This article re-examines the use of arguments in favour of free speech when faced with difficult subjects in music, such as sexual violence against women. We present a new perspective on the 1985 US Senate Hearing on Record Labeling and challenge the orthodoxy that the Hearing was only a matter of free speech. Using critical discourse analysis we argue that the sexist environment of the Hearing, the misogyny of the musicians, plus homosocial bonding resulted in the PMRC's arguments being unaddressed as attention turned to censorship. Subsequent academic work has continued to focus on censorship, neglecting to investigate how music can propagate dangerous representations. This article indicates the need for a shift in popular music studies towards careful consideration of those aspects which are difficult and dangerous for women. It therefore opens up popular music to important new areas for critical examination and feminist analysis.

中文翻译：

---

流行音乐中的性暴力和言论自由

本文重新审视了在面对音乐中的困难主题（例如对女性的性暴力）时支持言论自由的论点的使用。我们对 1985 年美国参议院唱片标签听证会提出了新的观点，并挑战了听证会只是言论自由问题的正统观念。使用批判性话语分析，我们认为听证会的性别歧视环境、音乐家的厌女症以及同性社会联系导致 PMRC 的论点随着注意力转向审查制度而没有得到解决。随后的学术工作继续专注于审查，而忽略了调查音乐如何传播危险的表现形式。本文表明流行音乐研究需要转向仔细考虑那些对女性来说困难和危险的方面。