FFFU SXSW

Ann and Samhita report from SXSW. What is feminist here? What is not?

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• FFFU
• SXSW

[aideenj]

I think it's not that there's anything wrong with bands that are all male, or that they're knowingly excluding females, it just that when yr a woman and the overwhelming majority of the bands you see are all male it's kinda discouraging and can put us off from playing music in the first place. There needs to be more of an effort on the part of festivals like this to redress the balance, does that make sense?

[SereniT03]

Also, I feel that a lot of these events aren't taking enough initiative to include more bands with women in them. There are lots of bands in this world that have women in them and they have a ridiculously hard time getting noticed at all. Its a stupidly tough industry for women, and another situation where they have to work twice as hard to get half as far.

[ServantOfTheFemale]

To NerdSause et. aideenj - Music is a very abstract process. In my own experience, most of the Women i converse with want to learn how to play an instrument, but do not believe They will amount to anything worth while. It always saddens me, because every time i ask if They have musical ideas, They answer yes. i try to encourage Them, but it is ultimately up to Her whether or not She wants to take the time.

[Kiroku95]

So, you basically can't drop feminism for one second? Let me ask, is it even WORTH bringing sexism into this? It's stupid to be fighting over something like this.

[bebyhoneyfairy]

Southby was epic this year (:

And my moms company went to the interactive/techno part, and it was ridiculous, because in my eyes the technological programming and engineering is so male dominated - and there were so many women sharing their knowledge and presenting their new products.

Totally gorgeous.

[butterflyfemme]

Aideenj, I feel like what you said makes total sense. I agree that it is discouraging for women musicians to try to enter these festivals when most of the bands playing are male only, or have a male majority, along the lines of this FFFU's statement. There were only 388 bands that had a woman/women in them, which when put in context of how many bands were there -a few thousand- can deter other women musicians from entering festivals to come. It's time to break that cycle! Rock on Ann & Samhita!

[NerdSause]

I don't really get the "fuck you" to bands that don't have female members. Is it really a requirement that you let someone in just because of their gender? I know plenty of female musicians, ones far better than myself, but none have ever come to a rehearsal when we were looking for new members. It is pretty much chance and I don't think that everyone in an all male group are trying to keep the group insular on purpose.

[filthyveganpunk]

girl in a coma played sxsw!

[mcinthehizzy]

I'm not sure if they've already played or not, but go see Explode Into Colors!!! Three females and they're excellent. Mirah is playing tonight. Janeane Garofolo (swoon!) and Margaret Cho (not a fan) are performing tonight I think.

Anyway, I have to say most fests that aren't directly aimed at LGBTQ/females are going to be packed with dudes and bros. Hang in there!