Blythe Baird - The Aesthetic of Rape Culture

Get Blythe’s new book, SWEET, YOUNG, & WORRIED: bit.ly/sweetyoungworried
Check out all of Blythe’s books: bit.ly/BlytheBaird
Become a Member for exclusive perks and videos: bit.ly/ButtonMember
Blythe Baird, performing at Park Square Theater in Saint Paul, MN.
Volunteers needed! Help choose videos for Button: bit.ly/ButtonCurator
About Button:
Button Poetry is committed to developing a coherent and effective system of production, distribution, promotion and fundraising for spoken word and performance poetry.
We seek to showcase the power and diversity of voices in our community. By encouraging and broadcasting the best and brightest performance poets of today, we hope to broaden poetry's audience, to expand its reach and develop a greater level of cultural appreciation for the art form.

[@loganpattyson7617]

“...what a privilege it is to be annoyed instead of afraid”

[@randomcomment7675]

Logan Pattyson getting called out by the annoyed for being afraid

[@LakechB]

Indeed it is a privilege!

[@user-we4kf5xm5u]

No we scared bois

[@akramt5560]

Privilege like katy perry or cardi b or amber heard

[@PipByMac]

"I can repeat things." No one cares.

[@singularmile]

"Because that boy believes his loneliness is your responsibility"

[@bakatako-san3299]

GASLIGHTING ALERT

[@ev_rahim1890]

Frogs DO make great friends

[@4amcuriosity162]

that boy calls you everything but your name

[@drkim4077]

“What a PRIVILEGE it is to be annoyed instead of afraid.” Yeah, that one hit too close to home.

[@rubymack5782]

thats the best lineee

[@Hannah-ve9vh]

You tell yourself that you didn't like lipstick that much anyway. Now THAT ONE hurt. That one hit a different part of me.

[@ihatemickiegee]

Hannah Graham me too. can’t even explain

[@malinasworld]

Same here.

[@PipByMac]

Guessing it was the thing everybody hits because you can keep your knees together

[@Prettyfunnycoolnhot]

This lady is such a good poet

[@satanicneptune6633]

poet?

[@Prettyfunnycoolnhot]

@@satanicneptune6633 yes

[@satanicneptune6633]

@@Prettyfunnycoolnhot i agree. love this girl.

[@satanicneptune6633]

@Corby Dinsburger shhhhhh. it's an opinion. it's not hurting anyone.

[@kamaraostos1765]

@@satanicneptune6633 Tru dat

[@ntombi-yensimbinarrates7297]

"What a privilege it is to be annoyed instead of being afraid" crush my heart into a million ice crystals

[@imaknits]

I hate that I understand and feel this poem so well

[@bqwadseertg]

Just one line in and I love this poem. Edit: the last line hits like a brick wall "What a privilege it is to be annoyed instead of afraid" feels like it brings back memories I wish I didn't have.

[@littleclover2289]

When they get annoyed because you jump at even expected noises. When you cringe away from a movement that was just a little too fast. Barely make it to the toilet after smelling that one scent Using up all the hot water because someone accidentally touched you the same way. Eyes watering because their voice gets just a little too loud or just that tone..yeah you know the "tone" Fighting the urge to self-harm because they said it wasn't abuse...it wasn't sexual...it was all in your head. The looks of disbelief when you say your abuser was your mother.. their response is "Oh but you're a girl". But it's your mother!!! You can't cut off your mother. Be a good southern girl and just say sorry for being such a problem she didn't have to raise you. Suck it up!! You have no reason to be crying, you need to be grateful she even had you. It doesn't matter that you claim she dumped boiling water on you, she's a good woman..an outstanding member of the community...why should we believe you when you're obviously mentally unstable. They laugh because a woman can't be a rapist. A sweet nurse who takes care of people couldn't abuse her "problem child" it's just discipline. So you walk softer, curl into yourself so that you look smaller, your hands shake at the smallest sign of confrontation as your brain screams to be ready for the pain that hasn't come in years. The pain you should be past now..the pain that still wakes you up screaming at night begging for forgiveness for being a problem child with empty promises to do better, to be quieter, to be smaller, to sit still longer, to shrink and shrink until you are no longer that problematic autistic child until you are nothing but faded background noise.

[@xEEEa7iu231]

This is so severe. I hope youre getting better. No human being deserves to experience that, let alone having it blamed on them.

[@beverlymendonca7597]

I'm so sorry.. if you ever wanna talk, you can count on me:)

[@finngilbert972]

I’m so sorry that happened to you. You matter. And you are not alone. 💛

[@Goofy_friend]

I am so sorry. But here's some new advice. Do you.

