by ButterflyEffect

Recently, an article ran on Noisey that was titled “How to Survive Being the Only Girl in a Band.” Because I was hearing a lot about this article from friends and I am currently the only woman in a four-piece band, I read it. What I found in this article was similar to what I found nine years ago: my feelings and needs were obsolete or secondary to a man’s. And while this piece was problematic both as an example of blatant missing-the-point feminism that was cemented in a public forum, it sure did get a lot of people talking.

I spoke to a few people that I admire deeply and asked them to write a response. I asked what about this article was problematic to them and really didn’t give any further guidelines. I was interested in a broader perspective and experience than was mentioned in the original article, an article that involved stereotypes and reinforced gender roles. I was interested in how other lives have been affected by the sometimes bitter and chauvinistic world of being a musician. I wanted to open a dialogue.

As an aside, Swearin' is a great band.