The Intersection of Feminism and Activism: Comparing The #BeBoldForChange and ‘Riot Grrrl’ Punk Movements
The Intersection of Feminism and Activism: Comparing #BeBoldForChange and 'Riot Grrrl’ Punk Movements
By Joshua Y’Barbo
8 March
As an artist-in-residence for the TEAM LEWIS Foundation and a lecturer at the University of the Arts London, I research the social impact of the arts and significant international issues, which I share with cross-sector audiences through social media and blog posts. I draw from my over ten years of teaching experience and over twenty years as a practising artist. In celebration of #internationalwomensday this week, I’ve written a short post comparing #BeBoldForChange and ‘Riot Grrrl’ Punk Movements.
The #BeBoldForChange movement of today and the 90s third-wave feminist punk rock movement ‘Riot Grrrl’ have many similarities and differences. Both movements were started in Washington State and were led by women who sought change and equality in their respective societies, but how they achieved that change varied greatly.
The Seattle-originated #BeBoldForChange is a movement whose mission is to encourage, equip and activate the changemakers of today and tomorrow to close the gender gap. They empower women and girls to use their voices, talents, and agency to make impactful change happen now. By connecting diverse multi-generational women and girls through storytelling, workshops, coaching, and mentoring to learn how to become advocates and fight for change, Bold Education offers education to help women achieve economic parity. Partnering with the WMarketplace, they offer support and instructor-led training for women-owned businesses to launch, grow, and scale online, according to the non-profit organisation’s website. This organisation shows women how to progress within the existing labour market structures and their inequalities.
The Olympia-originated ‘Riot Grrrl’ movement emerged as a subgenre of punk rock music in the late '80s and early '90s. It was led by female musicians and writers who sought to challenge societal norms and the male-dominated punk rock scene. The movement was fuelled by the launch of a zine called “Riot Grrrl," which aimed to address the lack of representation of women in society and the punk rock underground. The movement encouraged girls to create zines, form bands, and empower themselves. It was a DIY movement that aimed to dismantle patriarchal norms. The ‘Riot Grrrl’ movement was a significant moment in feminist history, and it helped pave the way for greater representation and empowerment of women in punk rock and society as a whole (Jackson, 2022). This movement united women in solidarity through a genre valiantly against social norms in a capitalist society, allowing them to experience each other's pain and unite in solidarity through a genre valiantly against the social norms and expected ways of living.
Both the #BeBoldForChange and ‘Riot Grrrl’ movements have played a significant role in promoting feminism and raising awareness about gender inequality. However, there are some key differences between the two. The #BeBoldForChange movement is more structured and organised, with clear mission statements and programs to address inequality and gender bias in the workplace, specifically by aiding women to excel or change their career paths. While ‘Riot Grrrl’ was more of a decentralised punk rock movement, formed by women who shared a common goal of challenging societal norms and patriarchy in an anarchistic style. While #BeBoldForChange offers inclusivity to all women seeking to excel in their careers, the ‘Riot Grrrl’ scene noticeably excluded women of colour and overlooked racial inequality in music, inadvertently contributing to the marginalisation of black artists and their voices regarding racism in the punk rock genre (Mphuthi, 2022).
On one hand, # BeBoldForChange's structured approach has allowed it to reach a wider audience and create a more significant impact. Its programs help educate and empower women, and it has successfully driven change in areas such as gender diversity and equal pay. On the other hand, the organic nature of ‘Riot Grrrl’ punk rock allowed it to be more inclusivity for white women and representative of diverse voices and experiences in a male-dominated, politically dubious, and aggressive music scene (Lottermoser, nd). It gave women a platform to express themselves through antic-filled, antagonistic creativity that challenged societal norms through the sonic aggression of punk music in their own unique ways.
Both approaches have their merits, and it is essential to recognize and celebrate the diversity of feminist activism. Ultimately, we can create a more equal and just society for all through coming together and supporting each other's efforts. Another difference between the two movements is how they approached feminism. The #BeBoldForChange movement is focused on closing the gender gap and empowering women to achieve economic parity. They work towards achieving this goal through education and mentorship. On the other hand, ‘Riot Grrrl’ used punk rock performances to give radical feminism an antagonistic voice that challenged patriarchy, gender inequality in society and violence towards women. They were less focused on achieving economic parity or racial equity and more on challenging gender norms and promoting the idea of ‘girl power’ (Mphuthi, 2022).
In conclusion, the #BeBoldForChange movement and ‘Riot Grrrl’ are two movements that have many similarities and differences. Both movements are led by women who seek to empower women and promote gender equality by combining feminism and activism across media. However, the #BeBoldForChange movement focuses on empowering women through education and mentorship, while ‘Riot Grrrl’ sought to empower women through DIY methods and challenging patriarchal norms. The #BeBoldForChange movement is more organised and structured, while ‘Riot Grrrl’ was more of a grassroots movement. The #BeBoldForChange movement is focused on achieving economic parity, while ‘Riot Grrrl’ focused more on challenging gender norms and promoting the idea of girl power. Despite their differences, both movements share a common goal of empowering women and promoting gender equality, and both have made significant contributions to the feminist movement.
References
About Us (nd) Be Bold For Change. Available at: https://www.beboldforchange.org/about-us (Accessed: 07 March 2024).
Jackson, A. (2022) 'Start a riot (and a zine), grrrl', JSTOR Daily. Available at: https://daily.jstor.org/start-a-riot-and-a-zine-grrrl/ (Accessed: 07 March 2024).
Lottermoser, K. (nd) ‘Riot Grrrl’ 2, Subcultures and Sociology. Available at: https://haenfler.sites.grinnell.edu/riot-grrrl-2/ (Accessed: 07 March 2024).
Mphuthi, E. (2023) 'Racist grrrl: The politics of race and anger in punk feminist movements', Berkeley B Side. Available at: https://berkeleybside.com/racist-grrrl/ (Accessed: 07 March 2024).
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