Country music. We're all guilty of humming that recent hit, even if we swear up and down that we don't like country music. If you're relaxing on the beach (or wishing you were), country music can really capture your mood and the lyrics to most country songs are harmless, if not a little bit boring. But a few days ago, when radio surfing, I stumbled across this song...and it sucks.
What is this song?
"It's On You" is a country music song, by artist Matt Gary, in which he describes an evening out at a bar, dancing and drinking with a woman.
Why is it problematic?
Alright, so from the title, you already know that this Matt Gary person is deflecting the blame off himself and onto someone else, so he's not accepting responsibility for his actions. The entire point of this song is that because this woman is dancing with him and "leading him on", he can't be held accountable for anything that happens between them, sexually.
Which lyrics suck the most?
The second half of the chorus sings, "You can blame it on the beat, Or the whiskey in my drink For makin' me feel like I do, But it's on you". In case that wasn't clear enough for you, let me explain; basically, if you're a woman and you're showing the slightest interest in a man, anything that happens is "on you".
Whose fault is it?
It can't be completely the artist's fault, the songwriter's fault or the record company's fault, because the issue runs much deeper than that. Maybe they didn't realize that they were so blatantly promoting rape culture, and maybe they just meant to produce a catchy, lighthearted song. But the same time, though, no one can cite ignorance as a valid excuse in this day and age.
Why should women care?
Sexual assault and rape still isn't always taken as seriously as it should be, and an obvious step towards protecting women and girls is to make them believe that it's never their fault, that they don't owe anyone anything just because they dance with them at a bar.
Why should men care?
Men shouldn't feel like they're not in control of their own actions, or like they can blame all their mistakes on someone else when they should really be the one taking responsibility. Feminism isn't just for women, or anyone who identifies as female.
