Artsculture

Bring Back Strong, Smart Women Rockers

I grew up with the Riot Grrrls but nowadays Britney rules. What happened?

By Kathleen Haley, 3 Aug 2004, TheTyee.ca

avril

Text size:

Rate this:

Login/Register

I read there's a new a new feminist movement of knitting clothes with friends. I've got nothing against knitting. But I want to rock.

I miss the days of the 90s when there seemed to be a limitless number of female musicians who played really loud guitar and shouted a lot.

Punk, alternative, mainstream. In the 90s, each was home to many rockers making vital music that explored their lives and the world around them. Unlike the Britneys of today, these women didn't sell themselves as sexy pop star products. Take the Riot Grrrl movement that rose in the early years of the decade. Underground band Bikini Kill encouraged feminism and tackled sexism in songs like "Double Dare Ya" : "Dare ya to do what you want / Dare ya to be who you will / Dare ya to cry right outloud."

Many less political but still strong women like Sheryl Crow , Fiona Apple and Alanis Morissette drove commercial playlists, while edgy, smart attitude emanated from alternative musicians like Liz Phair , PJ Harvey , and The Breeders . The Lilith Fair tour formed by Vancouver's Sarah McLachlan exposed a lot of young women to a great variety of passionate and intelligent styles of female musical expression.

Well, the underground riot grrrrl movement is over, even if Kathleen Hanna of Bikini Kill is still singing about feminist issues in her new band Le Tigre.

Where is the new blood? Where are the new movements, the new women's tours?

'Media machines'

I got to talking about it with a neighbour of mine, Brian Pascual, who happens to be music writer, and he agrees: "There isn't a new wave of solo female artists." Pascual, who contributes regularly to Chart Magazine, sees a change in the way women make music. Strong female musicians are now making a name for themselves under their band's name. He gives the examples of Karen O of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Brody Dalle of The Distillers.
 
Shauna Pomerantz, a graduate student at the University of British Columbia, is researching girls' identity construction in high school and how it intersects with girls' culture. She's optimistic about the state of girls and rock music.

As I moan about pop stars like Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera, Pomerantz offers her own quick tour of pop music politics: "I'd say that the line of feminism in rock started with Nancy Sinatra in the mid 1960s, continued through the 1980s with Madonna, took an 'underground' and 'political' turn in the early 1990s with Riot Grrrl, took a 'mainstream' turn in the mid 1990s with Alanis and more Madonna, took a 'commodified' turn with the Spice Girls in the late 1990s, and pretty much continued on in various forms through other female rockers, like those in Lilith Fair."

Todays Spears clones like Jessica Simpson are "media machines," says Pomerantz, who does find Christina Aguilera  more interesting because in interviews she talks about female pleasure, masturbation, and sexual double standards -- that girls are called "sluts," and boys are called "studs."

Pomerantz also points to some decidedly non-Britney successful female artists today: Avril Lavigne, Norah Jones, and Amy Lee of the band Evanescence.

Girls with rock dreams

No, there's nothing like Riot Grrrl punk at the moment, Pomerantz says. The boundaries are getting blurrier all the time. "What we have now is this proliferation of women rockers but they're not classified as rockers or as punkers. But I wouldn't classify them either as pop." For example, Lavigne is popular, but she's not "pop" if that means "bubblegum" or "let's-please-the-boys."

Pomerantz thinks the Lilith Fair/RiotGrrrl synergy of the 1990s broke down a wall for women. This led to the many female artists who today work with men, alone, or with bands. Maybe female musicians don't need the kind of support system they had in the 90s to make it anymore, she suggests. Not that the pop and rock worlds have become gender neutral. But there may be more room for women now.

"I think that men do dominate," she says. "Men get paid more and get more prestige. But at the same time, if I were to look at the big cultural landscape of rock, I would say that a young woman with a guitar and a dream has just as much of a chance of making it as that young boy does in his basement playing Led Zeppelin riffs."

Pomerantz makes intelligent points, but I don't think the rock world has advanced to the point where women's tours and music communities are no longer necessary. And while Pomerantz is correct that the sexy pop star is nothing new, I still find the persistent hype about the bodies of Aguilera, Spears and Beyonce disturbing.

On Avril's young shoulders

Then there's Avril, the wildly successful Canadian 19-year-old who's topping charts and selling millions of albums. Lyrics for big stars like Avril are all over the Internet. She bravely talks about not wanting to "give it up" to a boyfriend in "Don't Tell Me,"  a hit off her new album Under My Skin: "Don't think that your charm and the fact that your arm is now around my neck / Will get you in my pants I'll have to kick your ass and make you never forget."

