Pop punk music is notorious for its misogynistic lyrics, although a large number of alternative music fans are women. I am an active listener despite knowing the harm that these lyrics can cause for women in a white male-dominated industry. Most recently under heat for their questionable lyrics are an up and coming band from Providence, RI called MAKEOUT. Their newest song, “Secrets” doesn’t shy away from the use of derogatory terms by referring to the woman whom the song is about as a “b*tch” and a “wh*re.” This song is not the only instance where MAKEOUT has been less than respectful to women.
They are not the only band at fault; large, popular bands such as Blink-182 use plenty of slurs in their songs as well. “I hate you all, your mom’s a wh*re … ‘cause girls are such a drag” is a line from “Dysentery Gary.” Why is there a need for such offensive language in music? Alternative music has always been seen as “angry” music for teenagers full of angst, but young people listening to artists they look up to openly shame and degrade women sets the standards so low for them and makes it seem okay, almost as if it is “edgy” and “cool” to go around calling people’s mothers wh*res and their daughters b*tches.
Punk concerts and festivals like Warped Tour are meant to be safe spaces for all listeners, as are all music-related events. The style of dance associated with heavy and alternative music includes a lot of close contact and touching from strangers, such as moshing and crowd surfing. Many women feel the need to stay on the sides and not partake in these activities because they know they could be taken advantage of and touched while in such close quarters. Many artists have been known to stop mid-song to call out inappropriate behaviors when they see them to get the perpetrator removed to create a safer environment. Last month Sam Carter, singer of British alternative band Architects, stopped mid-show to ask a woman who was crowd surfing if she was okay because he had seen a man grab her chest. He ended his speech with “not at my f*cking show” to show that they do not tolerate any kind of predatory behavior and do not want it associated with their music. Artists like Carter who are leading by example are a step in the right direction to make alternative music a safer space.
Alternative music is not the only genre to have a bad reputation of sexism and misogyny, but it is a genre that is often overlooked and not given blame when it’s needed. Rap music and hip-hop are often the first to be criticized when women are talked about as sex objects only, and it is more publicly known when a popular rapper is charged with violent sex crimes or other offenses. Unfortunately, these things happen in all genres of music but we need to start paying more attention and not letting these men, and also women, get away with hurtful, dehumanizing lyrics and actions.