What is a riot grrrl anyway?
Maybe you’ve heard the term before or associated it with electric guitar-loving Kat Stratford from “10 Things I Hate About You,” but weren’t quite sure how to move further into the world that is Riot Grrrl.
The Riot Grrrl movement emerged in the early nineties in Olympia, Washington as a nearly direct response to the aggro-male punk scene that formed in the eighties after bands like the Sex Pistols (whose own place in the history of punk is very, very debatable), Black Flag and the Dead Kennedys.
Olympia at the time was a hotspot for the music industry as it began to flourish, with punk itself growing more popular as a subculture but remaining very unwelcoming to women who were students in the Northwest.
Tired of the hostile environment, young women collaborated to form their own space: a place where they could take on the same freedom to rant about sexism and misogyny not only in life, but in the music scene as well. From there, it spread throughout the country.
Girls wanted to “Stick It to The Man” too, to be included in the punk ethos of freedom and doing what they want, and they were done being quiet about it. Thus, through self-started music and homemade DIY zines and concert flyers passed from person to person, the Rot Grrrl movement etched itself into history and the world.
Topics often considered taboo for women to discuss–the patriarchy, rape, reproductive rights and classism–were the main focus of Riot Grrrl songs, often accompanied by sharp, punk-inspired riffs and angry female vocals, determined to take up as much space as possible. A space just as rough, wild and loud as the male crowds who had rejected them, except this time made solely for women, by women and pro-women who could be as full of rage as they wanted without fear of violence, sexism or censorship.
Here, girls could mosh and reject or flat-out condemn societal standards about femininity, discussing all the unsavory parts of womanhood that had to be endured while celebrating the unity of female (and non-cisgender male) empowerment.
Though it formed and evolved as the decades have gone by, the truth still stands that anyone can be a riot grrrl.Are you a feminist? Perfect. You like disruptive, spunky music that spreads a message? Great. You don’t think you’re dressed the part of a leather-jacket-wearing, leopard-print-pants-owning crowdsurfer? Who cares.
As long as you support the message and like the music, you too can be a riot grrrl. Inclusivity and equality is what’s most important and listening to any of the songs floating around the scene prove that.
Still interested in dipping your toes into the punk-girl pool? Then these are the songs for you.
- “Rebel Girl” by Bikini Kill
Oh, Kathleen Hanna. One of the faces of the Riot Grrrl movement that helped boost its popularity. Though I recommend any song by Bikini Kill, this is their classic, an introductory rite for any beginners who aren’t sure where to start.
The song hones in making fun of typical heterosexual pop songs as it is sung from the view of a woman loving another woman. At its core, however, it’s a song about the solidarity between women. It was performed as early as 1991 and is often thought of as the riot grrrl anthem–and for good reason.
- “Oh Bondage Up Yours!” by X-Ray Spex
A song made in direct response to the Sex Pistols craze in the ‘70s and ‘80s, lead singer of X-Ray Spex, Poly Styrene, comes a few decades before the Riot Grrrl movement. Though the band itself was short-lived, this song is considered a riot grrrl staple, popular within the community but considered almost underground for those outside of it. It’s gritty and a call for liberation, earning Poly Styrene credit for pioneering the feminist punk movement.
- “Cherry Bomb” by The Runaways
Another song that predates the movement, but still holds importance towards ushering it in. This song is a prime example of women in rock n’ roll, paving the way for rockstar (and godmother of riot grrrls everywhere) Joan Jett to eventually make her solo breakout.
This song is fun, catchy and focuses on going against the expectations that girls must be celibate, homemaking wives. Most songs by The Runaways and Joan Jett are worth a listen, and if that isn’t enough, there’s an entire self-titled movie based on the band and their journey and tribulations in the industry starring Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning.
- “One More Hour” by Sleater-Kinney
Sleater-Kinney, alongside Bikini Kill and Bratmobile, spearheaded the revolution, coming straight from Olympia, WA when the movement first emerged. This song resides on their album “Dig Me Out” from 1997, which was placed on the Rolling Stone’s list of “The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.”
In particular, their songs focus on indie rock instruments and feminist ideals, stripped guitar riffs and more laidback vocals. Relatively more on the mellow side, this song is a great introduction to Sleater-Kinney’s work before diving into some of their harder, rockier discography.
- “Cool Schmool” by Bratmobile
Bratmobile, as aforementioned, is another first-generation riot grrrl band, linked with their performances with Bikini Kill. Their songs are known for being exactly what you expect from the genre: surfy guitar and bass riffs with ad-libbed verses that blend into faded choruses. This song doesn’t take itself too seriously on purpose, taking inspiration from men who listen to the Ramones once and decide to become rockstars on a whim.
The song comes across as more of a rant with music supplied in the background: barely over two minutes long, but energetic and playful. Their goal was to embolden and empower other female musicians while keeping in mind that the movement didn’t have to be so heavy and serious 24/7—that at the end of the day, the heart of the message was still this: women are allowed to simply exist without persecution.
Arianna Marmol is a sophomore majoring in English with a concentration in creative writing and minoring in theater
