bring it up. However a black man in that same situation will have his disgrace last years longer. This is not me advocating in any way for everyone to get the white man treatment, but for everyone to have an accurate social reaction to the crime itself without the person’s race tainting how we view him (and by extension, those in his racial group).
Rap, while it has some serious bad apples now, has an incredibly important cultural history of pushing for social change that other popular genres in the world today do not, and it’s ironic to me that it is now seen as the most morally corrupt and oppressive genre. Associating the entire genre solely with low intelligence (both in the artist and the audience), general moral failing and filth, and a backwards view on society when there are so many rappers who have pushed for social changes harder than any other musicians, when you do not similarly condemn other musical genres, is unfortunately a case of internalized racism.
I will reiterate once again that I am not in any way saying that anyone or anything should get off scot-free or without deep criticism. Pointing out an unfair balance in how we condemn groups of people is simply that, pointing it out. I think we need more criticism but I think that criticism needs to be nuanced, complete, and informed. I would also urge you to look into smaller or more underground rappers/rap movements because there is a lot to enjoy and many good people to support when you’re able to get past the big names that do well for a reason. The majority of our culture today is misogynistic so misogynistic lyrics appeal to the general masses, and people who refuse to fall under that group don’t end up as famous as those who do.
[Edited to hopefully make my point easier to understand bc I was getting several reposts that seemed to be taking away a message I didn’t mean to put across]
Women’a struggles in Peru and Latinamerica
all women are beautiful, and in general, all people are beautiful. it is sad how we have perverted the concept of beauty. however, we are more than bodies and, definitely, our value is not defined by beauty. not because we are not beautifull, but because we actually are, and for that reason beauty is subjective. I think the whole message of the body positivity is that we are beautiful individually, but our main goal in life is not being beautifull nor does beauty define us, since “beauty” is not the same as “good”. we may think we are not “good” enough because we are not “pretty” enough. fact is we are more than bodies, faces and shapes. we are emotions, experiences, notions, beliefs, etc. we are beautifull, and we need to understand how this does not define our worth, which is inherent. we do not need to fulfill expectations of beauty to be valued since we are naturally worthy of love.
are LGBTIQA+ coffee shops a thing now? or bookshops or bakeries? because i would love that in my life rn. just reading classic literature, with a cupcake in my hands and drinking coffee. there’s nothing i desire more.
stop trying to deny patriarchy by using men’s issue as an argument. in fact, men’s issues are caused by a patriarchal society as well. don’t pretend you care for men’s problems when you just use them as a mere argument against women’s issues to prove your point. just stop the misogyny, thanks.
UPDATE: The Congress has now named Francisco Sagasti as new president of the parliament and, consequently, president of the Peruvian Republic. He is part of one of the parties that voted against kicking out former president Martin Vizcarra and is left leaning, advocating for human rights of the vulnerable minorities. He is a social Democrat and will be president until the general elections in April.
can we talk about the situation in Peru with the coup d’etat?
Manuel Merino de Lama, the former president of the parliament, was proclaimed president of the Peruvian republic after former president Martin Vizcarra was kicked out. According to the constitution, this action was not valid and can be considered a coup since the congress is constituted of many people processed by the Justice Department, the prosecution, and the Public Ministry. In addition, the investigations held against the president are not yet to be confirmed and are in the middle of the process, reason why this decision was not valid since there was not a judgement.
Manuel Merino de Lama, now former president, caused chaos all around the nation, with many peaceful protests taking place. He also organized his gabinet led by several conservative, far right ministers and the President of the Ministries. They also show supportive attitudes towards the semi-totalitarian dictatorship of Alberto Fujimori in the 90s. One example of this is Antero Flores-Araoz. Taking into account nationwide protests, police brutality was atrocious and, by the second national protest that took place yesterday, police murdered two innocent young men fighting for peruvian democracy.
Because of the deaths, many national and international organizations asked Merino to abdicate and let the congress decide the next president until the general election date in April. After a failed attempt to gain the support of the military to establish a dictatorship, Manuel Merino de Lama was forced to abdicate because of the protests and the pressure. In addition, all the ministers of his gabinet were fast to abdicate as well in order to avoid jail. However, the constitution says they are to be processed as well. Now the congress is deciding who will be the next president, who is predicted to be one of the parliamentarians who voted against kicking out former president Vizcarra.
Let it be known that two people were brutally murdered by the police on November 14, 2020, and are know considered heroes since they gave their lives in order to save peruvian democracy.
(Pictures of the protests nationwide)
can we talk about the situation in Peru with the coup d’etat?
Manuel Merino de Lama, the former president of the parliament, was proclaimed president of the Peruvian republic after former president Martin Vizcarra was kicked out. According to the constitution, this action was not valid and can be considered a coup since the congress is constituted of many people processed by the Justice Department, the prosecution, and the Public Ministry. In addition, the investigations held against the president are not yet to be confirmed and are in the middle of the process, reason why this decision was not valid since there was not a judgement.
Manuel Merino de Lama, now former president, caused chaos all around the nation, with many peaceful protests taking place. He also organized his gabinet led by several conservative, far right ministers and the President of the Ministries. They also show supportive attitudes towards the semi-totalitarian dictatorship of Alberto Fujimori in the 90s. One example of this is Antero Flores-Araoz. Taking into account nationwide protests, police brutality was atrocious and, by the second national protest that took place yesterday, police murdered two innocent young men fighting for peruvian democracy.
Because of the deaths, many national and international organizations asked Merino to abdicate and let the congress decide the next president until the general election date in April. After a failed attempt to gain the support of the military to establish a dictatorship, Manuel Merino de Lama was forced to abdicate because of the protests and the pressure. In addition, all the ministers of his gabinet were fast to abdicate as well in order to avoid jail. However, the constitution says they are to be processed as well. Now the congress is deciding who will be the next president, who is predicted to be one of the parliamentarians who voted against kicking out former president Vizcarra.
Let it be known that two people were brutally murdered by the police on November 14, 2020, and are know considered heroes since they gave their lives in order to save peruvian democracy.
(Pictures of the protests nationwide)