"That's Alright"

Love The Way You Lie is a duet by Eminem and Rihanna. Teenagers around the world listen to this song, oblivious to the dominant ideology it suggests. As far as I know this song hasn't caused any controversy among the people of this country. It has only been viewed as a popular song with catchy beat/tune, by two popular artists. This song sends the message to the public that it's "okay" to abuse women. Whether it's conscious or not, there is the ideology that it's inevitable that women will be abducted, beaten, and raped. Society teaches girls today not to dress a certain way or present themselves in a certain way, to avoid these things. How often do we teach men NOT to abuse women? Have you ever seen this topic addressed to men?

In this song it starts out with a male describing that his relationship was going great until he saw another man talk to his girlfriend, and he "didn't know his own strength," and he beat her. Then she sings the chorus again exclaiming that its "alright because she likes the way it burns." Later in the song the male explains that he would chain her to the bed and set the house on fire is she tries to stand up for herself and leave the abuser again.

There are seminars teaching women how to protect themselves against rapists and abusers all over the country all the time. My best friend's mom attended one. They make self defense key chains, pepper spray, and much more to help women fight their battles against men who are ready to attack at any moment. While these things are helpful and it is obvious whoever is creating them is trying to help, they are just helping support this awful ideology that we have in our country. In this song the chorus supports exactly what i am claiming. The male role of the song beats the female during a fight. The females response is the chorus," Just gonna stand there and watch me burn? That's alright because i like the way it hurts. Just gonna stand there and hear me cry? That's alright because i love the way you lie. I love the way you lie." Those words, "that's alright," are supporting this ideology that it is "okay" or "accepted" that men are going to abuse women no matter what and we have to deal with it and learn to protect ourselves. By the end on the song the female tries to leave and the male begs her to return. She comes back and he admits that his apology was a lie, that there will be a next time that he'll get angry and beat her, and if she tries to leave again, he'll "chain her to the bed and set the house on fire," killing her. Again she responds with,"Just gonna stand there and watch me burn? That's alright because i like the way it hurts. Just gonna stand there and hear me cry? That's alright because i love the way you lie. I love the way you lie." We are taught by our parents, teachers, and leaders that it is wrong that men beat women. Do they teach the boys not to grow up to be abusive? Media teaches boys and girls that when it comes to abuse," that's alright." Is there really any difference between the two?

ww.youtube.com/watch?v=uelHwf8o7_U&ob=av3e