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The intersection of Gender and Society: Punk

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The intersection of Gender and Society: Punk

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Society's erasure of female and queer identities is a constant issue in media, politics, and pop culture.  Punk rock as a subculture, has proven its ability to engage with current events, and use its presence to expose archaic social norms.  After exploring its imprint on culture, it is clear that punk as a faction would not be efficacious without the inclusion of queer and feminist voices.  Punk’s acknowledgement of the intersection of gender and society, specifically through the inception of the Riot Grrrl movement,  provides an outlet for women and queer individuals to articulate their views and experiences rather than repressing them.

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Photograph by Derek Ridgers of two women in the late 80s that are skinheads, a style/aesthetic synonomous with punk with liberation of sexuality 

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Punk was doing stuff before the feminist wave, it just wasn't doing enough

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Punk was doing stuff before the feminist wave, it just wasn't doing enough

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While it is unfair to say punk was ineffective or archaic before its feminist breakthrough, it certainly catered to a specific demographic, heterosexual males. Because of this, cis-women and queer individuals felt rightfully underrepresented by the community that is notorious for “embracing all types of people.”  Riot Grrrl was an explosive approach to demanding women were seen, heard, and felt safe to discuss topics society loves to ignore in music and media.  Without it, it's hard to imagine what punk would look like today, or if punk would be regarded as an outlet for opposing authority and expression.

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Here's Why The Riot Grrrl Movement Will Always Be Empowering

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The thesis "The Role of Women in Punk" by Katherine Barner reiterates that Riot grrrl is a feminist movement that emerged in the early 1990s, in the punk rock music scene.  It was made to counteract the male-dominated nature of punk rock and mainstream society, which often excluded or marginalized women's voices and experiences (Barner).

Riot grrrl addressed systemic issues and everyday experiences, encouraging women to express themselves creatively through music, clothing, zines, and other forms of art as well as addressing issues such as sexual assault, domestic violence, and reproductive rights.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMbLzaVkn2s
Trailer for The Punk Singer, a documentary about Kathleen Hanna and her rise to feminist icon status.

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The Punk Singer Official Trailer 1 (2013) - Documentary HD

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Basically, riot grrrl sought to create a space where women could feel empowered, educated, and supported, and to challenge societal norms and structures that perpetuate gender inequality (Barner).

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Kathleen Hanna Performing with Bikini Kill in the early 90s, photographed by Tamara Davis 

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An article from The Heroine Collective by Josephine Liptrott provides a brief biography about Hanna explaining why she is an important figure in the feminist movement, here's why:

1. Kathleen Hanna helped to establish the riot grrrl movement in the early 1990s and used her music as a means of promoting visibility of women's issues and challenging gender norms. Her lyrics dealt with topics such as rape, and domestic violence, helping to raise awareness of these issues and promote social change.

2. One of the core principles of the riot grrrl movement was the importance of women supporting and empowering one another. Hanna helped to promote this sense of solidarity through her music and activism, encouraging women to come together and challenge gender-based oppression.

3. Hanna has been an advocate for intersectionality in feminism, recognizing the importance of addressing the ways in which different forms of oppression intersect and compound one another. She has spoken out about issues such as racism and transphobia within feminist movements, promoting a more inclusive and diverse vision of feminism (Liptrott).

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Bikini Kill Photo_ Kathleen Hanna is awesome_

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srkGCOZn_6U

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Image created as a satirical approach to reclaiming the term "slut" 

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Expressing Sexuality: Why is matters and how it was revolutionized by women in Punk

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Expressing Sexuality: Why is matters and how it was revolutionized by women in Punk

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The expression of female sexuality is an issue in the sense that it is completely taboo.  Men are free to parade around shirtless and write songs about "bitches" but women have been historically plagued by various forms of societal expectations, including slut shaming and the pressure to abide by traditional femininity.

Slut shaming, according to an article by Arianne Resnick for VeryWell Mind, refers to criticizing and condemning women for expressing their sexuality in ways that are deemed on a case by case basis as  "slutty." AKA there is no true definition for what makes a slut, you're coined as a slut if someone decides you're being overly promiscuous on any given day.  Women are subjected to harassment, name-calling, victim-blaming, and  social ostracism, and we pretty much just tolerate this because it is so embeded in our (AMERICAN) culture (Resnick).

