THE MICROPHONE BY KINLEY

(Calvo, Patricia Anne C.)

I. INTRODUCTION

It takes a lot of strength and bravery for Kinley to share her experience and use
something so terrible and personal to benefits others. Her music video is
unquestionably something that young children in Canada should see in health class
because it tackles the subject of consent and provides such a clear illustration of
what it looks like and doesn’t. I am very moved by her bravery and strength.

II. A BRIEF HISTORY

In 2016, 15 years after being raped in a field on the night of her from party Kinley
penned the song “MICROPHONE” she made the decision to use her work as a
way to vent her emotion after realizing the guilt and hated she had been carrying
around for years.

“MICROPHONE” Is a powerful song that speaks to victims all across the world as
it exposes the terrifying tale that is tragically all too familiar to many Island girls
and woman.

III. DEFINITION OF THE MICROPHONE BY KINLEY DOWLING

Sexual violence is any form of unwanted sexual act or activity perpetrated against
an individual without their consent. It includes behaviors such as rape, sexual
assault, sexual harassment, and sexual abuse. Consent, on the other hand, refers to
giving voluntary and informed agreement to engage in a specific sexual activity. It
is important to note that consent must be enthusiastic, ongoing, and freely given by
all parties involved.

IV. INSERT SOME ISSUES

The song "Microphone" by Kinley Dowling and its accompanying music video
have won praise for raising awareness of sexual assault and its effects on survivors.
It concerns KINLEY's personal sexual assault, which took place at the after-prom
celebration for her high school.

V. TOPIC ABOUT THE MICROPHONE BY KINLEY DOWLING

The song and accompanying music video “Microphone” by Kinley Dowling have
won Praise for Raising awareness of Sexual Assault and the effect has on its
victims. The incident was KINLEY’S personal sexual assault which took place
during the after-prom celebration for her high school.

VI. IMPORTANCE ABOUT THE MICROPHONE

The microphone in the song lies in its role as a tool for empowerment and healing.
Through the act of singing into the microphone, Kinley is able to confront and
express her emotions, anger, and sadness regarding her experience of sexual
assault. The song becomes a cathartic outlet for her, allowing her to confront her
perpetrator and make her voice heard.

Furthermore, the microphone also serves as a metaphorical representation of the

broader issue of sexual violence. It signifies the importance of breaking the silence
and raising awareness about this pervasive problem. By sharing her story through
 the song and its accompanying music video, Kinley aims to spark conversations,
create empathy, and promote education on sexual violence and

consent

VII. THEORY

Dowling's motivation stems from her own experience of being raped 17 years ago.
She initially felt rage and kept silent about it for many years. However, she realizes
that it is important to address the issue and give a voice to other women who have
experienced similar traumas. In an effort to confront her past, Dowling tries to
inform her rapist about her decision to speak out by sending him her song and
video, hoping for an apology.

Dowling's bandmate, Mara Pellerin, praises her for proactively building consent
culture and creating a different kind of justice through her music. Despite
Dowling's fear of performing live, she aims to overcome it by performing at the
East Coast Music Awards.

VIII. FAMOUS PEOPLE (MOTIVATE YOU)

POLITICAL PERSONALITIES /CELEBRETIES/COMPANIES

AnnaLynne McCord- Art imitated life when AnnaLynne McCord’s character

on 90210 was raped. In one scene, McCord says she broke down and sobbed. “My
castmates thought I had done a great job playing the part. They had no idea that I
had actually been sexually assaulted by someone I knew in real life,” she
told Cosmopolitan in an essay. “I'm telling my story now because I think it's time
to talk about the truth. When I was a kid, my candor got me in a lot of trouble, and
I learned to stay quiet, to keep my feelings to myself. But no more. I'm in spiritual
warrior mode.”
 Lena Dunham-shared her story of sexual assault in her book, Not That Kind of
Girl, and received some serious backlash, with reporters trying to find her attacker
and questioning if she regretted being drunk that night, and her “character and
credibility questioned at every turn,” the Girls creator explained in an essay
for BuzzFeed. “Like so many women who have been sexually assaulted, I did not
report the incident to my college or to the police. … I was afraid that no one would
believe me.”

IX. LEGALITY/ies (LEGAL ISSUES)/Law’s

In the United States, for example, sexual harassment is primarily governed by

federal laws, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which applies to
employers with 15 or more employees. Title IX of the Education Amendments of
1972 addresses sexual harassment in educational institutions that receive federal
funding. Additionally, there may be state and local laws that provide further
protections.

Under RA 7877, work, education,or training related sexual harassment is

“committed by an employer, employee, manager, supervisor, agent of the
employer, teacher, instructor, professor, coach, trainor, or any person who,
having authority, influence or moral ascendancy over another in a work or training
or education environment, demands, requests or otherwise requires any sexual
favor from the other, regardless of whether the demand, request or requirement for
submission is accepted or not by the object of said act.”
 X. CONCLUSION

(Topic about you discussed)

Kinley Dowling had a successful career as a vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She

started her musical journey by taking piano and violin lessons as a child and
eventually pursued a viola performance degree at Dalhousie University. After
graduating, she joined the band Hey Rosetta! and toured with them for ten years
before deciding to take a hiatus. During her career, she faced challenges related to
the industry being male dominated, such as assumptions about her role in the band
and encountering gender stereotypes.

Kinley Dowling wrote the song "Microphone" as a way to express her emotions
and address her experience of sexual assault. The song received a positive response
when she shared it with her friends, leading to open conversations about sexual
assault and discovering that several of her friends had also experienced it. The
song and its accompanying music video are now being used in Grade 9 health
classes in Prince Edward Island (PEI) to educate students about sexual violence
and consent. Kinley Dowling is thrilled that her song is being used in this way and
hopes it can contribute to preventing such incidents in the future.
 XI. REFERENCES

https://canadianwomen.org/blog/kinley-dowling-takes-the-microphone/

https://pcw.gov.ph/faq-republic-act-7877-anti-sexual-harassment-act-of-1995/

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/music/article-pei-musician-kinley-is-
building-consent-culture-with-new-song/

https://www.everydayhealth.com/emotional-health/celebs-whove-spoken-up-
about-sexual-assault-lady-gaga-alyssa-milano-more
 THE MICROPHONE

BY: KINLEY DOWLING

Submitted by:

Calvo,Patricia Anne C.

Submitted to:

Maria Jhanea De Roxas

Instructor