Earlier
this week on Monday’s airing of the “Today” show, American-singer Lady Gaga publically
announced she suffers from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, commonly known as PTSD.
Her announcement was made while visiting LBGT youth in Harlem for her campaign
#ShareKindness. The admission comes nearly two years after she revealed she had
been raped at age 19. She states that her own experience to trauma has made her
more empathetic to the trauma of others. While searching for ways to heal from
the aftermath, she found kindness to be the best remedy. Due to the kindness
she received, Gaga wishes to share and promote kindness to others, including fellow trauma victims.
Within this current event gender and
sexuality play dual roles by representing an individual’s intersectionality and their privilege/ oppression in society. Gaga’s status as female in society puts her among other
women who are subjected to male patriarchy through forms of violence such as
rape- a crime notoriously known for being committed by dominantly portrayed
males who want control and who ultimately victimize and oppress women. Somewhat
similarly, the LBGT youth in Harlem are oppressed in society and are victimized
through physical and emotional abuse because they don’t follow the privileged
and traditional gender/ sexual identities. When compared to similar pop culture
current events, Gaga’s story loosely follows that of other celebrities who
suffer from mental health problems, such as Selena Gomez and Kayne West. And
while the mental health issues faced by Gomez and West aren’t crucially defined
by gender or sexuality, they can be seen in across all of the multiple identify
categories. Based on our class discussion, her story connects to our class
discussions by showing the objectification and oppression women and LBGT groups
face in society. When women, like Gaga, are victims of rape they are being seen
as objects not human beings− Objects with a specific purpose in mind.
Oppression, as we discussed in class, results many times from going against
traditional identities and norms. LBGT groups are a prime example of those who
face oppression and suffer consequences. They too are stuck in a world whose
eyes are clouded by traditional male patriarchy and intersectionality. Lady
Gaga is certainly not the first nor the last celebrities that will contribute
mental health awareness across the pop culture platform. But as she does, she
is helping pave the pathway towards a world where kindness welcomes all forms
of gender and sexuality.
Below
are links to articles on Gaga’s PTSD Revealation:
http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/Lady-Gaga-Talks-PTSD-I-Suffer-From-a-Mental-Illness-404787106.html?_osource=SocialFlowFB_PHBrand
Within this current event gender and
sexuality play the role of representing an individual’s intersectionality and their
oppression in society. Gaga’s status as female in society puts her among other
women who are subjected to male patriarchy through forms of violence such as
rape- a crime notoriously known for being committed by dominantly portrayed
males who want control and who ultimately victimize and oppress women. Somewhat
similarly, the LBGT youth in Harlem are oppressed in society and are victimized
through physical and emotional abuse because they don’t follow the privileged
and traditional gender/ sexual identities. When compared to similar pop culture
current events, Gaga’s story loosely follows that of other celebrities who
suffer from mental health problems, such as Selena Gomez and Kayne West. And
while the mental health issues faced by Gomez and West aren’t crucially defined
by gender or sexuality, they can be seen in across all of the multiple identify
categories. Based on our class discussion, her story connects to our class
discussions by showing the objectification and oppression women and LBGT groups
face in society. When women, like Gaga, are victims of rape they are being seen
as objects not human beings− Objects with a specific purpose in mind.
Oppression, as we discussed in class, results many times from going against
traditional identities and norms. LBGT groups are a prime example of those who
face oppression and suffer consequences. They too are stuck in a world whose
eyes are clouded by traditional male patriarchy and intersectionality. Lady
Gaga is certainly not the first nor the last celebrities that will contribute
mental health awareness across the pop culture platform. But as she does, she
is helping pave the pathway towards a world where kindness welcomes all forms
of gender and sexuality.
Below
are links to articles on Gaga’s PTSD Revealation:
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