[@Fckscotus]

Holy. Shit. Ow

[@MelMelx365]

I didn't know people still did Netflix and chill.That boy belongs in jail or worse, rape culture is more serious than people care to admit,important subject matter and thank you for being brave enough to share this awesome and thought provoking poem.

[@jensenkansas567]

Oh I thought Netflix and chill is a mutual thing? Don't people know its underlying meaning? Im sorry im not from the west

[@Ray-hk1zm]

@@jensenkansas567 I always figured it was sort of implied, but I think some people think "Hey come over let's watch Netflix" = immediate entitlement to whatever you want.

[@MelMelx365]

@@jensenkansas567 they do

[@MelMelx365]

@@Ray-hk1zm the still do think that but what I meant is the slang. People have different for it now. I don't think it's called "Netflix and chill" by people in the know. It's called something else now

[@Ray-hk1zm]

@@MelMelx365 Ohhh yeah I get that.

[@edenkindall2952]

i wrote a poem in my english class called "innocent until proven rapist" cuz stuff like this and feminism is important and a big thing in my life but my *female* teacher was super weird abt it :((

[@shivangibali4291]

love the title.

[@graceelizabeth130]

That sounds like an amazing poem. I’m sorry the teacher was weird about it.

[@akshitgupta6478]

@@shivangibali4291 me too.

[@oliviaboyette2637]

I hope you get the chance to share your poem with people who will understand and appreciate it

[@loveisasleep8609]

I would love to hear the poem!!

[@JosieMWilkins]

Blythe has the best and most hard-hitting poems. 10/10

[@PipByMac]

What poem? All I heard was somebody whining at a captive audience about the bad decisions she makes.

[@melissabruton7219]

“why do you get to call it a mistake instead of a rape”

[@onessisgarza9035]

“That boy would never call himself a rapist, he thinks those are strong words, he likes to think of himself as ambitious”

[@alyssanering7454]

0:29 this is actually me I wouldn’t be able to speak straight like actually I make weird noises like “blehHH”

[@MassaCreatures1031]

Are you actually judging her little mistake?

[@alyssanering7454]

Katie Rose no i thought it was relatable I would never judge it because that’d be like judging myself🤣 I swear you guys take everything the wrong way

[@Ray-hk1zm]

I do that, too, and it's the actual worst.

[@annag8299]

I thought the little blehHH was totally adorable!! Also very relatable because I do that wayyy to much 😂. Definitely not judging.

[@crm1301]

she's the cutest! fgdhsjk

[@a.anfaani2471]

That boy asked me out to dinner and said he didn't want his wife to wear lipstick. He called for a second date and got told off.

[@gmc5618]

Good, you deserve better

[@wiredayan9719]

This is so real... just remembered my highschool boyfriend, ten years later and i still have very bad trust issues

[@purpledenied]

"What a *privilege* it is, to be *annoyed* instead of *afraid*." This just about made me break down due to how much I can relate to it. . .

[@livcarter4775]

The pain and emotion in her voice is uncanny, poets like these make me want to pursue my passion of poetry even more.

[@Goofy_friend]

I can't write poetry to save my life:) But you go ahead! The world needs good poets.

[@aimeemcdonald701]

“That boy presses your voice like a crushed tulip between the pages of his temper” 😢

[@dreski83]

"What a privilege it is to be annoyed instead of affraid" 👏👏👏

[@necrosisofthemind]

didn’t blythe do the when the fat girl gets skinny? her words always captivate me

[@rurugby]

Her book is fantastic.

[@Greenrock12345]

@@rurugby She has a book? I was about to leave a comment asking if she did, thank you!

[@piyalirb1247]

I sense the calm rage, slowly simmering and getting stronger ❤❤👏👏

[@fynn4164]

Simmer really is a good song by Hayley Williams ;D

[@kanikagupta3401]

"what a privilege it is to be annoyed instead of afraid” My whole life flashed in front of my eyes with one sentence

[@Life.sweetner]

please notice how she keeps saying "boy". .... because no man will ever do this to you .....

[@ButtonPoetry]

Great catch! Dead on too...

[@MegaNerdification]

This dialogue is harmful. Men also rape. Young and old. Saying men don’t rape is invalidating.

[@mars-gt1uy]

@@MegaNerdification I think they mean that a rapist is no real man, no matter the age

[@pechedebeaute8171]

@@MegaNerdification no there trying to say , a MAN is mature and knows right from wrong and would never do that to a women it doesn’t matter how hold you are you can be be a 50 year old who rapes someone .... that dosent make you a man that makes you a immature lonely sad sack BOY.

[@xo6574]

Blythe inspires me so much! She’s well spoken and beautiful 🥰

[@daisyee9294]

I thought of only one person during this.

