Punk Rock

Punk rock is a unique and changing musical genre that was born in both England and the United States in the late 1970s. A largely underground music scene with a reliance on a rejection of societies norms, dismissal of capitalism and consumption, heavy reliance on community, and a strong attitude of do-it-yourself and self-empowerment, punk continues to have a large influence on the contemporary music scene. Punk rock, however, has faced issues when dealing with concepts of sex and gender. Bands within the scene are usually composed of males, women are objectified in song lyrics, and masculine values like aggressiveness and violence are often glamorized, especially in sub-genres of punk such as hardcore punk. But women have managed, especially through the Riot Grrrl movement, to stake out their own patch of punk rock territory. They have used punk rock to redefine concepts of gender and sexuality in such as way that empowers them and gives them choices in life, rather than having values being forced upon them.

To situate concepts of gender in punk rock, a brief look must be given to the history of punk rock. Punk started in the late 1970’s, primarily in New York and London. The New York bands were influenced by artists such as the New York Dolls, Patti Smith, and The Stooges, with the London bands being influenced by glam rock artists such as David Bowie and Mott the Hoople; as well as pub rock performers such as the 101ers. The punk movement flourished briefly between 1976 and 1983, when it lost much of the mainstream popularity that it had gained, especially in England. In America, a thriving underground punk scene developed in California. In the early Eighties, this lead to the rise of hardcore punk bands like Black Flag, Bad...

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...y doing this, they take the power away from these words, and force others to look at them for who they are, rather than as an epithet shouted out in anger. Their interactions with each other, through music, zines, and community-based connections with one another plays a significant role in helping them determine for themselves who they are as people. This in turn affects the way they present themselves as gendered beings to the rest of the world.

The central themes that come from women within the punk rock culture is that they are no longer going to accept being defined on any terms except the ones that they choose for themselves. They demand to be acknowledged as unique and valuable members of the punk rock community, as well as of society as a whole. They seek empowerment through their actions, and will no longer tolerate being treated as second class-citizens.