Avril's music has strong messages and she inspires scores of girls. But a smart 16-year-old, Vivian Rempel of Vancouver, finds Avril a bit, well, young. Avril is a "kind of stupid" teenybopper, Rempel says, but adds that she respects her for co-writing her own songs.

Britney Spears? About her ilk, don't get Rempel started. She doesn't buy into the marketing and says their music videos are all about sex. "They're not independent. They're totally made up. They're just totally not themselves."

Rempel sees Spears and her clones as businesswomen. And maybe women who care more about creating music than selling their image are not taken as seriously these days.
"Maybe women (as artists) just aren't as respected as much as they should be," she says.

'Little libertine'

Most of the bands Rempel likes have male musicians. Luckily, that doesn't stop her from picking up a guitar and trying to play. Still, I'm sorry she doesn't have a community of strong female musicians to keep her company during her high school years. Because my high school friends and I knew we were part of something exciting when we played the music that women were making then.

I remember announcing to my mother that women rockers had arrived. Then I played Hole's album Live Through This for her.

It's a shame that Courtney Love , who inspired so many teenage girls to think about feminism and music in the 90s, has been so self-destructive. Because when Love sang about "anorexic magazines," I could relate. Everyone I knew read those beauty magazines. And when you weren't feeling enraged, you could turn to quirky musicians like Kim Deal of The Breeders, and sing along to songs like  "Cannonball": "I know you, little libertine / I know you're a real koo koo."

The women rockers of my youth inspired me to take guitar lessons and, for a couple weeks at least, I was in a rock band. I was the same age as Vivian Rempel and I remember how cool it felt to know: "That's right. I'm a girl and I play guitar."

Nobody's slave

The female musicians of the 90s sent a message that women could express their thoughts and emotions in the hyper-masculine world of rock music. They wrote angry songs. Goofy songs. Political treatises.

The Britneys send only the tired message that women should dress and act in ways that are sexy to men. Their individuality has been stripped, along with their clothes. 

In Portland, Oregon, there's a Rock 'n' Roll Camp for Girls, now in its fourth year, helping girls from ages 8 to 18 make noise and shake up the world. Thank god they are full up with a waiting list. I know we need more strong female musicians when I see Britney on MuchMusic sauntering around to her song, "I'm a Slave 4 U," : "I'm a slave for you. I cannot hold it; I cannot control it. I'm a slave for you. I won't deny it; I'm not trying to hide it. Baby, don't you wanna, dance upon me, (I just wanna dance next to you) To another time and place."

Kathleen Haley is on staff at The Tyee.


  [Tyee]

35 Comments:

Login or register to post comments

  • Kit (not verified)

    7 years ago

    Britney was "quoted" (if anyone could call that dit's utterances "speech")..as supporting George B. within Fahrenheight 9/11. I happen to feel that voices of both genders are vital to change. That said, I happen to think that "sexy" (you gotta sexually "want me" to "hear" the message) styles - male or female - have an insidious violence trap built in to them. I happen to believe that the means one uses to stimulate attention are possibly part and parcel of the messages' outcome. I'm not purpoting to have some kind of an answer or anything like this - but do I sense it's an operative issue.

  • What Happened? (not verified)

    7 years ago

    I agree with what the writer is saying, that the female voice in rock isn't as vital or impactful as it was 10 years ago. But a quick rundown of the women who set the lady-rocker standard in the 90s reveals exactly what went wrong. Turns out the whole women rocker phenom may have been a load of HYPE. 1. Alanis Morrissette -- Bashed men in her breakthrough album, particularly a producer who helped her to the top. Subsequent albums revealed her to be superficial and in dire need of musical help, male or otherwise. The scream of Jagged Little Pill has turned to a whimper. 2. Courtney Love. Poster girl for the PC and girlpower crowd of the 90s. Funny though, that the same crowd that rages against domestic violence doesn't own up to what is revealed in the movie Kurt and Courtney. Exactly how did Kurt die, people? 3. Bif Naked. Ooooh, she has "naked" in her name. Oooooh, she has jet black hair and tattoeos. But wait, she can't write a decent lyric nor hold a note. I'll pass. Pre-packaged punk to make the corporate music types happy. 4. Sarah McLaughlan. Let's all roll our eyes in unison. Haven't we had enough of this whiney crap? 5. Liz Phair. Alt-rock legend in the 90s...now churning out pop fodder for corporate America. Unbelievable turnaround. 6. Madonna. Hypersexuality as feminist statement or a way to move records and t-shirts? None of it matters now... Madonna has become the second coming of Martha Stewart with her affection for baking and yoga. 7. Britney. Please see reference to Fahrenheit 911. 8. Christina. At least Britney was the original. 9. Jessica. Not just a knock-off, but a third string knock-off. OUCH! 10. Avril Lavigne. The ascension of the mallrat. The women's rock movement official and utterly implodes.

