Rachel Hansen : Good Talks
  • Home
  • What I Do
    • Parent Seminars
    • School Programmes
    • Teacher seminars
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • About Me
    • Recommendations
  • Resources
    • Books for parents & educators
    • Books for Children & Adolescents
    • Menstrual products

Words to Make a Difference: School Disco Music

15/10/2014

0 Comments

 

I often send emails to people when I am concerned about something that is happening, when I want to point something out that is not right, or feel that my words may make a difference in the world.  I have decided that I am going to start publishing emails like this on my blog.  This is in the hope that perhaps someone reading my blog may be in the same situation and me, and reading my words may help them make the time/energy available to send a similar letter.  Small steps to social change!

(I am going through my archives, and this letter was sent to a Principal of a primary school following Robin Thicke's song 'Blurred Lines' being played at a junior school disco (children aged 5 - 7) last year.)


Dear [Principal],
 
First of all, thanks so much to you and the teachers for spending your Friday night entertaining children!  You time is really appreciated.
 
I just wanted to comment on some of the music played at the disco tonight. I realise it is an issue I am hyper-sensitive to, given my line of work, but I think it is an important issue that needs to be addressed. (The portrayal of sex and sexuality in music is one of the topics I speak about in seminars).
 
This week there has been quite a bit of media attention given to Robin Thicke’s song ‘Blurred Lines’, (and the parody of it done by the Auckland Law Review) and it has widely been described as a song supporting rape culture, sexist attitudes and as being overwhelmingly misogynistic.  I was therefore very surprised when it was played at the junior school disco this evening. This is the song here.  
 
Watching five year olds dance to the lines “I'll give you something big enough to tear your ass in two” left me feeling deeply uncomfortable.
 
Others will sum it up the issues in this song far more eloquently than me – in particular this article. 
 
Children should not be exposed to music that they are not capable of critically deconstructing.  We discuss many things in our home, but [my five year old son] is not ready for a discussion on rape culture.   I know that some people will say “the kids don’t understand the lyrics anyway”. However if we send the message that this song is OK now, how do we then tell them it isn't right when they do understand? 
 
I propose that for future events, all songs are thoroughly vetted before going on the playlist.
 
Kind regards,
 
Rachel Hansen


* The Principal responded immediately, agreeing with my concerns.  
Picture
The delightful Robin Thicke blowing smoke into the face of one of his sex-slaves.
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Share

    Author

    Rachel is a writer and educator whose fields of interest include sexuality education, gender, feminism and youth development.

    Click here for blog comments policy.

    RSS Feed

    View my profile on LinkedIn
    Follow rachelhansennz on Twitter
    Picture

    Archives

    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    June 2014
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    January 2013
    September 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010
    December 1969

    Categories

    All
    Advertising
    Beauty Pageants
    Body Image
    Book Review
    Boys
    Breastfeeding
    Car Seats
    Children
    Education
    Fashion
    Fertility
    Gender
    Girls
    Hello
    Inspiration
    Language
    Learning
    Media
    Menstruation
    Mothering
    Parenting
    Periods
    Pornography
    Pregnancy
    Puberty
    Questions
    Relationships
    Relaxing
    Reproduction
    Roles
    Safety
    Self Esteem
    Self-esteem
    Sexualisation Of Children
    Sexuality
    Sexuality Education
    Tampons
    Vagina
    Vaginas
    Violence
    Vulva
    Women

    See blogs and businesses for New Zealand
Good Talks (C) 
  • Home
  • What I Do
    • Parent Seminars
    • School Programmes
    • Teacher seminars
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • About Me
    • Recommendations
  • Resources
    • Books for parents & educators
    • Books for Children & Adolescents
    • Menstrual products