Chrissie Hynde tells women "don't get bit in the hind quarters"

I'm going to wade into the debate about what can be
said on the subject of rape. I know that it's likely going
to be misinterpreted by somebody, but it's worth the effort.

I think that Hynde's words (see below) were represented
clearly, and appear to blame women, but if I may, I'd
like to reinterpret them here, because I think her
intention, as someone who was herself a rape victim,
are somewhat clear to me.
The words of a rape victim should have been
dealt with with some respect, and not only because
a famous person can shine new light on the issue
and give courage to other victims.

I think that the representatives of "women's groups"
that were trotted out to crap on Hynde should not
have gone for the jugular. They should have engaged
Hynde in a discussion, as a past victim.

So, I'll try to interpret her words, and then try
to make a link between the "event" and her music.

I was a Pretenders fan from my pre-teen years, but
this revelation about rape has given greater
poignancy to her work. It is interesting that
famous people's grief often sneaks into their
art smudges.

[Chrissie Ramone]

So, let's set the scene. Most musicians can
easily put on a sneer to scare fans and enemies
alike. For most, it's just a pose designed to
evoke an image. However, I always thought
that Hynde's look was scarier because it
seemed to show real emotion. She had a mean
look, as a young adult.

[ok. she wears the trousers here]

As the story goes, Hynde thought she was tough
enough, as a younger gal, to hang out with biker
gangs, in her home town. She found out the hard
way that bikers don't play by the rules. If they
can trick you and get you alone, they'll rape you.
And that's what happened to her.

Imagine a young Chrissie thinking she was
tuff enuff to hang with the bad boys. She's
not the first young woman, or man for that matter
who has cast the dice of their lives in the same
way, as a reaction to some grudge with their
parents, or society. Of course, it can bite you
in the butt. Going outside the law means you're
without protection.

So, she has to carry that baggage with her
for the rest of her life. She's prolly still beating
herself up for being so stupid.
It's was an assault,
but much worse than a broken bone. This type of
assault cannot be set straight. But, most people
have to summon
up great courage to get past disasters, and
that courage can result in greatness. I think she gave
it a good shot.

However, when Chrissie waded into the rape issue
I think she was exposing her own internal dialogue
about that event, and I don't think she was checking
to see if it made sense. I think she was externalising
her conflicting emotions about an act which cost her
dearly. This doesn't always allow for logical
argumentation. It's speaking from the heart, from pain.

So, when she said something like:

if you hang out with gangsters,

you're gonna get got,

that was not to criminalise young women 

for hanging out with bikers, etc. She was just

warning women not to hang out with bikers.

end of.

Her other comments were something like

your clothing or behaviour 

could make you a target.

So, this stuff was pounced on mercilessly

because society is at the "slut-walk" stage

where women are absolving themselves

of blame for rape.That is good, but I don't

think the "slut walkers" are in the main

past victims of rape. I hope that they're 

not future victims either.

When Hynde talks about "fault" for rape,
she doesn't mean who's legally responsible.
It's more like "who fucked up first?"
"whose mistake got the ball rolling?"

What I think Hynde was trying to put across,
in her own pained way, was that women
have to watch out for themselves and
one another. She was saying "the world is
not a wonderful garden of eden," except for
the snakes. They're ever-present. So, I think
her point is

"don't make yourself a 

victim-in-waiting"

I think she would have been happy if at
least one women/girl takes that advice
and avoids being victimised.  

In other words, the idea is 

this is not rape theory.

It's anti-rape self-awareness

and self-protection.

If it happens, then it's 

too late.

The only argument that the women's

groups have is that most rape is done

by people who the victims know, even

family. That does not take away from Hynde's

warnings.

Let's move on to her music for a moment.

I had recently been impressed by an 

old video for a song "Talk of the Town."

I had liked the song as a kid, even though

I hated any emotive music, and most 

mid-tempo songs. My fav song of the 

Pretenders was "Precious"

and then "Message of Love."

At bit mature for a pre-teen, but anyway.
They sounded great on vinyl.

But I did like the "Talk" song. Even with its
sour notes in the chorus. Not sure if I'd seen the

video then, as it was before MTV, me thinks.

Anyway, if you look at the halting 

nature of the breaks in the song. If

you look into her eyes when the 

camera shows them, you get a sense

that some story is being told by 

this woman. And even her voice
is not your regular crooning.

So, when I read the recent stories

that I've recounted here, I put two

and two together tentatively and 

thought, maybe that song is about

what the town thought of her, 

after she was "done to". 

LYRICS

"I made a wish and said it out loud,
out loud in a crowd"
"you've changed your place in this world"
"oh but it's hard to live by the rules.
I never could, and still never do"
"the rules and such never bothered you.
you called the shots and they follow"

These lines could all be about her "experience."
She could have been trying to exorcise the
demon who attacked her.

So, you decide. Here's the news story

Checkit: Press Association

Chrissie Hynde criticised over rape remarks

Pretenders singer condemned after saying it can be a woman’s fault if she is raped, and blamed herself for performing sexual acts under threat of violence

Chrissie Hynde: ‘If I’m walking around in my underwear and I’m drunk? Who else’s fault can it be?’
Sunday 30 August 2015 10.53 BST
Last modified on Monday 31 August 2015 00.20 BST


Singer Chrissie Hynde has been criticised for saying it can be a woman’s fault if she is raped.

The Pretenders star, 63, said she blamed herself for being forced to perform sexual acts under the threat of violence.

She told the Sunday Times magazine that when she was 21 an Ohio motorcycle gang member promised to take her to a party but instead took her to an empty house, yet she claimed to take “full responsibility” for what happened. [i.e. the rape-Cos67]

She said: “Technically speaking, however you want to look at it, this was all my doing and I take full responsibility. You can’t f*** about with people, especially people who wear ‘I Heart Rape’ and ‘On Your Knees’ badges ... those motorcycle gangs, that’s what they do.

“You can’t paint yourself into a corner and then say whose brush is this? You have to take responsibility. I mean, I was naive.”

When asked whether the gang took advantage of her vulnerability, she replied: “If you play with fire you get burnt. It’s not any secret, is it?”

Hynde went on to say that women who dress provocatively while walking down the street drunk were also to blame if they were attacked. “If I’m walking around in my underwear and I’m drunk? Who else’s fault can it be?” she said.

“If I’m walking around and I’m very modestly dressed and I’m keeping to myself and someone attacks me, then I’d say that’s his fault. But if I’m being very lairy and putting it about and being provocative, then you are enticing someone who’s already unhinged – don’t do that. Come on! That’s just common sense. You know, if you don’t want to entice a rapist, don’t wear high heels so you can’t run from him.


“If you’re wearing something that says ‘Come and f*** me’, you’d better be good on your feet ... I don’t think I’m saying anything controversial am I?”

Ths singer’s comments were condemned by the head of the charity Victim Support, who said victims should not blame themselves.

Lucy Hastings, the charity’s director, said: “Victims of sexual violence should never feel or be made to feel that they were responsible for the appalling crime they suffered – regardless of circumstances or factors which may have made them particularly vulnerable.

“They should not blame themselves or be blamed for failing to prevent an attack – often they will have been targeted by predatory offenders who are responsible for their actions.[so why not take precautions?- Cos67]

“It is critical that nothing deters victims of sexual violence from coming forward to the police or to independent organisations so they can get the help and support they need.”[only after the deed has been done-Cos67]