In the early 1990s in the hazy fog of the Pacific Northwest, a movement was brewing. In Olympia, the capital of Washington State, women artists began to tackle the pitfalls that plagued their local punk scene—an environment rocked by sexism that was, at best, uncomfortable and, at worst, openly hostile to fans and artists who didn't mirror lineups overwhelmingly dominated by straight white men. After all, punk was supposed to be a rejection of and a rebellion against society's norms and pressures, an anti-corporate, anti-authority subculture meant to offer a safe haven for those who didn't (or wouldn't) conform. So, why were women punks made to feel excluded, looked down upon, or threatened by a hyper-machismo boys club?
Determined to challenge the misogyny they faced both at shows and in the world at large, these women brought their own snarl to a female diminutive—riot grrrl–and began carving out a space that amplified the voice of women and brought female-fronted punk bands to the main stage. Bolstered by the feminist manifestos found in self-published zines by local artists, writers, and activists, the riot grrrl subculture brought punk back to its roots: an expression of dissatisfaction with the status quo with a defiant sound and the vicious, clever lyrics to match. And then again, riot grrrl wasn't just a microgenre of punk music. It was a bona fide revolution—one that offered a sense of community to folks searching for belonging while encouraging activism and sociopolitical awareness beyond the microphone.
The legacy of the movement has been rightly criticized for its often less-than-intersectional lens that saw women of color and trans and nonbinary folks sidelined, with their contributions and involvement too often erased. Despite the flaws of the riot grrrl scene, there's something to be said about the bare bones of the movement, of the power of art and community. When things feel insurmountable, sometimes a few power chords and the chaos of a mosh pit are all it takes to articulate a way out.
So, whether the likes of Bikini Kill, Huggybear, Bratmobile, Babes in Toyland, and L7 hold a prime spot on your playlist or you've yet to hear the drumbeat born from a woman oppressed, these listens offer a fully-fledged history of the riot grrrl revolution, shortcomings and all, from its origins to its enduring power.