As a women’s college, do we have a responsibility to respect women? Do we have a duty to encourage healthy views of female sexuality and women’s worth? To decry those who would promote violence against women, and give voice to those women who need it? Yes, we do. As a women’s college, the first of its kind in America, I might add, we have a responsibility to respect women and to be a good role model for young girls. We have a duty to protect our students from those who think violence against women is edgy, funny or acceptable. It is necessary for us to call out those who disrespect women and glorify sexual violence. And we have failed in this. There was already an excellent article in the Mount Holyoke News about the Mickey Avalon controversy. As a Mount Holyoke student and a feminist, I felt that I had to respond. I don’t claim to represent Mount Holyoke students, and I have no grudge against the Network for picking a performer they felt would attract many fans and make money. I simply think they should have thought their choice through a little bit more.

Mickey Avalon’s music, which is apparently mostly autobiographical, is difficult to listen to. He graphically describes rape and violence against women, and glorifies eating disorders and taking sexual advantage of girls with low self-esteem: “I got flows for hoes with low self esteem; And more for those who swallow protein.” These are real issues which affect real women, and that includes students at this college. It is very hypocritical to go to Blanchard and see flyers for sexual assault and eating disorder support groups, while knowing we have hired this man to perform for our students. This is not acceptable, and I have to wonder why this man was picked when there are so many other choices. I understand that sheltering ourselves from difficult things is not the answer to dealing with them, but this moves beyond just “dealing” with these issues. This is inviting a man to come to our campus and shove serious issues in our faces, in a gloating, proud manner. This is not okay.

Students who are opposed to Mickey Avalon’s performance are not closed-minded, and they are certainly not prudes, as one commenter on the “Students Against Mickey Avalon Performing” Facebook group suggested. Being opposed to something needlessly offensive and violent does not make one a prude, nor does it make one closed-minded. It reflects a sense of pride in oneself and in the community one has chosen to make their own on campus. It reflects wanting to support those who have gone through difficult times. It reflects understanding that, as women, we deal with enough misogyny. We don’t have to invite it here, pay it money, and scream and dance to it.

Related posts:

1. Getting the joke: looking at Avalon’s lyrics objectively
2. On grammar: It’s not violence against women but violence by men
3. A call to action for rape awareness on campus
4. Creating larger awareness of sexual assault at Mount Holyoke
5. Five College sudents use art to promote gender violence awareness