The history of punk feminism often begins and ends in the 1990s with riot grrrl, but that, as Nguyen notes, is a story that assumes that punk simply needed a temporary fix by feminism, as if it were only created by boys until Kathleen Hanna picked up a mic. This story writes out the earlier struggles of Albertine, of Poly Styrene of X-Ray Spex, of Siouxsie Sioux of Siouxsie and the Banshees, and of Patti Smith across the Atlantic. Styrene shrieked, “Some people think little girls should be seen and not heard, but I think—Oh bondage, up yours!” Albertine cranked the treble on her guitar to find a sound that didn’t sound like the men she heard and argued with Mick Jones that the Clash should be more political. Through her clothing, Vivienne Westwood turned sexual images into semiotic weapons that challenged what women should look like. The old story leaves out the possibility, as Ellen Willis once wrote, that the anger in the music could be just as inspiring to young women as it was to men. And it implies that riot grrrl’s battle was won.


sirmonkey95:

I really think you're onto something here. Seeing what Feminism stands for and what Punk stands for I see some similarities. Punk being the DIY mentality and form what I understand feminism is not just for the equality but getting women to be their own hero and if they want something done then they can do it, and not letting others get in your way with a big fuck you to those that try and put you down.

When Joan Jett was getting inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame earlier this year she talked about the sexism she went through. She encountered people telling her to lose the guitar because women shouldn't play it. Another thing she talked about was when they sent record labels their songs and got a handful of rejection letters. She and the band didn't quit! They ended up making the records themselves and selling them from their car after the shows. She went on to say this

    Whether you're female or male, that has nothing to do with whether or not you can play music. I mean, girls play cello and violin in symphony orchestras. Why can't a girl play guitar?

I think Joan is a great roll for females to follow with her take charge mentality. So yes, I do think feminism needs punk, and punk needs feminism.


posted 3239 days ago