  • Jane (not verified)

    7 years ago

    If you don't have a daughter to send, the Rock'n'Roll Camp for Girls accepts donations of money, band equipment, and the hundreds of things that make a camp.

  • rockerbiff (not verified)

    7 years ago

    Feminism in music - just another angle to get you to buy CD's and purchase overly expensive tickets. Female singers have been around as long as men have, Billie Holliday sang about it too, anyone label her as a feminist ? See any shots of Sarah McLachlan in her early career ? - she looked like an 80's Madonna wannabee - then she clicked with the "feminist" crowd and voila Lilith came alive and sold millions. The music biznuss today is ALL bizuss, music used to be a form of cultural expression that had mass appeal without being owned by the Sony Corp or a susiduary of Microsoft. Whilst that expression is still out there very little of the real stuff ever gets a record deal. Whatever happened to the Spice Girls anyway ?

  • shirin (not verified)

    7 years ago

    what happened to the rocking, angry gals of the late '80's/early '90's? They grew up and/or matured - Madonna as mother, Alanis "reborn" in India - and who could forget Cyndi Lauper? apparently a lot of people - even though "girls just wanna have fun". Personally, I'm glad girls now actually have a game plan rahter than just being angry. And as for the Britney's of the world go - they will likely be around as will be the latest "boy bands". Their appeal is solely for their appeal to the hormone-driven pubescent people - and not their really their thoughts or talents. That is a given.

  • Dan W (not verified)

    7 years ago

    First off, great article. Women rockers is a subject that is seldom discussed, which is one of the reasons that they disappeared so silently. The examples used here, however, could have been a little better. When we are talking about hardcore rock n' roll types, we really should give mention to signers that could really wail like Sass Jordan and Melissa Ethridge. Cyndi Lauper a rocker? No goddamn way. We must also remember that the 90s also saw the slow death of real male rockers. Chris Cornell is not nearly as loud anymore, and Rob Zombie is making horror movies with lousy soundtracks. Meanwhile, N'Sync made the Smashing Pumpkins run away from the music scene, and they were one of the last hopes. Could Avril Lavigne save female rock? Not likely. She has the anger and the outfits, but she's still more of a popstar than a rocker.

  • allan (not verified)

    7 years ago

    Perhaps I'm here with a disadvantage having enjoyed rock since its initial insanity in the '50s. Frankly, while I like Avril's lyrics, who in hell cares that I can't wait until her voice breaks a bit so that she might someday sound a little closer to my current favorite Nora Jones who has given me a whole new appreciation for early Hank Williams. But if I were to really pine for a female rocker I think I'd have to go with Janis Joplin. I'm still waiting for someone to match her.

  • Rob, Q (not verified)

    7 years ago

    What happened indeed? TV took over the music industry, that’s what happened. Smart and talented kickass female rockers like Deborah Harry, Grace Slick, Janis Joplin, Pat Benatar, Ann & Nancy Wilson, Stevie Nicks, Darby Mills, Sass Jordan, Melissa Ethridge, Sinead O’Connor are all too ugly, old or dead now to keep the masses happy.

    They probably wouldn’t succeed these days, anyway. Since the music industry is dominated by TV, to be “successful”, female musicians have to be young, hot and willing to flaunt it in synchronized dance steps to cheesy simplistic music. Image first, baby. Don’t forget to give those writhing 12 year-old fans something they can understand – chest out, hips greased, legs akimbo, eyes front. Now that’s rock ‘n roll.

    Anyway, Avril Lavigne is being disingenuous when she says she’s doin’ it her way. She tells us she rocks, but she really doesn’t. She may have a catchy sound, but her whole being is packaged and choreographed right down to her fingernail polish. Her “anger” comes from a song sheet, not from her heart.

