M(h)aol rebuke male violence against women on ‘Asking For It’ with all proceeds to Women’s Aid Ireland.

The kidnapping and murder of Sarah Everard by a police officer in the UK last week sparked discussion about male violence against women. It’s not a woman’s problem but a male one and a lot of discourse elevated the ever-present feeling that all women have of being attacked by men when walking home or alone.

There’s a reason female friends and family text each other when they get home safe, put their keys between their fingers for protection and cross the street to avoid strangers.

Last year, Pillow Queens addressed those actions with ‘HowDoILook’ and today the Irish intersectional feminist post-punk band M(h)aol have released ‘Asking For It’ – a song that was originally planned for the release in May, but with the events of the last week was brought forward.

How much did you drink?
And what did you do?
Did you feel afraid when
It was him and you?

The song is a visceral riposte to the idea that it’s the woman’s fault, the victim’s fault when a man hurts them. Listen here:

All proceeds for ‘Asking For It’ go to Women’s Aid Ireland.

M(h)aol are based in Dublin, London, and Bristol and are Róisín Nic Ghearailt, Constance Keane, Jamie Hyland, Zoe Greenway, and Sean Nolan.

Listen/Buy on Bandcamp

Lyrics

You say it’s changed your life
Well it’s changed mine too
Life feeling safe at night
And not being in the news
I was asking for it
Was I asking for it?

See Also

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How much did you drink?
And what did you do?
Did you feel afraid when
It was him and you?
Were you asking for it?
Was I asking for it?

I’ve heard what they say
About girls like me
I’m just the dumb bitch
That left the party with you
Was I asking for it?
Did I ask for it?
Was I asking for it?
Did I ask for it?

NO

When I screamed in the night
I wasn’t screaming for you
I was afraid of the things
That you’d do
I was asking for it
Was I asking for it
Did I ask for this

Oh you learned your lesson
Well I’ve learned mine too
My whole life won’t be
Defined by you
I was asking for it
Was I asking for it
I never asked for it
You never asked me for it
I never asked for it
And we both know the truth
The world love people
Who look like you

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