American Punk Rock, Riot Grrrls, and Sexism

Over the next editions of the Woodward Post, I will explore how the way women are viewed in 90's punk music created by men compares to how women are viewed by bands within the 90's Riot Grrrl movement in America.

In the society that has been created for us, women have always had to fight to achieve a place outside of domestic responsibilities (Kolleda). When punk culture was created, it was intended to be a safe, inclusive space where everyone could express themselves. It was supposed to counter popular discriminatory ideals and beliefs to help create a safe space for individuals who may differ from the norm. However, the culture quickly became dominated by white males, who brought a greater degree of sexism, racism, and judgement into the fold (Andrews). According to Alice Bag, lead singer of Los Angeles punk band The Bags, “I didn’t see sexism in the punk scene until years later, when it became male dominated. I had come to expect the audiences at punk shows to be populated by extravagantly plumed creatures of all shapes, sizes, colors and genders whose very appearance cried out originality. Suddenly, there was an eerie sameness” (Hsu). This gives a first-hand perspective as to how the punk scene looked before the prevalence of white males. After men became more common, women within the scene had more trouble being taken seriously as musicians and activists. Violence also became more common at shows, but, according to the lead singer of Fusion Babies, Riot Grrrl directly counteracted this. “Every time there’s an abuser, there’s someone in the crowd, best believe that they’re going to get called out and get kicked out of the show. And it just happens…You know, you end up in the pit, and then suddenly this guy’s punching a girl, and they’re gonna get called out and kicked out. And it’s happened at our shows numerous times. But that’s the kind of energy we want to see out there” (Christiane and Oliver). Women fighting back is not just expected in the Riot Grrrl scene, it is encouraged. 

By the early 90s, women were fed up with marginalization and sexism within the punk community. The collective anger of women musicians and participants in punk culture led to the launch of the Riot Grrrl Movement in the early 90s. Beginning with the bands Bikini Kill, Bratmobile, and Heavens to Betsy,  women came together to make music, contribute to punk culture, and speak out for women’s rights. Guardian journalist Laura Barton states, “Broadly speaking Riot Grrrl was about the female voice. It was about music - being in bands, not watching them or being groupies - but it was also about finding a voice through writing, via fanzines; and it was about a political voice: anger about society's treatment of women, with domestic abuse, rape, sexuality, the need for safer streets, abortion rights and equal pay among the issues,” illustrating the wide range of issues Riot Grrrl targeted and emphasizing that while the movement was based in music, it had larger political implications and manifestations outside of music. In the next edition of the Woodward Post, I will explain these implications and how the Riot Grrrl movement shaped the global music industry.