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Bandito
2nd November 2010, 19:43
Feminist music can be utilized to deconstruct current myths held about women by current society. Several of these myths are as follows: that women have equal access to resources in the status quo; that women are inherently feminine; that women are accepting - and enjoying - of attacks on their body; that heterosexuality is the only option for a healthy female. Much of the popularized music in today’s society contributes to these myths; however, feminist music enables women to be able to embrace their own self-made identity as opposed to that which culture defines for them.
Music has turned into a political platform for many feminists. Feminist music is an easy way to access all audiences, especially those who would not normally be introduced to feminist thought. Feminist music is not simply putting the word out about feminism, but is also redefining what people traditionally associate with feminism.
You can link the beginnings of opened outright feminism in some of the '60es musicians, like Janis Joplin, or Jefferson Airplane. But the feminist thought expressed with music exploded in late '70es in punk. Bands like Siouxie and the Banshees, Penetration, X Ray Spex, Adverts, Nina Hagen, Riot Grrrl and Plasmatics came to the stage, ready to shake things up. While punk was essentially a progressive movement, real progressive thought was kind of clogged in the tsunami of bands, but from this perspective in time we can actually see those women(and men) who stood up against partiarchy and took the role that women never had before that time.
But these writings of mine are not just about punk or underground music. Many mainstream artists contributed largely to the cause. Just a mention of Alanis Morrisette will do the trick.
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Please note that those mentioned are just my favorites, and definitely not the end of the list. Add your own to honor these women for taking a stand.

¿Que?
2nd November 2010, 21:51
One of the myths you didn't mention is the idea that women are passive receptors of male sexual aggression. Thus, according to this idea, women are incapable of constructing their own sexuality in a way that is both satisfying and liberating. Whether this means hetero or homo sexuality is not the issue, so much as challenging the idea of women as inherently asexual. Tori Amos was a very influential artist for me, because she never loses sight of this, even when exploring such emotionally laden and difficult subjects as rape. Rape and male sexual aggression are critically challenged, however, she never loses sight of sexuality as integral to our construction of selves and humanity. In fact, part of her genius is in the way she exposes the ambiguity of both sides of the debate between sex-positivist and radical feminisms.

Crucify (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8ljHOSqc4A)
Leather (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEMqm35PybA)

Fawkes
5th November 2010, 17:38
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Feminist and anti-homophobic back in 1926. Kickass song too.

I'll post more stuff when I get a chance, but just for the record, I'm pretty sure there's no band actually named Riot Grrrl, it was just the name of a movement within punk/alt rock. Regardless, still more than worthy of mentioning, and there are a lot of great bands that fall into the category.

Edit: how the fuck do I post videos?

Widerstand
5th November 2010, 18:03
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Edit: how the fuck do I post videos?

You only use the string after v=

Pirate Utopian
5th November 2010, 18:33
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Pro-choice hip-hop.

Bandito
7th November 2010, 08:46
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Wendy O. Williams and the Plasmatics

Property Is Robbery
7th November 2010, 09:19
Anarcha Feminist punk

youtube.com/watch?v=b2amWs4iXik&feature=related

EvilRedGuy
7th November 2010, 11:34
Experiment Haywire is the most feminist industrial music ever + their records label.

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Experiment+Haywire&aq=f

I think pop music like Alicia Keys, Lady GaGa, etc, is feminist too, more or less.

razboz
7th November 2010, 11:49
Dresden Dolls and Amanda Palmer do some seriously thought provoking stuff. Sage Francis is very gifted lyricist, who writes and sings well thought out rap. Agony in Her Body is an excellent feminist song that says nothing bluntly.