The Year of "No More": Lady Gaga, Kesha, and Sexual Assault Prevention

By Peyton Carper on March 5, 2016
Lady Gaga oscars

image via Getty Images

We all know that the main focus of this year’s Oscars was Leonardo DiCaprio’s triumphant acceptance of the award for Best Actor; the internet exploded into jubilation within minutes of the announcement. But less than an hour preceding the long-awaited presentation was a performance far less cheerful in nature but one ever more important and heartbreakingly beautiful.

Lady Gaga, whose song “Till It Happens to You” was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song for its presence in the 2015 documentary The Hunting Ground, performed her song alongside several dozen survivors of sexual assault at the Oscars this year. The singer was briefly introduced by Vice President Joe Biden, who spoke out against sexual assault and victim blaming, and implored us to sign a pledge to intervene if we witness sexual violence. (You can sign this pledge here.)

Gaga’s performance of this song and her openness about her own experience with rape is profoundly important. As a significant figure in entertainment, Gaga’s exposure of her experience has the power to change how society reacts to sexual assault and treats victims of sexual crimes.

Kesha’s court battles against her producer, who she claims sexually assaulted her, have had the same effect. Regardless of whether or not Dr. Luke is guilty of the crimes she has accused him of, her transparency regarding the alleged events shows courage and visibility about her experience.

What’s most important about these testimonies is that they’re just now taking place. Lady Gaga’s assault took place when she was just 19 years old, and Kesha’s claims date back several years. Gaga’s extended family didn’t even know about her attack until her performance at the Oscars and the subsequent posts on social media that she made afterward.

Gaga’s attack took place on a college campus. She was the same age as you and I, but her attack was not exposed until so many years later, because she blamed herself for what had happened to her.

This is unacceptable. We live in a culture that stifles claims of sexual violence and blames the victims of these unspeakable acts. This is not a culture we can continue to live in. As college students, we must speak out against sexual violence and intervene when we believe sexual violence may take place. We must create safe places for victims of sexual violence to tell their stories and take action against their attackers.

 

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