riot grrrl

Definition

A feminist punk rock movement of the 1990s that merged aggressive indie rock and punk with explicitly political messages about gender equality, sexuality, and women's rights, known for DIY ethics and confrontational performances.

Example Usage

Bands like Bikini Kill and Sleater-Kinney embodied the riot grrrl ethos by performing unapologetic feminist music in underground venues.

Origin

Coined by bands and activists in the Pacific Northwest punk scene, combining 'riot' (rebellion) with 'grrrl' (a deliberately misspelled, reclaimed version of 'girl').

Fun Fact

Riot grrrl was as much a cultural movement as a musical genre, with zines (self-published magazines), consciousness-raising meetings, and 'girls to the front' seating policies at shows to challenge male-dominated punk spaces.

Source: Definition backfill (hailey)

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