“My body’s nobody’s body but mine. You run your own body, let me run mine!”
If you were a preschooler or in grade 1 and 2 in the 1980s or 1990s, you may remember singing Peter Alsop’s song My Body.
It’s fun to sing with actions, such as pointing to body parts mentioned in the lyrics. But the song was written to teach children about consent, connecting with their feelings, their space and to give them a vocabulary in uncomfortable situations.
Alsop calls it an early warning system to help children protect themselves against abuse.
It was written in 1983, but is as relevant now. With consent and gender-based violence (GBV) in mind, South African artists have come up with their own version which they hope will be a hit.
My Body (Stand Up) by Lira, Mariechan, Gigi Lamayne and featuring GoodLuck, was released on Monday as part of 16 Days of Activism Against GBV. All proceeds from downloads will go towards raising funds for the First For Women Foundation’s GBV programme.
Mike Sharman, owner and founder of Retroviral Digital Communications, came up with the campaign.
“We wanted to create an impact around 16 days and GBV. There is a lot of noise in December, with foundations and products promoting the cause, but a lot of the time the message doesn’t get through to people.
“Music helps with memory. We remember 61% more with auditory stimulation. Hip-hop is the most popular genre in SA, but it’s also one of the most damaging in terms of the misogyny in the music. We’ve turned that around with this song with the message and by using women musicians. The music video was also created by women.
“Nostalgia is also very important. Think of JZ’s Hard-Knock Life, which is raw, uncensored wrap, but then the chorus is from the musical, Annie. We liked [the song] My Body because of its message, but also because many of [the listeners] sang it as children.
“I think this is a Top 40 song. It’s mainstream, cross-cultural and catchy. [It] came together very quickly and very naturally.”
Alsop, 74, is an American counsellor and psychologist who uses songs to help parents, teachers and social workers assist families discuss sensitive issues such as child abuse, loss, grief and dependency.
Speaking to Sunday Times Daily, Alsop said he was delighted and surprised when he received a call from Sharman asking for permission to use his song.
“Well, it doesn’t get much further away from California than South Africa, but my version of this song has been used in self-protection all over the world.
“The Green Thumb Theatre in Canada put together a programme around it that has been spread all over the English-speaking world. Other folks have recorded the song and used it to bring up the discussion.
“I’m delighted it’s being used to empower kids and families to avoid sexual abuse and keep themselves safe.”
And what did he think of the South African version?
“I love your version! I want to send it out to my fans on Facebook and my e-mail list too. I’m looking forward to seeing the video Mike [Sharman] is doing.”
Listen here to Alsop's podcast about writing the song and the message behind it.
Juliet Harding (Julez), from electro-swing band GoodLuck, said she was excited to be part of the project.
“This is a very important song with a very important message, and it’s a message we must take to the front of our conversations.
“Collaborating with such strong women on the project was also really important. Our message is, on behalf of the country and all women in the country: we cannot tolerate GBV our society.”
She believes the scourge is worse now than it has ever been.
“I think the rules were stricter in the past, but now we have a wonderful freedom and with freedom comes great responsibility. We are not as accountable now as [our elders] were.
“We want to go beyond this song. It’s not about the song, but the message it brings and we need to spread that message. We need to hold ourselves accountable. We are all accountable to make sure GBV is eradicated, even women.
“Victims can play their part by reporting abuse. We need to support centres for abused women and children. We also need to stand up to our friends with the mindset that women are possessions.”
It’s important to do what we can to help. The message needs to be spread. We need tangible change. We can’t be quiet about GBV.
— Lira
Singer Lira said she hoped people supported the initiative by downloading the song.
“It’s important to do what we can to help. The message needs to be spread. We need tangible change. We can’t be quiet about GBV.
"[Young people] need to know that they have a voice to speak up when they feel violated and the right to give consent regarding their bodies. I’m hoping this song makes them realise they deserve respect and protection.”
Casey Rousseau, senior manager at First For Women and its foundation, said the organisation was excited about the initiative and that it was something different for the financial services company to embark on.
“Woman abuse is not something we like to talk about, so I think if we can make [the message] fun or interesting it is more likely to get through.
“Music can do good and we can harness that good to change behaviours and attitudes towards women.”
According to Rousseau, the First For Women Foundation was established in 2005 and has since raised more than R81m to fight GBV. So far, 90,000 victims have been helped.
“The scariest thing is that the women abuse stats just kept growing. So we decided we needed to change tack. In 2019 we created a programme to address women abuse holistically, looking at what could be causing GBV and what women needed to get out of a the programme.
“We have rolled out a programme in Diepsloot [in Johannesburg] which includes a school-based education initiative focusing on boys and girls from the ages of three to 18, as well as gender equality and positive image training, and self-defence training for girls. This has been rolled out in 22 early childhood development centres and nine primary and high schools.”
The programme also has a comprehensive support programme for prevention and assistance in communities. This includes helping abused women report cases to the police, court support, trauma counselling, legal services, medical care, housing facilities and skills development so they can eventually support themselves.
Click on this link to download or stream the song
