Individual Submission Summary
Share...

Direct link:

Women Doing Gender in Heavy Metal: Between Sexism and Feminism

Sun, August 11, 12:30 to 2:10pm, Sheraton New York, Floor: Second Floor, Empire Ballroom East

Abstract

We provide a sociological examination of the place and role of women in the world of heavy metal music. Grounded in feminist theories of gender difference, our study analyzes how women are perceived to ‘do gender’ in the heavy metal community, which has traditionally been largely composed of men and known for its hypermasculine qualities. Relying on semi-structured interviews with self-identified fans of heavy metal, we reveal that the respondents indeed describe their own popular music (sub)culture as dominated by men, but that they also note a distinct progress women have made in entering into and participating within the heavy metal culture on terms aspiring to equality with the men of their music community. Nonetheless, despite these changes that legitimately can be seen as positive for women as well as for the world of heavy metal, gendered conditions driven by masculinity continue to exist for women in heavy metal, even as they are slowly, and possibly truly, on the way to what might one day become, but as of now not yet is, a realized and acknowledged identity and culture of heavy metal feminism.

Authors