"REVOLUTION GIRL STYLE NOW!": Exploring the Riot Grrrl movement

The Riot Grrrl movement emerged in the early 1990s as a powerful response to the gender inequalities and societal constraints faced by women, particularly in the punk music scene. With its roots deeply embedded in punk rock, this grassroots movement blended music, art, and activism, challenging traditional gender roles and empowering young women to express themselves boldly and unapologetically. Advocating for issues such as female empowerment, body positivity, and sexual liberation, Riot Grrrl became a voice for those who felt marginalized and overlooked. As we dive into the essence of this transformative movement, we'll explore how it inspired a generation to reclaim their narratives, cultivate creative expressions, and foster a community of solidarity among women. Join us as we unravel the beauty and significance of punk feminism, encapsulated in the rallying cry of "Revolution Girl Style Now!"

Despite the ideologies of punk being rooted in inclusivity for all, the scene was, and still is, full of sexist chodes too focused on being the toughest in the pit to unlearn their sexist beliefs. This couldn't stop strong girls and women from joining the scene, though, and in a small town called Olympia in the early 90s, a group of inspired women tired of the rampant sexism within the scene got together to discuss how to fight back against and address the sexism within the punk scene. These women came together and decided what they needed was a "girl riot" against not only the punk scene but society as a whole, in a world where women and girls had no support or validation for their struggles, even in a community with intentions of fighting against the man and thus Riot Grrrl was born.

Riot Grrrl focused on girls engaging in cultural production and bringing new pieces into the scene rather than following others' existing works to get their voices out there. Girl bands formed, and fanzines were created, filled with feminist theory and brash lyrics, not allowing the world to ignore them any longer. Riot Grrrl music, while rooted in punk, was different from the bands that rocked the scene at the time and focused their music on expressing feminist and anti-racist viewpoints. Songs were very personal and often described experiences that the singer or the band members had gone through themselves exploring sensitive topics such as rape, eating disorders, incest, and gender inequality. Fliers were spread about, and soon enough, the movement reached neighboring cities such as Seattle. Riot Grrrl depended heavily on DIY, just like the rest of the punk scene, and used fanzines to spread the message of girl power far and wide. One of the most popular Riot Grrrl bands, Bikini Kill, had fliers describing the movement, "...Because we girls want to create mediums that speak to US. We are tired of boy band after boy band, boy zine after boy zine, boy punk and boy punk after boy...Because we need to talk to each other. Communication and inclusion are key. We will never know if we don't break the code of silence...Because in every form of media we see ourselves slapped, decapitated, laughed at, objectified, raped, trivialized, pushed, ignored, stereotyped, kicked, scorned, molested, silenced, invalidated, knifed, shot, choked, and killed. Because a safe space needs to be created for girls where we can open our eyes and reach out to each other without being threatened by this sexist society and our day-to-day bullshit." Riot Grrrl was taking the world by storm and showing girls everywhere that their voices were valued and needed to be heard. 

Of course, you absolutely cannot talk about Riot Grrrl without also mentioning one of the most prominent figures of the movement, Kathleen Hanna from Bikini Kill. Hanna met bandmates Tobi Vail and Kathi Wilcox at Evergreen State College, where they began making music together and self-released music using cassettes, releasing "Revolution Girl Style Now" in 1991, which led to their zine as well as multiple tours all within the same year. Their rise in the scene inspired women to create their own bands and take up space at local shows, not letting themselves get pushed to the back (girls to the front!). In 1993 they released their debut album, "Pussy Whipped," establishing themselves within the punk scene and bringing attention to the growing Riot Grrrl movement. They rose in popularity fast, especially their song "Rebel Girl," which was eventually considered to be an anthem for the Riot Grrrl movement. Kathleen never stopped her activism either; she still uses her voice to fight for women's rights and calls out the misogyny and sexism within the music industry with her lyrics aiming to challenge the stereotypes placed upon women in music. During the nineties, she was known for calling for girls to step up to the front at Bikini Kill shows, which birthed the phrase "Girls to the front". Other integral bands in the scene are Bratmobile, L7, Babes in Toyland, Team Dresch, Slant 6, and Heavens to Betsy, all making a lasting impact in the music industry. 

The Riot Grrrl movement brought about a much-needed change not only in the punk scene and music industry but also in society. Women and other minorities were often excluded from the industry, but with the Riot Grrrl movement, it was all changed as they pushed for representation, making their voices heard. The movement continued to inspire the next generation of female artists with a female-centric perspective, with bands like Sleater-Kinney, The Linda Lindas, Dream Nails, Otoboke Beaver, Big Joanie, and The Coathangers. The impact of Riot Grrrl did not end with just music but also encouraged women to become more politically active and use their voices for change. A safe space was created for women and minorities who felt disconnected and unwelcome by society. The movement, while not as popular as it may have been in the nineties, still exists today, with fanzines calling for bodily autonomy and equality being created, and songs demanding to be heard are sung. The movement definitely had its downsides and failed to address more intersectional issues, such as disability and class, but as the scene grows in our modern society, we are able to discuss these issues and bring attention to the overlap that was overlooked in the nineties.

Riot Grrrl began with words full of power and girls full of passion. No one was going to push them around, not without being pushed right back. Punk feminism has grown over the decades and become a beautiful space for women of all kinds, whether white, black, Asian, Hispanic, trans, cis, young, old, lesbian, straight, skinny, or fat there's a place for you in the Riot Grrrl movement.