The Movement http://elsegundousd.com/eshs/bayeagle/features/february/riot.htm

The Riot Grrrl Movement

If you have ever skimmed through a beauty magazine and felt ugly, you are not alone. A psychological study done in 1995 discovered that three minutes of looking at a fashion magazine caused 70 percent of women to feel guilty, shameful, and depressed. Girls have it tough. They give into often-fatal beauty myths, and by the time they reach college, one out of every four will have an eating disorder. Teenage girls are expected to look perfect, be proper and cater to men’s needs. True, women’s rights have come a long way over the past century, but no matter what anyone says, women are not viewed as equal. So how, might you be wondering, are teenage girls supposed to grow into strong, confident, and independent women while battling the pressures of society? Well, The Riot Grrrls had the same thoughts and they decided to do something about it. The Riot Grrrl movement gives voice to adolescent girls who are fed up with the standards and constraints set by patriarchal society.

It was an underground movement that began in the summer of 1991 in Washington D.C. as an offshoot of the male-dominated scene. The lyrics from the song “The Riot Girls,” written by Brenda Baker, embody the spirit of the movement. “No one calls ‘em ladies. They burned their dresses and cut their curls. They got a point of view. They got a job to do. Make way for the Riot Girls!” Most people call it punk rock feminism, although it has spread much further than punk circles. Not only do they seek to eradicate oppression through music and playing in bands but they also spread revolutionary inspiration through publishing zines. Led by bands such as Bratmobile, , and , and zines such as Jigsaw , Chainsaw , and , the movement created a network of Riot Grrrls and soon chapters were started across the country. The movement grew even further from its punk rock beginnings when it received coverage in magazines such as Newsweek and Sassy .

Still, many are left wondering, “Who are these girls and what purpose do they serve?” The Riot Grrrls are unapologetic, aggressive, in-your-face activists who act out against domination and refuse to play by anyone’s rules but their own. They are self-proclaimed misfits and outcasts: the fat girls, punks, nerds, lesbians, tomboys, and girls just fed up with being ruled by rich white Christian men. They are young fierce feminists. The Riot Grrrls are tired of abuse, and they shout it from rooftops. Although they take a political stance and speak out against injustices such as rape and abuse, they are also concerned with teenage struggles such as relationships, school, friends and boys. They have created a wide-spread community in which they rant and rave, play music, share stories and provide comfort and assurance.

More recently Riot Grrrl has created an Internet community, allowing many more girls to get involved. All the girls will agree that

1 of 2 6/30/2008 4:53 PM it is a community of emotional support. The Riot Grrrl Movement http://elsegundousd.com/eshs/bayeagle/features/february/riot.htm The Riot Grrrls reach out to teenage girls around the country, hold conferences, raise money for causes (such as the women in Afghanistan), attend Rock 4 Choice concerts and use words, music and action as their political tools. If you are fed up with patriarchal society, go online and get involved in the revolution. Riot Grrrl provides an alternative to the skinny white girls in magazines like seventeen and teen . Don’t feel bad- get mad. Riot- don’t diet. In a time in your life when society teaches you to be silent, Riot Grrrl demands that you scream!

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