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Art with the message "no means no" a phrase coined by feminist to emphasize the importance of consent and that dressing a certain way doesn't imply consent. 

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At the same time, traditional femininity often places an emphasis on modesty, purity, and chastity, which are completely loaded concepts, considering sex is the primary focus of nearly every song ever written (not just punk!!!!) which creates another unnecessary pressure on women to conform to these ideals and suppress their sexuality.

Riot Grrrl basically said F this to these schools of thought and opened the floodgates for women to express their sexuality any way they want to.

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A fan-made zine featuring lyrics by Bikini Kill that reiterates "We" aka Women don't need to be affirmed by society to feel beautiful. 

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The article “Why punk was never supposed to be sexy” by Ellie Sivins for Alternative Press Magazine describes how Riot Grrrl encouraged women to explore diverse styles and express themselves in new ways. The article specifically references, "The Woman Punk Made Me" in the book Punk Rock: So What?, Lucy O’Brien to explain how punk was the first subculture that allowed women to reject the traditionally feminine pastel colors of the 1960s and embrace a more assertive expression of female sexuality. Punk also let women adopt fetishized fashion elements like leather, rubber, and bondage pants not to appeal to male desires but as a way to reject the idea of submission. Similarly, women today wear lingerie as everyday clothing not to enhance their sex appeal but to challenge the stigma surrounding oversexualization associated with lace.

Women during this time felt free to adorn themselves with chains, leather, latex, fishnets, and even shaved their heads, to transform themselves from conforming to societal expectations to individuals who demanded to be heard.  They redefined what sexiness was by their own terms and owned that sexiness without worrying about the opinions of the general population.

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Kathleen Hanna in the early 90s pictured with the word "SLUT" written across her stomach. 

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This image taken from the article, "“When She Talks, I Hear the Revolution: Looking Back at the Riot Grrrl Revolt" by Ryan Reft explains the point of Hanna writing a typically oppressive and offensive word used towards women is much like the straight edge movement practice of wrote X’s on their hands to identify fellow adherents, Hanna began writing words like “slut” across her stomach to reclaim the phrase and turn it into a badge of honor, not allowing herself or other women to feel shamed for owning their sexuality and displaying it in the manner they want to (Reft).

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Illustration by Julia Scheele features Riot Grrrl artists and the phrase "girls to the front" coined in the 90s to promote the welfare of women during concerts

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The evolution of Riot Grrrl: How this movement has functioned in society since its inception (what punk does)

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The evolution of Riot Grrrl: How this movement has functioned in society since its inception (what punk does)

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Feminism has continued to evolve, since the 90s Riot Grrrl explosion, in response to changing cultural, social, and political contexts.

For instance:

1. Intersectionality: Intersectionality has become a central tenet of contemporary feminism, recognizing that gender is only one factor that shapes individuals' experiences of oppression and discrimination. Feminist activists and scholars now emphasize the importance of understanding how gender intersects with other identities to shape individuals' experiences of privilege and oppression which are other major touchstones within punk rock.  Meshing the visibility of these identities in pop culture (whether its music, film, or even through freedom of expression on social media) with gender, especially for women, is a visible sign of how Riot Grrrl revolutionized modern feminism.

2. Digital activism: The rise of social media and other digital technologies has transformed the way that feminist activism is organized and carried out. Online platforms have enabled feminist activists to connect across geographic boundaries, amplify marginalized voices, and mobilize large-scale social movements.  Zines were in many ways, the first seed of widespread feminism that could be expressed completely freely and without being overseen and edited by a news station or  a government approved, small scale speech/rally for women's rights.  Riot Grrrl zines were completely handmade, exercises of free speech that could be disseminated on a large scale and is common practice now via social media, which conveys messages to an unimaginably broad audience.

