The presence of sexism within music is seen across a wide spectrum. From music critics to musical artists, women in this industry face gender discrimation. Ann Powers “A Spy in the House of Love” and Tracy Moore article “Oh, the Unbelievable Shit You Get Writing About Music as a Woman” were eye-opening. Their insights and experiences working in music was eye-opening. I was quite shocked as they opened up about the responses they received due to the passion and knowledge they had for rock. Moore states, “ A band once put me on the list to see their show and then scowled at me to get them water while they set up, as if I were supposed to "earn it." Where dudes standing in a circle busting out the rock talk refused to include me. Where if they did include me, it was a hostile attempt to quiz me on records to "prove" I had the right to talk about a band. Where guys clearly didn't know how to process the fact that a woman was going to review their band, much less if it were critical.” This statement exposes the arrogance of men succeeding in music; it is apparent that a woman’s opinion is invaluable and can only be held credible if her knowledge is challenged by her male counterparts. Power’s perspective was criticized and questioned by her fellow peers, she states in her article that her favorite artists were also sexist and she was astonished about how other female critics were harassed and demeaned. Women were seen as sexual objects, she states “A younger woman, part of the more'' enlightened'' enlightened “enlight-ened” indie rock scene, got up and told a sad and frightening tale of sexual harassment at her small label. What happened next horrified me, fresh off the boat as I was from utopian San Francisco—those would-be mentors told the young woman she should just “get beyond” having been brutalized, “stop whining,” and learn how to be steely.”
DJ Selections:
Joan Jett and The Blackhearts-I Hate Myself For Loving You
Alannah Myles-Black Velvet
I chose to spotlight women who have changed the game of rock and created a path for other women to succeed in music. Alannah Myles and Joan Jett demonstrated that women are capable of innovating excellent work. Female artists should not be seen as less than and should have an even playing field.
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