I am a riot grrrl. Yes...a riot grrrl. Oh, "How 1991" you trendoids say...fuck you. I'm going to take a step back and speak to those who don't know what a riot grrrl is. I'm going to give people my opinion on what i think it is. Believe it or not some people are secluded in little bumble fuck towns like mine.

What is Riot Grrrl?


# 1, There is no set definition. It's different for everyone.
So i'll just describe it the best way i can. It's a newer, cruder "group" of feminists. It's grrrls who said "fuck this shit, we'll make our own culture." (i say fuck a lot...don't i?) HEY! there is an example. I'm female and i say fuck a lot, AND i'm not sorry.

I remeber a time when i would string out all the bands i loved. They would be all boys. I realized just recently all the bands i love today are all girls/grrrls with just a few bois in the mix. Three years ago i wasn't brave enough to take up guitar. Now i teach myself. Now i can walk right into a music store and not feel intimadated. Guys ask ME questions.

When i started doing my zine, it felt like therapy. I got to speak my mind about stuff that concerned me. I got to meet very smart, interesting, strong people from the zine culture. Fuck "Cosmopolitan" that left me feeling fat, ugly, and left out with their "Does he love you?" and "Are you Overweight?" quizes. That's bullshit. It's a disgusting way to live.

I don't care anymore what the "white middle class man" thinks. I'm ME, I'm MELISSA, and I'm a riot grrrl. I like myself a lot more today.

I want music, clothes, and reading material that appeals to me. So WE make it.

When i was younger i always tried to fit in. I didn't fool anyone, especially myself. I was not happy.
Today i'm overweight, have pink hair, piercings, wear-what-the-fuck-i-like, and stopped shaving my underarms. Cos i wanted to. I don't feel like shaving my underarms anymore. I'm sick of cutting myself and it burning me.
[ since i originally wrote this, i do continue to shave my undersrms. My not shaving phase lasted about 2 weeks. I realize now not shavig your underarms is a matter of personal hygene. I can be a riot grrrl no matter what i look like. Pierced and punk or blonde hair and high heels]
When i was 16, modeling, 120lbs, and had golden hair i didn't feel this good about myself.
I finally figured out why. Your never perfect. The search will never end. Someone will always find something wrong with you. So i do what i think i look pretty in. I'm not saying go dye yer hair green or anything...i'm saying if you did it would be ok though.
I was a feminist/riot grrrl before it was even invented...it just has a name now.
Riot grrrl is Sleater-Kinney encouraging girls to start their own bands...it's Courtney Love saying "get revenge, plug in an amp," it's P.J. Harvey singing:
"I wanna bath in milk, eat grapes, Robert Deniro sit on my face...even Aphrodite she ain't got nothing on me" It's fucking Bikini Kill songs blared up as high as i can get em while screaming every fucking word. Those 3 mintues in that song are mine.

Boys are brought up to be strong. They are constantly told in subconscious [and blatantly conscious] ways not to cry, be a man, you can do anything you want, you wanna be the president?, you can go to the moon and back if you want, and take care of your mom & sisters. I want some of that too.

What's wrong with that? ~MeLiSsA gEeK~