3. Focus on consent: The feminist movement has placed an increasing emphasis on the importance of consent in sexual relationships, particularly in response to the prevalence of sexual violence and harassment. This has led to a greater awareness and understanding of the complex power dynamics that underlie sexual encounters, and a shift towards affirmative consent models.  In so many ways, Riot Grrrl is responsible for normalizing this.  Bikini Kill is often recognized as the first punk band to discuss issues like rape and domestic violence for women.  While sex is not a taboo issue in punk, or even music in general, rape is something so prevalent yet so ignored because of how uncomfortable it is.  Kathleen Hanna's refusal to refrain from honesty of her experiences in songs such as "Liar" opened the door for rape and sexual violence to be talked about and granted women the comfort and space to discuss their experiences without shame or feeling like they need to censor their feelings in order to spare others.

Overall, feminist activism via Riot grrrl has continued to evolve in response to the changing needs and experiences of individuals across diverse contexts, highlighting the ongoing relevance and importance of the feminist movement in shaping a more equitable and just society.

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'The Punk Singer' Clip: Kathleen Hanna Gets the Girls to the Front

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According to the article, "Queercore: What is it? And Six Bands You Should Listen to" by jade Ivy from the website For The Punks explains that Queercore emerged during the mid-1980s as a subculture within the punk rock scene. Originally referred to as homocore and first mentioned in JD's, a zine based in Toronto, the movement was later renamed to queercore to encompass a broader range of individuals as the community grew.

This subculture was established because the LGBTQ+ community faced exclusion from local punk communities and pop culture/ mainstream society at large.  Queercore musicians and artists often use their work to challenge heteronormative and cisnormative ideals, and to celebrate the diversity of LGBTQ+ experiences. They often address issues such as homophobia, transphobia, and the HIV/AIDS epidemic, and promote a more inclusive and diverse vision of punk rock culture.

In Larry-Bob Roberts' book Queercore: How to Punk a Revolution, he noted that the movement did not have any political objectives, but instead focused on cultural expression and building connections with like-minded individuals, similar to the manner which Riot Grrrl creating a community within punk for women.

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Fan-art featuring various different significant Queercore bands. 

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Deke Nihilson, former co-editor of Homocore zine,  stated that in Queercore , “If you showed up, you belonged there. Nobody was in a position to say that you weren’t” (Ivy).

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Photo Captured from the Stonewall Riots that followed the 1969 raiding of Stonewall.  https://www.history.com/topics/gay-rights/the-stonewall-riots

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In June 1969, a series of impromptu protests and clashes known as the Stonewall riots occurred in New York City, which marked a turning point in the LGBTQ+ rights movement in the US and worldwide. The Stonewall Inn, a popular gay bar in Manhattan's Greenwich Village, was raided by police, which was common practice at this point in history.

However,  on this particular night, there was resistance from its patrons and other LGBTQ+ individuals in the area ultimately leading to several nights of rioting and clashes and for the first time, creating a more organized and visible LGBTQ+ rights movement.

The significance of the Stonewall riots remains palpable in the U.S. they drew attention to the discrimination and violence that LGBTQ+ individuals faced at the time, both from society and law enforcement. This led to legal and social changes, such as the decriminalization of homosexuality in many parts of the US, the formation of LGBTQ+ rights organizations, and the increasing visibility of LGBTQ+ people in media and culture. Without this event, queercore would've never been dreamed of.  (Timeline of the Stonewall Riots from History.com)

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Looking at Queercore artists: Pansy Division

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Looking at Queercore artists: Pansy Division

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Pansy Division, a gay rock band founded by Jon Ginoli and Chris Freeman in San Francisco in 1991, broke cultural stereotypes by being openly gay in the punk rock scene of the '90s. They wanted to create a place for themselves and other "queer misfits" in the music industry, turning their alienation into something positive. Their music aimed to make themselves and their audience happy and provide a joyful alternative for those who didn't fit into the mainstream gay culture or even heteronormative punk rock scene.

Let's break down the band's name:

Pansy definition (from Oxford languages):

a man who is seen as unmasculine, timid, or affected.

A gay man

Offensive

The band name itself is significant as it is composed of a slur used for gay men.  This to me mirrors what Kathleen Hanna does in performances by choosing to write "slut" across her body as a way to reclaim hurtful, destructive, words and instead flip the narrative granting minority groups the liberty to literally wear the things used against us, such as sexual identity, and instead owning your sexuality and having pride.  Whether intentional or not, Pansy Division's inclusion of a slur as their band name effectively shows the world of punk that despite society's discrimination, they're, and therefore queer people as a whole, should not be ashamed of who they are.

