Feminist Outrage over Robin Thicke's “Blurred Lines”

Unless you live under a rock, chances are you’ve heard Robin Thicke’s catchy song of the summer, “Blurred Lines.” In it, Thicke and his pal Pharrell sing to woman, crooning “I know you want it” while rapper T.I. promises to “give [her] something big enough to tear [her] ass in two.” Furthermore, the unedited music video showcases dancing nude female models while the men remain fully clothed. Thicke admits to pushing boundaries with the many outlandish stunts seen in the video, and told GQ Magazine that his aim was to “do things everyone is afraid to do, as brash and fearless as possible.” However, for many, the line (blurry or not) was crossed. Not unexpectedly, both the song and the video have garnered a lot of negative attention for the apparent misogynistic views it displays. Back in April, Lisa Huynh labeled it a “rape song” in her blog Feminist in LA. The Daily Beast’s Tricia Romano stated that the song parades a lack of “consent in sexual activity” as a positive thing, making it seem that rape and sexual harassment are acceptable. The unedited video was banned from YouTube, clearly showing their belief that the nudity is neither tasteful nor artistic. From comment threads across the Internet, it is obvious that a high percentage of people feel that “Blurred Lines” degrades women, and that as females, we should take offense to it. Personally, I take issue with the feminists who make me feel that I should think of rape when I hear this song. While the lyrics are blatantly sexual and suggestive, likening women to sex-crazed animals, I never once thought to be offended by it. What does offend me is the notion that I am somehow less of a woman because I can find the humor in a song that is both so fun and ridiculously catchy. The only thing the song makes me feel is an incredible urge to dance. “Blurred Lines” is #2 on iTunes and #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100. Evidently the backlash hasn’t yet damaged Thicke’s appeal to the masses. Regardless of how many women feel degraded by the song, there are enough other people requesting that it continue to get airplay. What do you think? Is “Blurred Lines” just another fun summer jam? Or is it a sexist tune meant to dehumanize women?