How the 1990s Riot Grrrl Movement Grew Out of Rebellion Against the Blatant Misogyny of Punk Rock

In recognition of International Women’s Day, YouTuber Polyphonic focused on Riot Grrrl, a third-wave feminism, punk movement that started in the early 1990s and grew organically when the American punk rock culture became too toxic towards women. It was out of this movement that some of punk rock’s most popular acts came. Bands such as L7, Bikini Kill and Bratmobile put a new, determined face to the music and redefined the genre as a whole. These women were badass, extremely talented and wanted to ensure that women could make music without comprising herself in the process.

In honor of #InternationalWomensDay, this week’s video is a celebration of Riot Grrrl, a badass feminist punk movement from the 1990s that still has impacts today. …The Riot Grrrl Manifesto laid out some of the key aspects of their movement. They wanted to create a place for a woman to hear and see each other and they wanted to do it without assimilating to male standards. Furthermore they wanted to revive and rejuvenate punk rock’s DIY culture which they felt had grown stale in the face of commercialism

Another badass group who supports women in music is the Women’s Audio Mission.

Women’s Audio Mission uses music and media and an incredible “carrot” of a training environment – the only professional recording studio in the world built and run by women – to attract over 1,500 underserved women and girls every year to STEM and creative technology studies that inspire them to amplify their voices and become the innovators of tomorrow.

Lori Dorn
Lori Dorn

Lori is a Laughing Squid Contributing Editor based in New York City who has been writing blog posts for over a decade. She also enjoys making jewelry, playing guitar, taking photos and mixing craft cocktails.