title: riot grrrl is because...
Written by: An anonymous viewer on 7/15/98 at 11:13AM.
add on to this!
Replies:
Reply from: taylor k on 7/15/98 at 12:09PM. because girls need something that can outlive media hype, mass marketing, commercialisation and fashion trends, because the world needs to learn that feminists do not all come from the same mold, because absolutisism needs to be destroyed, because strong women can be prosecuters and porn stars, doctors and rock stars, butches and femmes, because there are boys that are tired of misogynistic bullshit too, because the girl standing in the farthest corner of the playground needs someone to play hopscotch with, because the those of us who grew up scared want (and are taking) our lives back, because one too many of us have had our bras snapped and our butts grabbed at far too many concerts, because powerful and tough doesn't mean unsympathetic, because the auschwitz concept of beauty isn't healthy, because we want to love, live, rock out, break down, hold on and never give up.....
Reply from: janeeta on 7/15/98 at 12:23PM. because girls are taught to be jealous of each other and that jealousy kills girl relationships. because too many girls have eating disorders and low self-esteem. because even punk rock kids can be misogynistic assholes. someone needs to change that. because being 11,12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 or 19 is really hard and some of us never forget that. because it's important for girls to form bonds with other girls in order to survive in this world. because even outcasts need somewhere to fit in. because girls are real badasses. because girls need an artistic forum that they can call their own. because we need to recruit boy allies so that other boys change their evil ways. because the old riot grrrl stuff is getting overused and we need to write our own stuff now. because it makes us feel good to say riot grrrl to our friends. because it's okay to cry when things hurt us. because girls are always going to be around. because it's hard to change the whole damn world all alone. because we care.
Reply from: gemma on 7/15/98 at 12:23PM. there is ALWAYS an alternative.
Reply from: janeeta on 7/15/98 at 12:26PM. i can already tell that i am going to save this thread. :) finally something both POSITIVE and PRODUCTIVE on this board. ;)
Reply from: nerdygirl on 7/15/98 at 12:35PM. because we are not alone, because we will be there to support you and encourage you because we know how hard things can be, because we have a voice and we want to be heard we NEED to be heard, because we want to enjoy ourselves at shows instead of being uptight and defesive because some guy might come up and grab our ass...
Reply from: zeepp on 7/15/98 at 1:06PM. this is crazy! i'm supposed to write something like this for our show on friday.. i guess i'll start now. is it okay if i use some of yours, goils? okay, here goes.. ummm..
BECAUSE even if you don’t think we’re valid or important because we can’t or haven’t (yet) changed the world, we know that we are because we can and have made significant changes in our lives and in the lives of our girlfriends. we’re envisioning alternative ways of doing things. we LIVE the revolution. everyday. BECAUSE we understand that all forms of oppression are connected and know that fighting against them with this awareness is effective. BECAUSE we know somebody is bound to call us reverse sexists and that they will be wrong. girl love and girl power is not about man hate. we won’t falter or crumble because you’re afraid of us, so quit the knee-jerkin reactionism defensiveness bullshit. pretty please. with sugar on top. BECAUSE we create and crave records, books, art, zines, etc. that really speak to us. art that slowly dissipates that overwhelming feeling of isolation. we need to relate. we need to see ourselves represented. and when we don’t feel like our issues are being addressed, we’d like your support in getting it done ourselves. BECAUSE we want to be happy. sounds simple, right? it’s not. we’re willing to fight for happiness and we know how truly revolutionary that is. you’re not going to win. our indignation is not poetic or romantic. and it’s not punk rock. BECAUSE we want and need your help. we want to inspire, encourage, and support you. and we hope you’ll do the same for us in return. BECAUSE we won’t assimilate into anyone else standards of what’s good or cool. we want to demystify ourselves. we believe that being honest and helpful and nice and sincere and corny and dorky and REAL and a good friend are all fabulous qualities. BECAUSE