[@mightbeavampire]

same

[@rollinginthedeep6900]

I love Blythe's poetry and have missed hearing from her. This is amazing. Will surely have a found place in my heart decades from now, much like her other poetry.

[@samanthaclay9540]

wait i didn’t know why there was no likes then i realized it was posted not that long ago lmao

[@mariahskelly3826]

I love Blythe’s poems ❤️

[@MsPokemongirl101]

this was published on my birthday and it makes me sad because i know what its like to be a toy to the rape culture, my first time i remember saying i wanted to save myself and you know what he said? "are you bleeding?" "no" "then you have nothing to worry about". I feel someone touching me, when no one is there. I hear someone talking, when no one is. I feel eyes staring at me, when no one is looking. Im afraid to be alone but when the person you goto for help takes it as you making advances, you get scared to be around people. You try to trust but people give you a reason not too. When you date a guy and you tell him your past but he gets mad when you say not to touch you in an inappropriate way, takes it as you dont want them to touch you at all when in reality, you want to be held, told that you are safe and away from the bad of the world even when you know you arent, when you know the bad in this world has followed you in the most intimate times of your life, you just dont want anything sexual because it brings back memories. and when you tell them your triggers they make fun of you and say "Well thats not my fault" or "Why cant you give me a chance" only to prove to you that some of your triggers are their fault and prove to you why you cant give them a chance even when you dont.

[@Goofy_friend]

You stay strong. Stick to what you want.

[@melaniestowe6526]

You are strong! Keep your head held high

[@cbryce9243]

Articulated incredibly well. Wow. Amazing! Thank you!

[@vixen1173]

Just got Blythe's book. did not regret it!!

[@leaf111]

this one should be on her spotify!!

[@aslprobro]

damn...she did that. I got chills.

[@kaylabrunton7860]

Your my literal hero Blythe 🖤 Never stop writing I Stg

[@ihavenolife2453]

“that boy leaves hand shaped bruises to bloom like bell flowers up your thighs”

[@rossdabbagh3396]

I cried watching this. I love you❤️🥺😭

[@shivangibali4291]

fuckboy told me lipsticks are for occasions. now i wear them all the time. i am my own occasion.

[@tortoiseshellthecat3262]

The final line made me cry.

[@papyfromundertale8800]

She messed up and still her voice is beautiful and her message is still powerful.

[@rainey1475]

So powerful xx

[@mareeault6860]

A poem by Blythe, the perfect 21st birthday present ❤

[@Goofy_friend]

Happy late b-day!!

[@jakeryan2651]

yasssss its back!!!

[@xxshelbybear]

Damn I relate to this so much. Thank u

[@Karissaaaaa0924]

I love her sm. She is a literary genius.

[@Lil_baba_]

When I see her. I already know that she’s about to bring the HEAT!!. Love her work

[@hannahelliegrace4858]

That last line got me

[@AshlandB]

"That boy calls you everything but your name, that boy doesn't give a fuck about the best part of your day"

[@icantsaveus8506]

WHY DOES KZbin KEEP CHANGING THE WAY THE COMMENTS LOOK ALSO I love this

[@kenzie9501]

God, this is amazing. It's sad how true this all is though and it's just ignored and socially acceptable for shitty people to do shitty things because hey, it's "normal".

[@daijannaalston1697]

Last line spoke volume

[@gordonramsayslambsauce]

This really hits my genophobia deep

[@pratikgupta5509]

Rips through the heart💔

[@nkthx1462]

i love blythe so much

[@Esther22755]

This is literally everything

[@introvertgirl1676]

She's really good. Good at both the words and performance

[@Saturn-ro8ej]

Blythe is so amazing

[@rurugby]

The book is absolutely fantastic too.

[@mymessynotebook2207]

This woman is fricking amazing.

[@sachasimmons5944]

Only subscribed for Blythe x

[@fairycars]

YES ANOTHER BLYTHE POEM YAYAYAYYAYA!!!! 💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖

[@jumpingturnip]

1:35-1:54 hit so hard I don't even know how to cope with it. Rape culture is disgusting. honestly..

[@brianajackson8374]

I love her voice

[@ravenclawgirl5769]

I love that I can hear parts of my favourite slam from her again. But I loved "Fuckboy" more than this. I love the rage and the emotions she had shown when she performed "Fuckboy" way more than her calm way of speaking here. "Fuckboy" felt so real. And the ending was so strong: "Fuckboy says lipstick should be reserved for special occasions, so now I wear it all the time. I am my own special occasion!"

[@agremlinnamedashton4630]

once a cop came to my school and taught us about our rights. A boy shouted that the statude of limitations for rape was "bullshit". same teen was mortified when he learned deleted messages can still be accessed. the teachers say "oh I don't think he would ever do anything like that"

[@LakechB]

The relationship b/n that boy and rape culture. ....... well said Blythe Baird. Thanks you so much

[@lindseyforeman1734]

How could anyone give this a dislike??

