Riot Grrrl: Music speaks louder than words

Fierce, fabulous and unapologetically feminine, in the early 1990s at the heart of the Pacific Northwest, the Riot Grrrl movement began. Riot Grrrl was an underground feminist punk movement, emerging to attack the heinous misogyny in the music industry women had previously tiptoed around. Led by bass, drums and lyrics bursting with political messages, Kathleen Hanna, lead singer of the female punk band Bikini Kill, smashed into a music genre dominated by men. Hanna and others were inspired to create a safe space for female expression, fueled by the anger of sexism, racism, homophobia, sexual violence and every other indefensible act of prejudice evident in the industry.  

Kathleen Hanna began the “Girls to the front” rally at her concerts to create a haven for women to enjoy music free from abuse, harassment and aggression, not only creating a physical barrier from crowd violence but a symbolic one defining a new era of female empowerment. The movement was not only prevalent in music but all areas of media, using magazines (‘zines’) to share stories and manifestos. In fashion, Riot Grrrl promoted a ‘do it yourself’, anti-consumerism stance encouraging women and girls to make their own clothes and create their own personal styles, blending punk fashion with typical femininity, to rebel against stereotypes that defined a generation. 

However, as Riot Grrrl received increasing media visibility, it began to get significant backlash. Bands were heckled and concerts became locations for sexist protests whilst women of colour received significant harassment on stage. Mia Zapata, lead singer of a Mexican-American Riot Grrrl band was tragically raped and murdered on the way home from a bar. Yet, in response to her death, the community soared. Feminist groups emerged to create the Home Alive group, organizing benefit concerts and releasing albums with the help of bands such as Nirvana and Pearl Jam. In 2005, a documentary called ‘The Gits Movie’ was produced about Zapata’s life, ensuring that her legacy and the significance of the Riot Grrrl movement lived on. 

Whilst women in the 90s received significant challenge to their goal of empowerment, they became a symbol of perseverance, unity and talent. They demonstrated that women are just as capable as men, especially in the music industry as bands like Bikini Kill, Bratmobile and X-Ray Spex still have a popular following today. Individuals like Hanna and Zapata empowered girls to express themselves and stand up for their values, teaching women today that they are more than the stereotypes that define them and they can be whoever they fight to be. “Girl-style now!” 

Kersten Davies