User:Hheasley/Women in Punk Rock

Sexualization of Women in Punk and Criticism of Musical Capabilities

Many women in punk rock have used their music as a platform for feminist ideologies. Many have used their lyrics and music to oppose sexualization of female musicians and societal policing of women's bodies and sexual agency. As early as the 1960s, women in rock were being sexualized and their capabilities undermined. Groups like The Ronettes were often victims of the press' emphasis on their bodies, rather than their music. They also faced people undermining their talent and instead crediting male producers more for their music. This sexualization, gender-based criticism, and undermining of capabilities is something women in punk rock face as well. Being in such a male-dominated industry comes with challenges for women, especially in a genre like punk, which has dirty, gritty, raw elements that are the antithesis of conventional expectations of women and their behavior. (insert Daugherty citation somewhere)

Feminist themes: Sexual liberation, condemnation of sexual assault, and challenging the patriarchy

Many riot grrrl bands utilized their music and lyrics to rally women together in support and defense of one another. Their lyrics called for women to give a collective "f*ck you" to the patriarchy and all of its ugly ramifications, such as mansplaining which is critiqued in "Watchmaker" by Excuse 17. Another element that is often challenged is rape culture. In 7 Year Bitch's song "Dead Men Don't Rape", furious disapprovals of the sexual assault of women are screamed. Bikini Kill also often called for revolution and women bonding together in pursuit of taking down the patriarchy. Many songs also were expressions of sexual liberation for women, including queer women as well. A good example of this is Gossip's "Where the Girls Are", with lyrics like "Come on home with me tonight/Let me love you all night long." A quintessential, highly popular song that displays the strong themes of sisterhood in the riot grrrl movement is Bikini Kill's "Rebel Girl", which holds lyrics of fierce love, devotion, and respect for the writer's best girl friend. (Mcdonnell, vincintelli citation here). Conventional expectations of women are also frequently challenged in the riot grrrl movement. For example, in The Slits' "Typical Girl", stereotypes of women being too emotional are poked fun at and sarcastically addressed. The song highlights the impossible and sometimes contradictory expectations placed on women and the harmful stereotypes that frame the way women are perceived and treated, the stereotypes and expectations that heavily weigh on women. (Nguyen citation here)

Queer acceptance and activism in riot grrrl and other women-led punk music; queer presence in punk

Frontwoman of Gossip, Beth Ditto, was also a self-proclaimed "fat, feminist lesbian". Riot grrrl punk artists and their predecessors not only fought for women, but for the LGBTQIA+ community as well(Mcdonnel, Vincintelli citation again). Not all punk scenes are accepting of queer presence, but many riot grrrl and similar bands had openly non-heteronormative lyrics and stood for LGBTQIA+ acceptance and protection. Queer individuals are very present in the punk scene, possibly because of the solidarity brought about by feeling like outcasts, living on the fringes of society. Punks and the punk lifestyle are often outside of the realm of normative culture, and the same can be said for queer individuals. The discomfort in this outcast identity brings feelings of solidarity for people in punk scenes, queer and otherwise. Punk, as non-normative as it has traditionally been, is a safe haven for many unaccepted individuals, including queer people(insert Sharp, Nilan citation).

Fear of violence for women and queer people in the broader punk scene

While punk does provide some relief from family pressure and societal judgment for queer people, there is a fear of cisgender, heterosexual male-perpetrated violence that both women and queer people feel in the punk scene. Being marginalized individuals in the cisgender, heterosexual male dominated world that is punk music, even just existing and taking up space in those scenes can be daunting. Women and queer individuals simply existing in these scenes is threatening to the patriarchy, so the resistance is often felt from those who benefit from the patriarchy. However, both women and queers continue to fight for a place in these scenes and look for those opportunities for unity and solidarity amongst their peers in the scene. Many seek like-minded, accepting individuals in the scene and organize to create safe spaces in punk and zines in support of feminist ideas and queer acceptance. (insert Sharp, Nilan citation)