Rock Against Sexism
Encyclopedia
Rock Against Sexism was a political and cultural movement dedicated to challenging sexism
in the rock music
community, pop culture and in the world at large. It was primarily a part of the punk rock
music and arts scene.
RAS started in the UK
in 1978, and by the mid 1980s also had a presence in North America
. It was strongly inspired and influenced by Rock Against Racism
and the two movements had many of the same participants.
In the UK, it began amid controversy when a Rock Against Racism
event hired some Rastafarian dub reggae bands that some participants felt were misogynistic. This resulted in a discussion of sexism in music and art. The bands (Aswad and Misty in Roots
) either responded by saying it was the will of God
, or that they didn't know what sexism was. The UK Rock Against Sexism often gained press coverage in the music press, such as the NME
.
In the US, RAS Boston
sponsored monthly dance parties at a local gay bar, the 1270. They put out a zine
and promoted art events and gigs by non-sexist bands. RAS sponsored music workshops on writing, playing and promoting events.
Some considered their message unclear, because it accused rock music of being sexist while also attempting to use rock to challenge sexism. They were accused of equating then contemporary pop music with male power. Hence their arguments were deemed by some to be "poorly thought out".
In some cases in the UK, potential headliner and supporting acts could be, and were, turned down due to differing interpretations of a band's lyrics. This effectively lead to its downfall when it went bankrupt, which led to bickering over money when RAS accused university and polytechnic student unions of overcharging to use their facilities.
The UK movement was also criticized for "vetting" bands for sexist content to their songs. They rejected many artists including Motörhead. However, Lemmy, leader of Motörhead, was a supporter of all female hard rock
act Girlschool
as well as being an anarchist.
, homophobia
, sexism
and elitism
, while challenging stereotypes of women, and the way they are represented.
Many later punk bands challenged the machismo of rock'n'roll by diversifying into cuddlecore, as well as the less rockist side of post-punk
and New wave
. It could be argued that RAS may have been the catalyst, as the advent of twee pop in the mid 1980s lead to rejection of the machismo of hardcore punk
at the time.
Sexism
Sexism, also known as gender discrimination or sex discrimination, is the application of the belief or attitude that there are characteristics implicit to one's gender that indirectly affect one's abilities in unrelated areas...
in the rock music
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
community, pop culture and in the world at large. It was primarily a part of the punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
music and arts scene.
RAS started in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in 1978, and by the mid 1980s also had a presence in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
. It was strongly inspired and influenced by Rock Against Racism
Rock Against Racism
Rock Against Racism was a campaign set up in the United Kingdom in 1976 as a response to an increase in racial conflict and the growth of white nationalist groups such as the National Front. The campaign involved pop, rock and reggae musicians staging concerts with an anti-racist theme, in order...
and the two movements had many of the same participants.
In the UK, it began amid controversy when a Rock Against Racism
Rock Against Racism
Rock Against Racism was a campaign set up in the United Kingdom in 1976 as a response to an increase in racial conflict and the growth of white nationalist groups such as the National Front. The campaign involved pop, rock and reggae musicians staging concerts with an anti-racist theme, in order...
event hired some Rastafarian dub reggae bands that some participants felt were misogynistic. This resulted in a discussion of sexism in music and art. The bands (Aswad and Misty in Roots
Misty in Roots
Misty in Roots began life as a Southall-based British roots reggae band in the early 1970s. Their first album was 1979's Live at the Counter Eurovision, a record full of Biblical Rastafarian songs. It was championed by BBC Radio 1 DJ John Peel, helping to bring roots reggae to a white audience...
) either responded by saying it was the will of God
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
, or that they didn't know what sexism was. The UK Rock Against Sexism often gained press coverage in the music press, such as the NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
.
In the US, RAS Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
sponsored monthly dance parties at a local gay bar, the 1270. They put out a zine
Zine
A zine is most commonly a small circulation publication of original or appropriated texts and images. More broadly, the term encompasses any self-published work of minority interest usually reproduced via photocopier....
and promoted art events and gigs by non-sexist bands. RAS sponsored music workshops on writing, playing and promoting events.
Criticism
In the UK, critics of RAS considered it to be a confused, puritanical overreaction to common themes in rock and punk. Performance style, sexual content or other subject matter were also topics of debate. This led to bands having to sign agreements to not perform any sexist material.Some considered their message unclear, because it accused rock music of being sexist while also attempting to use rock to challenge sexism. They were accused of equating then contemporary pop music with male power. Hence their arguments were deemed by some to be "poorly thought out".
In some cases in the UK, potential headliner and supporting acts could be, and were, turned down due to differing interpretations of a band's lyrics. This effectively lead to its downfall when it went bankrupt, which led to bickering over money when RAS accused university and polytechnic student unions of overcharging to use their facilities.
The UK movement was also criticized for "vetting" bands for sexist content to their songs. They rejected many artists including Motörhead. However, Lemmy, leader of Motörhead, was a supporter of all female hard rock
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
act Girlschool
Girlschool
Girlschool are a British heavy metal band originating out of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal scene in 1978 and frequently associated with contemporaries Motörhead. They are the longest running all-female rock band, still active after more than 30 years...
as well as being an anarchist.
Legacy
Rock Against Sexism's musical and political legacy was many more women playing in bands, working as promoters, and an increased awareness of women's and queer perspectives in the punk rock community. Many trace the riot grrl movement in the 1990s to RAS roots. It challenged heterosexismHeterosexism
Heterosexism is a system of attitudes, bias, and discrimination in favor of opposite-sex sexuality and relationships. It can include the presumption that everyone is heterosexual or that opposite-sex attractions and relationships are the only norm and therefore superior...
, homophobia
Homophobia
Homophobia is a term used to refer to a range of negative attitudes and feelings towards lesbian, gay and in some cases bisexual, transgender people and behavior, although these are usually covered under other terms such as biphobia and transphobia. Definitions refer to irrational fear, with the...
, sexism
Sexism
Sexism, also known as gender discrimination or sex discrimination, is the application of the belief or attitude that there are characteristics implicit to one's gender that indirectly affect one's abilities in unrelated areas...
and elitism
Elitism
Elitism is the belief or attitude that some individuals, who form an elite — a select group of people with intellect, wealth, specialized training or experience, or other distinctive attributes — are those whose views on a matter are to be taken the most seriously or carry the most...
, while challenging stereotypes of women, and the way they are represented.
Many later punk bands challenged the machismo of rock'n'roll by diversifying into cuddlecore, as well as the less rockist side of post-punk
Post-punk
Post-punk is a rock music movement with its roots in the late 1970s, following on the heels of the initial punk rock explosion of the mid-1970s. The genre retains its roots in the punk movement but is more introverted, complex and experimental...
and New wave
New Wave music
New Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...
. It could be argued that RAS may have been the catalyst, as the advent of twee pop in the mid 1980s lead to rejection of the machismo of hardcore punk
Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
at the time.