The Riot Grrrl Movement Is Still Alive, And Bikini Kill Is Still At The Forefront Of It.

During my train ride to class earlier this week, I was listening to Bikini Kill. I was hoping there would be a way to go back in time and revisit their concert just once more. I was almost jealous of my past self for ever being able to experience seeing them live because it felt like I was somehow experiencing a revival of the riot grrrl movement firsthand. 

On Sept. 24, I had the privilege of finally attending a Bikini Kill concert. Although I had always been enamored by the band and its mission statement, actively being a part of the crowd made me realize how powerful music can be. Standing next to all the other girls in the crowd, I truly felt like I was a part of something great. I was sure that Bikini Kill and other bands involved in the riot grrrl movement had undoubtedly made a lasting impact on history and girls everywhere. 

History of the riot grrrl movement.

The riot grrrl movement took storm in the Northwest in the 1990s, where female students became fed up with general sexism and ignorance, but more specifically in the punk music scene. Popular bands like Alice in Chains or Nirvana made exceptional music, but women were consistently left out. Additionally, the term “riot grrrl” itself had strong intent. Firstly, the movement was made so that girls could riot for a voice against inequality. The spelling of “grrrl” was in reference to a growling animal and meant to symbolize the strong and unapologetic basis of the movement. 

These themes were generally expressed through music, where female-fronted bands of this era, like Bikini Kill or Bratmobile, undoubtedly fueled the movement. Songs like “Rebel Girl” became widely recognized songs within the community to emphasize the strength of girlhood. Today, Rebel Girl still remains one of the most representative songs of this era. Other songs within the movement showcased other difficult topics like discrimination or eating disorders.

In fact, the riot grrrl movement also emphasized the creation of zines where many expressed their difficulties and frustrations as women. These zines were created to advocate for girls, and bands like Bikini Kill also made their own zines in addition to music. Today, zines are still incredibly popular in a wide array of communities. 

Fashion in the riot grrrl movement.

The movement has left a notable mark on fashion as well, and it was incredibly obvious that it’s still alive at this weekend’s concert. Although a main objective of the riot grrrl movement is for girls to express themselves unapologetically, there are certain styles that girls commonly wore to maximize self-expression. Girls in the scene typically steered towards wearing clothing items like shirts with statements supporting the movement or short skirts. Thick bangs decorated with colorful hair clips or barrettes were also staples and aimed to showcase girlhood. Expressing girlhood was at the forefront of every girl’s mind before picking an outfit to further combat the misogyny they stood against. 

At the Bikini Kill concert I attended, I noticed that these fashion statements are still very prominent. Girls wore skirts, revealing tops, tees with comments in support of the riot grrrl movement, and accessorized with patterns, like plaid, or studded jewelry. A large demographic had micro bangs, dyed or side-parted hair, and specific haircuts that were (and still are) popular in the punk scene. 

Of course, the members of Bikini Kill are no exception to this. Kathi Wilcox, Bikini Kill’s bassist, performed with a patterned and iridescent A-line dress. Her bleach-blond hair was combed into a ponytail with her bangs, tying the look all together. Lead singer Kathleen Hanna performed with a yellow, floral dress topped with a red sequin bib. Her hair was neatly packed into a bun just north of her iconic side bang. Throughout the show, Hanna articulated comments about her own outfit that exhibited how effortlessly unapologetic she and other girls in the scene are. She unzipped the back of her dress at one point during the show, stating that it was too tight and she needed more space for her lung capacity to properly sing. The riot grrrl movement combatted certain misogynistic stereotypes like ones that placed pressure on women’s bodies and dictated how clothes should fit them, so Hanna expressing this was intentional.

The Bikini Kill concert.

At this recent Bikini Kill concert, Hanna announced how fascinating it is to see younger generations celebrating the riot grrrl movement in one place. There was a wide age demographic in the Bikini Kill crowd; girls ages 16 and up filled each space in the venue. In fact, I stood next to a mother who had brought her teenage daughter to not only see the show, but experience a glimpse of revolution. It is refreshing to see young women celebrate such a pivotal point in music history and still actively keep it alive today. 

At one point in the show, Hanna also emphasized how remarkable it is that girls are still doing incredibly “cool” things in the punk scene at young ages. She told the crowd to go visit local shows and smaller bands because that is where the real art and community is. 

The behavior from both the crowd and the band itself was highly representative of the movement and everything it stood for. In the ’90s, Hanna would yell “Girls to the front!” at Bikini Kill concerts to let the women take charge of the crowd. I was incredibly delighted to hear that girls my age were screaming it in the audience because it validated that the movement was still alive today. Additionally, there were barely any phones hovering over the crowd throughout the duration of the concert. I believe that it is important to note how almost every single person in that venue was incredibly present in the moment. Girls were creating mosh pits the entire time and let their bodies take charge with every chord played. Their screams to Bikini Kill’s setlist filled every space in the venue and spoke volumes for every girl that fought for what’s right. During these moments, I was sure that revolution had perfectly taken place.

Music contains such a remarkable power to spark revolution and to even continue it for decades to follow. Taking part in a space where communities can connect and uplift each other is such a beautifully intimate creation. Voices exist and can be used in so many musical ways to emphasize and advocate struggle, and Bikini Kill is a prime example of this. When admiring the remarkable crowd around me, I had officially concluded that Bikini Kill and other bands involved in the riot grrrl movement have undoubtedly made a lasting impact on history and girls everywhere. 

• Bikini Kill
• concert
• girlhood
• riot grrrl