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That's So Gay - Lyrics from Genius Lyrics by: Pansy Division (2009)

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"I heard what you said, I'm not stupid, you know

What do you take me for? Hetero?

The next time you say it, make sure I can't hear

'Cause you're pissing me off, is that clear?"

These lyrics use of irony perfectly convey frustration and annoyance with society. The singer is fed up with hurtful or offensive assumptions that exist solely because he is gay and unwilling to hide his sexuality which is apparent in the line "I'm not stupid, you know."

The next line, "What do you take me for? Hetero?" makes it clear the singer is questioning the assumptions being made about his sexual orientation. This line could be read as the singer pushing back against stereotypes or societal expectations associated with being gay and instead using irony to imply that the "stupid" ones are actually straight people simply because of their perceived superiority.

"What'd he say? He said "that's so gay"

What'd he say? He said "that's so gay"

These lyrics challenge the societal acceptance of using the phrase "that's so gay" in order to describe any given action, opinion, or object.  The fact that while people try to take the word gay out of context and justify the expression as meaningless, when it is actually hurtful and senseless as it creates a way to be unconsciously demeaning towards gay people by subtly weaponizing the word gay and using it to insult something or make something sound embarrassing.  This implicitly changes the connotation of the word gay to be negative and shameful rather than a word simply used to decipher one's sexual identity.

Clearly, Pansy Division is a band that has consistently used their music to address issues related to gay rights and society's expectations of LGBTQ+ people. By writing songs that challenge societal norms and celebrate queer culture, Pansy Division is contributing to the larger movement for LGBTQ+ rights.

Pansy Division is able to speak directly to LGBTQ+ individuals who may feel isolated or marginalized specifically by punk, which is certainly perceived as a largely male dominated and hetero-normative culture. By providing representation and a sense of community, Pansy Division perfectly empowers LGBTQ+ individuals and promotes having a sense of pride in their identity.

Overall, Pansy Division's music is an important tool for advancing LGBTQ+ rights. By challenging societal norms, celebrating queer culture, and advocating for change, the band is helping to promote greater acceptance and understanding of LGBTQ+ individuals and their experiences.

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Columnist Eric Torres reports from a Pansy Division show, musing on the state of out punk.

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The evolution of Queercore: How this movement has functioned in society since its inception (what punk does)

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The evolution of Queercore: How this movement has functioned in society since its inception (what punk does)

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Over time, the Queercore movement has evolved to encompass not only punk rock but also other artistic and cultural forms, including zine-making, performance art, and activism. The impact of the Queercore movement on gay rights in 2023 is difficult to assess definitively, as the movement's legacy is still unfolding. However, some of its key contributions include:

1. Representation: The Queercore movement provided an important platform for LGBTQ+ voices that were often marginalized or excluded from mainstream culture. By creating their own music, zines, and other forms of media, queer punks were able to express themselves and their experiences in their own words, rather than being defined by mainstream stereotypes.

2. Activism: Queercore has always had a strong political component, and many of its artists and fans have been involved in activism around issues like LGBTQ+ rights, anti-racism, and feminism. By linking art and activism, the movement has helped to amplify marginalized voices and push for social change.

3. Community: Perhaps the most lasting impact of the Queercore movement has been the sense of community it created. By forging connections among queer punks around the world, the movement helped to build a sense of shared identity and purpose. This community has continued to evolve and grow over the years, providing a support network and a sense of belonging for LGBTQ+ people who may not find that in mainstream society.

In closing, the Queercore movement has undoubtedly impacted gay rights in 2023. From the continuing popularity of queer punk bands to the ongoing activism of its members, the movement has helped to create a more vibrant and diverse LGBTQ+ community, and has pushed for greater visibility and acceptance for queer identities in society at large.

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Bob Mould photo: Shelly Mosman, queer artists that dominated the 80s & 90s

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https://docs.google.com/document/d/1VSaglyZVbMjfjP-fiqQ61f_AvBbfAofqBoZf0syBWOA/edit?usp=sharing