    Kathleen, there are some up-and-coming chicks who rock; you’re just not going to find out about them in HMV. Use the Internet. Check out:

    Gingerjake Lennonmurphy Drain STH Lacuna Coil Arch Enemy

    They’ll rock your socks off – guaranteed.

  • Rob, Q (not verified)

    7 years ago

    Oooops, I guess I "locationed" myself. I should have said, "Kathleen, there are some up-and-coming chicks who rock; you’re just not going to find out about them at A&B Sound.

  • Kurt (not verified)

    7 years ago

    Hey, what about Chrissie Hynde? She's old enough for a pension and she still writes a smart lyric and kicks butt live or on disc. But she's the only one I can think of who's grown old gracefully, yet without compromise.

  • FiMaxwell (not verified)

    7 years ago

    Grab a copy of BITCH- feminist response to pop culture (It's American but they should have it at the woman's bookstore in Kitts); they always spotlight a female musician (and it's always the first time I've heard of her) and do reviews of CD's of several female singers. As Rob Q points out- you've got to look for them, but they are out there, I think.

  • Ron Yamauchi (not verified)

    7 years ago

    The decline in female rockers is worth noting, but the context is that rock itself has dropped drastically off the cultural radar. Some of us still love guitar bass n drums, but the rest of the world has moved beyond them skiffle combos. Alas. As for women in music (as opposed to feminism in music), check out the charts. Today's Canoe singles listings: #1 - Fantasia, #2 - Diana DeGarmo, #4 - Britney, #9 - Evanescence, #11 - Hilary Duff, #12 - Beyonce, #15 - Jessica Simpson, #22 and 23 - Evanescence, #26 - Avril L, #28 - Sarah McLachlan, #30 - Dido.

  • Kathleen... (not verified)

    7 years ago

    you ROCK!

  • The REAL barking mad fox channel (not verified)

    7 years ago

    Here's a smart one:

    http://observer.guardian.co.uk/magazine/story/0,11913,1276 669,00.html

  • Shawna (not verified)

    7 years ago

    It's not politically correct to want to ROCK! The backlash against feminist strength is obvious, with all the crappy reality shows and messages about women not being thin enough, pretty enough, blonde enough, big boobed enough!! Stop buying the magazines, music & movies that keep putting women into either the slut role or puritan role; we are full of different ideas and shouldn't be put into any category! We are all special and have good qualities; accept us for who we are, not who we look like!

  • Ron Yamauchi (not verified)

    7 years ago

    Well, Britney and especially Xtina think they ARE being strong by being overtly sexual. There is actually something to that notion, e.g. the phrase "pussy whipped." Where it rankles modern sensibilities is that the power of sexual promise has a limited shelf-life and is unfairly distributed.

  • FiMaxwell (not verified)

    7 years ago

    I don't think Britney gives a shite what people think she is or is not (I wouldn't)... she's laughing all the way to the bank and good for her!!

  • anne cameron (not verified)

    7 years ago

    I'm with you, Fiona. I still think one of the best rockers is Little Richard!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • ML (not verified)

    7 years ago

    There is a certain decline in women rockers in the mainstream, but who looks to outlets like MTV and MuchMusic when they want to hear punk? Avril is a co-opted poster girl for pre-teens who want to be punk but can't make that transition from pop. The true punk movement with girls is still alive in bands like Le Tigre and Sleater-Kinney and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, not to mention bands from overseas like Sahara Hotnights. And we shouldn't write out the musicians still around from the 1990s, such as Gwen Stefani and the woman from Garbage, as well as Beth Gibbons of Portishead who is still releasing relevant solo material.

  • Garbagewoman sucks (not verified)

    7 years ago

    She did ads for Pepsi and said Lilith Fair ghettoized women.

  • Cheryl (not verified)

    7 years ago

    They don't necessarily rawk, but off the top of my head, other women who kick musical butt are Nina Simone, Ani DiFranco (the older stuff), Luscious Jackson (older stuff), Peaches, Bitch and Animal (when you're in the mood), Princess Superstar, Carolyn Mark (Victoria) and Vancouver musicians: Kinnie Starr, Veda Hille, Stink Mitt, The Cinch and the Riff Randells. Check them out and support the ones you like.