we know diy endeavors are the best and most effective way for silenced groups and individuals to express themselves. we know no one’s going to do it for us, and we can do it better anyway. BECAUSE we want to laugh and cry and create with our girlfriends. we’re starving for girl love and solidarity. we want to open up to you and be inspired by you. we want to be your allies. we know that girl/girl jealousy is tearing us apart, is internalized sexism, and is preventing us from getting anything done. we’re tired of competing. BECAUSE it seems that every girl we meet is a survivor of physical, emotional, or sexual violence and it keeps us up at night. we’re tired of keeping secrets. BECAUSE we know we wouldn’t be participating in self-defeating behaviours if we felt loved and gave a shit about ourselves. if only we could figure out just how worth it we are. we’re working on it. BECAUSE we know feminism is for girls. and boys too. BECAUSE creating and sustaining a supportive non-hierarchical community just feels good and we know this is something we need in our lives. BECAUSE we don’t feel safe and we want to and deserve to feel safe. we know feeling unsafe keeps us silenced and we’re tired of being quiet. we’re tired of being scared. BECAUSE we’re survivors, not victims. and we’re doing whatever we can to ensure other girls’ survival. and our own too. BECAUSE we probably haven’t addressed some of your concerns or issues yet. and we want to hear from you. we want to get to know you. BECAUSE we know girls who do such important work and it’s time they be recognized and applauded. and criticized too. BECAUSE some of us are dykes and are tired of hearing the term “man-hating lesbian”. this is not only about heterosexism and homophobia. it’s also about sexism and misogyny. we hope you understand this. BECAUSE some of us are heterosexual and that doesn’t mean we hate women. (see above). i hope you get that analogy. BECAUSE we’re committed to learning. we’re acknowledging (our own) privilege and will not be blinded by it. we’re figuring out how racism, heterosexism, classism, fat-hatred, age-ism, able body ism, species-ism, homophobia, transphobia, etc. figures into our lives. BECAUSE we hate capitalism and it’s effect on our lives. we know it’s turned us into commodity sponges. we’re not interested in making profits or owning things. we’re interested in sustaining our lives, sharing information, and having fun.
Reply from: An anonymous viewer on 7/15/98 at 1:24PM. i didn't write this, but i've always liked it... "because a woman's work is never done and is underpaid or unpaid or boring or repititious and we're the first to get the sack and what we look like is more important than what we do and if we get raped it's our fault and if we get bashed we must have provoked it and if we raise our voices we're nagging bitches and if we enjoy sex we're nymphos and if we don't we're frigid and if we love women it's because we can't get a "real" man and if we ask our doctor too many questions we're neurotic and/or pushy and if we expect community care for children we're selfish and if we stand up for our rights we're aggressive and "unfeminine" and if we don't we're typical weak females and if we want to get married we're out to trap a man and if we don't we're unnatural and because we still can't get an adequate safe contraceptive but men can walk on the moon and if we can't cope or don't want a pregnancy we're made to feel guilty abut abortion and..for lots and lots of other reasons we are a part of the riot grrrl movement..."
Reply from: kali on 7/15/98 at 1:41PM. wow...i really respect you guys...really intelligent. i love reading this kinda stuff....perhaps you should write a book!! yay!
Reply from: caseycultist on 7/15/98 at 7:01PM. BEACAUSE i spent nine years being held down by one man or another and i want to breathe and love again. BECAUSE i never had a sister growing up and i feel i missed out on close female relationships. BECAUSE i spent years and years hating anything i perceived as feminine and denying my own womynhood and feeling betrayed by my body and i want to learn grrrl love and acceptance. BECAUSE my mother never even tried to understand and i want to be a real mother to my daughters. BECAUSE not one single day goes by without me being treated as a sexual object and without grrrl love and support i would crumble. BECAUSE i have weaknesses and need love to work through them. BECAUSE i have strengths and need to recognize and share them. BECAUSE i have never had strong female role models in my childhood and now i have grrls to look up to.