[@meruemisrarealight7026]

this is beautiful

[@rollinginthedeep6900]

Replaying poems like this everyday until men finally understand why these seemingly tiny things are not okay, how they all build up to something so much bigger, death by a million tiny cuts again and again. The number of women I know personally who have been raped, molested, or sexuallt abused by men (and some women) is too fucking high. One is too high. 7, 8, 9, everyone has a story...and that's not even counting their moms and sisters, and the people who can't stand to be women anymore because of the implications of what that could mean. It's too fucking high.

[@thatoneblackiddd7571]

It's not just men women can do shit like this to rape can happen to anyone

[@Goofy_friend]

She said that

[@chloeblankenship2713]

I fucking love Blythe! 👏🏾👏🏾

[@mirandayakel5523]

The 51 dislikes are probably the boys that do this🤷🏻‍♀️

[@Goofy_friend]

Oof 71 boys watch this!!! This must be like a slap in the face:)

[@teekay0]

Blythe is an actual angel

[@thee_OFFline_Jawn]

Damn. ✨

[@ev_rahim1890]

I wanna know why people disliked this

[@GlamandCrime]

It's bro code, baby

[@Goofy_friend]

They "Have" to stand up for other boys. UGHHHHHHH!!!!! I wish I could take off all the dislikes:(

[@leahwilton785]

I feel like I've heard this poem before but like... changed? Anybody else?

[@ezraleite7260]

yes, this poem used to be called “fuckboys” but she decided to change “fuckboy” to “that boy” and change a few other words around. it’s a shame, because you could feel so much more emotion in the earlier version. she sounded angrier in the old video. this one is calmer.

[@Anna-dw9rt]

Ezra Leite it’s because there were issues behind the origin of the word “fuckboy”

[@scarlettalice8764]

I really liked when it was called fuckboy, there was a lot more anger then. But this version hits just as hard I think, just differently

[@sirrismendozasunlessrealms5775]

@@scarlettalice8764 there is something stronger than anger, it´s when, instead of having eyes burning, you have empty sockets.

[@a.anfaani2471]

Ezra Leite I hear the anger. Sometimes less is more.

[@kaitlynjohnson274]

Love her ❤

[@frequentblondie]

THE SNAPPING

[@lauraqueiroz5226]

I love her

[@toby-wx2bh]

🖤

[@hhholly]

😢

[@tihylerg]

And I will never be that boy, But I was used by that boy.

[@chrisftp1312]

👏

[@cintiqlover]

Oh that is.. oof my ex made that "mistake"... called it a mistake, said I was overreacting a bit.. oh fuck

[@maleaherwin]

@hunter

[@ellahealey916]

“That boy doesn’t care about the best part of your day”

[@kenya88831]

I love the open discussion. I also share my rape and incest stories on my page. I hope that you guys check it out. I hope to open up the conversation. ❤

[@ma-scorpion]

♥️💥💥💯

[@littlellama7753]

Dat Boi

[@littlellama7753]

I'm sorry

[@wateryjar8417]

oof.

[@mereiam]

Should have blocked that boy, kicked that boy in the dick. That boy would have sent me $50 to get nothing back

[@zigoto]

Holy cow! I (cis hetero white man) was feeling annoyed the whole poem and I was feeling there was something unfair in there, in me feeling annoyed, but I couldn't explain it (because I think of myself as a true feminist; well I do). Hey! I try not to use my power position! and some women use their power positions over me! Thats anoying! but... but well... but they... but... And then it comes: “...what a privilege it is to be annoyed instead of afraid”

[@wateryjar8417]

Kinda hard to follow.

[@Goofy_friend]

I'm so sorry for you.

[@kittygrimm7301]

That boy reminds me of my abuser.

[@muhsinbustillo]

Why society and women deserve real men, not weak little boys who predate on those they can. A great piece of poetry; hurts my heart someone ever had to write it.

[@chiedzamadzima2844]

😉

[@PipByMac]

I can't stand pretentious people who write poems that don't rhyme. You're not a poet, you're a lecturer.

[@mississipi1103]

The problem is that sex offenders aren't most of the time "the creepy guy hiding in the bush", it's everyday boys that doesn't put themselves in girls's shoes.

[@AJFes12]

im sorry this was beautiful but all i see when she says "dat boi" was that green frog on a unicycle meme dat boi, tomska and friends you have ruined me

[@zackstrife7777]

Rape is gender less. Last time I checked.

[@sherrywojcik6786]

Random flex but my ela teacher went to collage w her n I got to speak to her over a zoom call😫