  • betti forde (not verified)

    7 years ago

    i'm wasted right now @ 4am and checkin' out the tyee for the first time. so inspiring to see so many peeps reading and writing in! it's funny the way the industry works; it's all about what's trendy. so if you look at current trends, ie. hiphop and electro, you'll find lots of artists from missy elliot to miss kitten reppin' for the ladies and rockin' it w/ their computers. luv betti forde aka dj lush aka hancunt www.stinkmitt.com

  • Nick (not verified)

    7 years ago

    I'm suprised no-one's mentioned Pink or Michelle Branch yet...

  • Nick (not verified)

    7 years ago

    I'm suprised no-one's mentioned Pink or Michelle Branch yet...

  • Nick (not verified)

    7 years ago

    Oops, apologies for the double post.

  • Megan (not verified)

    7 years ago

    Nick, who cares about Pink or Michelle Branch? They both suck. Pink is as manufactured as Avril Lavigne and Michelle Branch's music is boring pop crap. I love early '90s Riot Grrrl and female fronted grunge bands. Nor do I agree with what rockbiff is saying: feminism in music is not another angle to get you to buy CD's and purchase overly expensive tickets. It's about women expressing themselves, getting their anger out. Some bands that were involved in the Riot Grrrl movement like Bratmobile and Sleater-Kinney are still around. And there are bands like The Donnas, Jack Off Jill, My Ruin, and Kittie. Some are pretty angry and some aren't. And in response to What Happened? Courtney Love did not kill Kurt Cobain, give it up already people. Don't forget about other great female grunge bands of the '90s like Babes In Toyland, L7, Lunachicks, 7 Year Bitch, etc. Women in rock was never a phase, it was real. Get over it, people.

  • Di (not verified)

    7 years ago

    Check out Serena Ryder. Shades of Janis, Etta James. She has a web site. I think we have to be more active in supporting talented musicians. Good music won't fall in our laps. We're certainly not going to hear it on mainstream radio or TV but it's out there. I recently saw footage of Janis Joplin in the movie Festival Express (see it, buy it) and she was riveting but I know she wouldn't have been as successful at this time because she didn't have the sex-starved come-hither look. It's depressing.

  • tracey collins (not verified)

    7 years ago

    the concept of female artists promoting sexuality to sell music sucks.

  • sunita (not verified)

    7 years ago

    sunitamy name my year 45 old i cann'tsmy sex tell me sex bubblegumor medicine

  • sunita (not verified)

    7 years ago

    sunitamy name my year 45 old i cann'tsmy sex tell me sex bubblegumor medicine

  • ileana (not verified)

    7 years ago

    i reaally wonder why some grrrlllss.... even go craazy about WESTFLIFE and sorts of... they are like wanna be's and HELLLUUUHH!!!! who are they... they drops... (my opinion geeks!) :> AVRIL is cool...(for me). she composes her own song. i like her attitude as well as evanescence's AMY LEE. i love hearing their songs. and forget about that "guy looking" boybands. not like of n'sync or westlifes huh?! i heard about COURTNEY LOVE! her music rocks too... and all of their kind fellas... let's just live this kind of attitude...we are one of kind geekos :> *^~**^~*~~*^~~*^~~*^~*~^*~^

  • ilena (not verified)

    7 years ago

    WHAT??????????????????????? BRITNEY SPEARS? it's just the looks... she thinks she rocks... DIE HARD ROCKER... come on, dream on. :>*************^^^^

  • sundae (not verified)

    7 years ago

    i admit. i dress up like a real girlash outfit. but i love rock. why is it tht people would judge your kind of music by the way you dress up? i respect people's kind of music. just don't judge anybody's kind of music.

  • sundae (not verified)

    7 years ago

    i admit. i dress up like a real girlash outfit. but i love rock. why is it tht people would judge your kind of music by the way you dress up? i respect people's kind of music. just don't judge anybody's kind of music.

  • WaySuprised (not verified)

    7 years ago

    We got free tickets ( My wife and I ) to take 4 kids to see avril in Detriot ( Well Auburn Hills) so off we went. This is coming from a guy that has seen every band from Frank Zappa to Alice Cooper to Queen to Areosmith and the Stones. Not to mention Pink Floyde and Pat Benatar ( There is a femal rocker for ya) anyways now I'm braggin. But long story shot Avril Rocked! I loved it. Simple Plan warmed up, they were way good too. But on stage presance and sher raw energy Avril Lavigne is a rocker! If younger artist wana go twards true rock? Leave Brittney in the rear views and look at Avril. Thats Rock!

    • No best comments selected by an editor for this story yet. To see all comments, click the All Comments tab, above.
    • The discussion for this story is closed. No more comments can be added.