‘“Baby, It’s Cold Outside”- DJs Have Been Spinning Hundreds Of Date Rape Hits For Decades
Start writing a post
Arts Entertainment

Forget 'Baby, It’s Cold Outside' — DJs Have Been Spinning Hundreds Of Date Rape Hits For Decades

It's not just a song; it's a culture.

114
Forget 'Baby, It’s Cold Outside' — DJs Have Been Spinning Hundreds Of Date Rape Hits For Decades
https://www.maxpixel.net/Happiness-Couple-Winter-Snow-Just-Married-Ukraine-3134557

I know you want it. You like the attention and you get what you like. I'm just watching and waiting. I hear you saying what you won't do, but you know we probably gonna do.

Creepy, right? No these aren't lines from hit drama "Law & Order: SVU". These are all lyrics from some of pop music's biggest songs.

If anyone were to recite the lyrics of G-Eazy's "Wicked" or Robin Thicke's "Blurred Lines" to a woman in a regular voice, a police officer would certainly get involved (oh wait, 63 percent of sexual assaults go unreported to law enforcement).

This begs the question as to why such blatant sexually aggressive comments are acceptable under the guise of a good beat and melody. "Blurred Lines"- a song undeniably about a woman declining to have sex with a man who will not take "no" for an answer- topped the pop charts and was even remade by "Kidz Bop".

Let that sink in for a moment. Children covered a sexually explicit song where the sex wasn't even consensual. The precedent has been set that it is okay for our boys to grow up to be sexually aggressive towards someone's clear rejections.

This is why a song is not just a song. Music and the lyrics going along to it make up our culture. Music has permeated every environment, whether it FM radio in the car or on the soundtrack to kids' shows.

Much like Robin Thicke's message, whether you're a willing and conscious participant or not, music finds a way into our minds. More commonly known as an earworm, when the brain hears something especially catchy, spontaneous cognition occurs and saves portions of the song into a memory.

In an age like today where strides are finally being taken to empower sexual harassment/assault survivors to speak out for justice, we need to be especially scrutinizing about what we deem acceptable to be a part of pop culture.

Surely "Baby, it's cold outside" is cemented into the soundtrack of the American holiday season, so it may seem a bit too late to erase the tune. However, we can use it as a jumpoff point to say this era of misogynistic, sexual misconduct promoting music is no more palatable for the world's ear.

It is already a harsh reality for women that if they find the courage to decline a man, he will seldom listen. Even men who identify as feminists and liberals have fallen down the "Baby, it's cold outside" rabbit hole.

Aziz Ansari, a critically acclaimed actor, and comedian, was in the headlines because of a situation with a woman. Ansari- who has even written a book on dating in the modern world- went on a date with a woman who he brought back to his apartment.

According to the woman, she was inclined to leave his apartment when it became late in the evening, but after Ansari's persistent objections, she stayed and did engage in sexual activity with the actor.

These scenarios happen way too often because society has created a gray area about whether or not to respect a woman's rejection.

It is on the consumers to tell the Robin Thicke's, G-Eazy's and Dean Martin's: she doesn't want it; she wasn't asking for it; she can't stay.

From Your Site Articles
Related Articles Around the Web
Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
the beatles
Wikipedia Commons

For as long as I can remember, I have been listening to The Beatles. Every year, my mom would appropriately blast “Birthday” on anyone’s birthday. I knew all of the words to “Back In The U.S.S.R” by the time I was 5 (Even though I had no idea what or where the U.S.S.R was). I grew up with John, Paul, George, and Ringo instead Justin, JC, Joey, Chris and Lance (I had to google N*SYNC to remember their names). The highlight of my short life was Paul McCartney in concert twice. I’m not someone to “fangirl” but those days I fangirled hard. The music of The Beatles has gotten me through everything. Their songs have brought me more joy, peace, and comfort. I can listen to them in any situation and find what I need. Here are the best lyrics from The Beatles for every and any occasion.

Keep Reading...Show less
Being Invisible The Best Super Power

The best superpower ever? Being invisible of course. Imagine just being able to go from seen to unseen on a dime. Who wouldn't want to have the opportunity to be invisible? Superman and Batman have nothing on being invisible with their superhero abilities. Here are some things that you could do while being invisible, because being invisible can benefit your social life too.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

19 Lessons I'll Never Forget from Growing Up In a Small Town

There have been many lessons learned.

70841
houses under green sky
Photo by Alev Takil on Unsplash

Small towns certainly have their pros and cons. Many people who grow up in small towns find themselves counting the days until they get to escape their roots and plant new ones in bigger, "better" places. And that's fine. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought those same thoughts before too. We all have, but they say it's important to remember where you came from. When I think about where I come from, I can't help having an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for my roots. Being from a small town has taught me so many important lessons that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

Keep Reading...Show less
​a woman sitting at a table having a coffee
nappy.co

I can't say "thank you" enough to express how grateful I am for you coming into my life. You have made such a huge impact on my life. I would not be the person I am today without you and I know that you will keep inspiring me to become an even better version of myself.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

132442
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments