Nineties female punk bands opened the door for women to show an emotion that had been previously tucked away: anger. It gave way to a feminist voice in the music industry that did not simply consist of joy or sadness. A woman could be a whole person, who stands up for what she believes in. Bands such as Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Bikini Kill and Pat Benatar are three examples of strong women who were the face of the revolution. After the Women’s Rights Movement in the 1960s and 1970s, it was vital that this activism remained intact and did not fade away, and nineties punk bands helped keep it alive.
Women began to refuse to take no for an answer and worked harder to make music that had large record labels wanting to put money forward for albums, tours, and promotion. Rock was a previously male dominated world. Elvis started the rock and roll phenomenon, but women were kept in the dark singing only ballads and cute love songs. Suddenly in the nineties, this genre became available for everyone. Songs by Joan Jett and others became theme songs, movie soundtracks, commercial soundtracks, and other large roles. According to author It’s Jime, “As opposed to many others, punk is a musical genre used effectively to position women away from secondary players and instead as leaders without the need for anyone to protect them” (It’s Jime, 2021). Women can now protect themselves as well as provide protection for fellow women around them. Due to the recent renewed oppression of women, womanhood has become a core piece of identity for many and has nurtured a sense of support and protection for women all across the world.
An entire generation of women have now grown up with the sound of women’s punk rock and are able to play it loudly with pride. This genre symbolizes equality and allows young women to know they are capable of being more than simply a pretty face. The nineties was an age of strength for women in music that did not exist before. It was more than just women’s rights; it was a woman being able to be dominant in the music industry and break gender barriers. These lyrics from the three artists listed above present a feeling of female anger and action: Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, I Hate Myself for Loving You- “A girl can do what she wants to do and that’s what I’m gonna do. I’m over being angry ’bout the hell you put me through”; Bikini Kill, Rebel Girl- “Dare ya to do what you want. Your whole fucking culture alienates me”; Pat Benatar, Hit Me With Your Best shot- Knock me down, it’s all in vain. I’ll get right back on my feet again. No one can tell us we’re wrong, Love is a battlefield” (Lyrics.com). These lyrics are an inspiration to women to take charge of a situation and create change.
Female punk rock has had a positive impact on American culture as it has encouraged women to seize their own power and understand that it is okay to demand respect and flaunt your sexuality. Women today are born into a society that these women built and have an innate sense of power that did not exist before. The glass ceiling is still prevalent, but some pieces of it have shattered. Women would have previously been at home listening to rock and roll, not making rock and roll. This analogy applies to all careers and job fields. As stated by Ellie Sivins in the Alternative Press, “The capacity for change is what drew in seventies era women. They were living with a lack of equality and a government that refused to listen under the guise of florals and pastels. Punk music, and diverting themselves from societal expectations, encouraged women to fight for change. The genre’s popularity fluctuates, but it peaks when there is unrest, which explains the resurgence in 2022. Compare today to the seventies and it’s scarily similar. There is a war, exploitative governments and women’s rights are under threat once again” (Sivins, 2022). Rooted in history, women’s punk lives on today.
I currently listen to these artists and engage with them regularly to remind myself that even in a world that seems very anti-women at the moment, we will prevail and have the strength to overcome adversity. This genre has sold millions of copies, filled stadiums, and is listened to by millions. Its popularity is only growing with newer artists trying to create a similar sound such as Le Tigre, Death Valley Girls, and Wet Leg. Women today fortunately did not have to undergo the same shift from female submission to female empowerment. We have grown up with an understanding of our strength and ability to be a doctor, lawyer, CEO or rock star. This genre has encouraged me to get involved politically and stay informed with news about women’s rights. I attended a protest against the overturning of Roe v. Wade last year and felt safe doing so with these powerful women by my side and in my earbuds. I will continue to support this genre personally and share it with those around me to lift women up and encourage them to know their worth.
Works Cited
Jime, it’s. “Punk as Female Empowerment Culture.” Music Is Her Passion, 9 Feb. 2022, www.equality-empowerment.com/post/punk-as-female-empowerment-culture.
Sivins, Ellie. “Why Punk Was Never Supposed to Be Sexy.” Alternative Press Magazine, 17 Oct. 2022, www.altpress.com/punk-androgyny-womens-rights/.
“Welcome to Lyrics.Com!” Lyrics.Com, www.lyrics.com/. Accessed 22 May 2023.