Strangulation in relationships - normalisation in media

[OurLine]

Hello lovely mums,

The Romanian's Eurovision entry this year is called 'Choke Me.' It features themes of strangulation throughout and "choke me" appears 30 times.

I am a survivor of strangulation and I know that normalisation of it is a factor in the increase. 66% of young adults who've had sex have been strangled. There's a law now against non-fatal strangulation in England and Wales that most people aren't aware of.

Via Our Line HQ, I have created a petition asking the BBC to request a revision to the lyrics. I have summarised the research in the petition: https://www.change.org/p/stop-the-bbc-airing-eurovision-content-that-normalises-violence-against-women

I would be grateful for your support in reading, signing and sharing this petition to raise awareness of the dangers of strangulation - both the risks in domestic abuse as well as the increasing strangulation happening during sex.

Thank you

I love eurovision and don't mind the risqué lyrics. But this is downright awful. Thanks for flagging!

Absolutely awful.
I was listening to a discussion on Woman's Hour today about extreme porn - i started a thread about it in Feminism Chat this morning.. The subject of strangulation was discussed. And the point was made that there should be a publicity campaign to warn about the dangers of Strangulation during Sex.

So i'm more than disgusted by this song and yes i will sign your petition.

Signed

Absolutely disgusting

Signed and shared.

Signed

I didn't realise this. Thanks op. Signed.

Signed and shared. Thanks, OP.

I can’t even imagine who first thought it could be fun?

Have signed.

I am sure I have seen it in main stream movies. Or a suggestion of it. Can't think of an example but it's usually a passionate sex scene and his hands moves to her throat. It probably stops there but still.....

Signed

Signed

Signed too and shared.
I noticed though it's largely women signing this petition.
I wish more men would get behind it.

So do I. But it's a sad fact that many, many men are aroused by seeing women in pain and fear.

Thank you all. I really appreciate the signing. The sharing is brilliant and that's increasing the reach.

@Lugol @FictionalCharacter we've created a chart of this which we posted on X and LinkedIn. You're right: a lot of women signing this vs. men.

Ah don't think the image loaded. It's here on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/DYH-rCsDBtX/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Signed.

Honestly, quite a while ago I shared a status on Facebook saying how refreshing it would be to watch a tv show where nobody had a choking kink, and things have only got worse.

signed.

Signed

Signed

What on earth are you watching?? I've never seen anyone with a choking kink on TV

Signed. Thanks for sharing.

This is so true - it has been so normalised for young boys/men to choke women that some now believe they should or their partners expect it in intimate relationships . Signed. And don’t get me started on KAN cheating again in EV - I’ll be boycotting anyway.

Signed.

I never see strangulation in media. I want to keep it that way.

Thank you for raising awareness.

Signed and shared.