Janie's Got A Gun (Aerosmith)
Special Feature: Rape
- The song
"Janie's Got a Gun" is a song performed by hard rock band Aerosmith and written by Steven Tyler and Tom Hamilton. It was released as the second single from Pump in 1989.
The song is about a girl named Janie who takes revenge on her father after being sexually abused; it is one of the few Aerosmith songs to deal with a heavy social issue. Aerosmith vocalist Steven Tyler says that he came up with the title and melody before he knew what direction he wanted the song to take. It had taken nine months to finish the lyrics; after Tyler read a Newsweek article on gunshot victims, he was able to connect the song with the theme of child abuse/incest. The line "He jacked a little bitty baby" was originally "He raped a little bitty baby," but was changed for commercial purposes. In addition, the line "...and put a bullet in his brain" was sometimes changed to "...and left him in the pouring rain" for the radio airplay version.
- The Video
The video, released in 1989, was directed by noted video director and later film director David Fincher. The video was very groundbreaking at the time, featuring gruesome realistic scenes that would later be the basis for many videos of the 1990s. The video made even more explicit the abovementioned references to incest; early in the video, the actor playing the father is shown exiting his daughter's room, and cuts to a shot of the girl crying. The actress playing Janie is Kristin Dattilo of The Chris Isaak Show fame. Dattilo was then 19 years old. Actress Lesley Ann Warren played Janie's mother.
- The Drug
(adapted from www.goaskalice.columbia.edu)
There is a drug called Rohypnol (flunitrazepam), also called "the forget pill", which is a hypnotic sedative that enhances the effects of alcohol: decreased inhibition, sleepiness, and memory loss. However, the drug's medical purpose is quite different; Rohypnol is primarily used as a surgical anesthetic or sleeping pill in about eighty countries, although the United States is not one of them.
Unfortunately, the use of drugs, mostly alcohol, by sex abusers to sedate their "prey" has been practiced for centuries. Rohypnol is potentially a more dangerous addition to their arsenal. Many other drugs, primarily from the same family of drugs as Rohypnol (benzodiazepines), can also be used as "rape drugs." Beware. Rohypnol is a cheap and powerful drug — a white, dime-sized pill that dissolves quickly in alcoholic and other beverages, such as soft drinks. Known as a "date rape drug" in high schools, on college campuses, and in other communities across the country, it's being used (mostly by men, according to recent criminal cases) to secretly sedate and sexually assault women and men. "Roofie" (another street name for Rohypnol) is dropped into drinks at bars and parties, leaving the ones who take it physically weak, and perhaps most troubling of all, without memory of events that transpire after the drug takes effect. Rohypnol creates a bitter taste when dissolved in alcohol. By now, lots of red warning lights should be flashing in your head. For starters, be aware of the color, texture, and taste of your drinks; accepting pre-purchased, open drinks of any kind from strangers and casual acquaintances should be avoided (unfortunately, this may harken back to mom and dad saying, "Don't accept candy from strangers"). Rohypnol's misuse also makes it advisable not to leave drinks unattended, even in familiar surroundings.
- The Facts
(adapted from www.rainn.org)
Sexual assaults against victims age 12 and older are dramatically increasing on a daily basis. Most rape victims still do not report their attack to police. Approximately two-thirds of victims are attacked by a non-stranger (generally an acquaintance or family member); the remaining third are attacked by a stranger.
Sexual assault is an incredibly personal and destructive crime. Its effects on victims and their loved ones can be felt psychologically, emotionally, and physically. They can be brief in duration or last a very long time. It is important to remember that there is no one “normal” reaction to sexual assault. Every individual's response will be different depending on the situation.
Rape Trauma Syndrome is a common reaction to a rape or sexual assault. It is the human reaction to an unnatural or extreme event.
There are three phases to Rape Trauma Syndrome
-
Acute Phase
This phase occurs immediately after the assault and usually lasts a few days to several weeks. In this phase individuals can have many reactions but they typically fall into three categories of reactions:
- Expressed- This is when the survivor is openly emotional. He or she may appear agitated or hysterical, he or she may suffer from crying spells or anxiety attacks.
- Controlled- This is when the survivor appears to be without emotion and acts as if "nothing happened" and "everything is fine." This appearance of calm may be shock.
- Shocked Disbelief- This is when the survivor reacts with a strong sense of disorientation. He or she may have difficulty concentrating, making decisions, or doing everyday tasks. He or she may also have poor recall of the assault.
-
The Outward Adjustment Phase
During this phase the individual resumes what appears to be his or her "normal" life but inside is suffering from considerable turmoil. In this phase there are five primary coping techniques:
- Minimization- Pretends that "everything is fine" or that "it could have been worse."
- Dramatization- Cannot stop talking about the assault and it is what dominates their life and identity.
- Suppression- Refuses to discuss, acts as if it did not happen.
- Explanation- Analyzes what happened- what the individual did, what the rapist was thinking/feeling.
- Flight- Tries to escape the pain (moving, changing jobs, changing appearance, changing relationships, etc.).
There are many symptoms or behaviors that appear during this phase including:
- Continuing anxiety
- Severe mood swings
- Sense of helplessness
- Persistent fear or phobia
- Depression
- Rage
- Difficulty sleeping (nightmares, insomnia, etc.)
- Eating difficulties (nausea, vomiting, compulsive eating, etc.)
- Denial
- Withdrawal from friends, family, activities
- Hypervigilance
- Reluctance to leave house and/or go places that remind the individual of the assault
- Sexual problems
- Difficulty concentrating
- Flashbacks
All of these symptoms and behaviors may make the individual more willing to seek counselling and/or to discuss the assault.
-
The Resolution Phase
During this phase the assault is no longer the central focus of the individual's life. While he or she may recognize that he or she will never forget the assault; the pain and negative outcomes lessen over time. Often the individual will begin to accept the rape as part of his or her life and chooses to move on.
- The Tips
As with any violent crime, there’s nothing a woman can do to guarantee that she will not be a victim of sexual violence. But there are many steps she can take to help reduce your risk of being assaulted.
- Be aware of her surroundings. Knowing where she is and who is around her may help her to find a way to get out of a bad situation.
- Avoid isolated areas. It is more difficult to get help if no one is around.
- Walk with purpose. Even if a woman doesn’t know where she is going, she should act like she does.
- Trust one's instincts. If a situation or location feels unsafe or uncomfortable, it probably isn’t the best place to be.
- Try not to load herself down with packages or bags as this can make a person appear more vulnerable.
- Make sure her cell phone is with her and charged and that she has cab money.
- Avoid being isolated with someone she doesn’t trust or someone she doesn’t know.
- Avoid putting music headphones in both ears so that she can be more aware of her surroundings, especially if she is walking alone.