Issue 3: Music

MUSIC

We hear you.

Selective ListeningBy : Sarah Harwell

More often than not, I won’t know the song on the radio. More often than not, I do not know a song with lyrics that oppress women, lament a materialistic society, or are unnecessarily violent. I always called this selective listening, a vow I made to myself about a year and a half ago when I realized, how could I call myself a feminist when I listen to music that refers to women as “bitches”? Or why would I listen to music that supports an already extremely successful artist, when I could be listening to smaller, less popular ones and support them? Or artists that are from marginalized groups?

My mission of inclusion, this goal I keep in mind of supporting those who are like me, who go through the same struggles as I do, is extremely crucial to me and my well-being. To me, music is everything - my taste in music defines who I am, down to the way I dress, the things I do, the way I see the world. Because those well-written words with well timed instrumental are sometimes all I’ll hear during long breaks in between classes, where my only human interaction was with a barista four hours ago. Surrounding my entire environment with music that speaks to who I am is more important, and the time finding this music makes it all worth the while, if it means the only thing I hear for hours on end is coming from and supports someone like me.