Riot Grrrl: Feminist Punk Rock of the 90's

In 1991, Anita Hill gained national attention when she testified before Congress that she had been sexually assaulted by future Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.  The refusal of many powerful men to believe Hill's account set in motion a resurgence of feminism, known as the Third Wave, that continues today with events such as the yearly Women's March.  In this course, we will study the growth of the modern third wave feminist movement and the underground punk rock music that propelled it.

We'll begin by looking at Bikini Kill, a band at the forefront of radical feminist punk.  We will discuss their importance in the founding of the "Riot Grrrl" movement and how they sought to shatter America's views on how a woman should behave.  Together we'll listen to their song "Double Dare Ya", which gives the listener instructions on how to resist the patriarchy.  

Next we'll take a look at Sleater-Kinney, one of the most important female groups of all-time.  To this day, Sleater-Kinney continues to release new music and lead the fight for gender equality.  We'll listen to their song "Modern Girl", in which singer Carrie Brownstein speaks about the struggles of women to live up to the image of perfection America has created for them and the band's ties to the LGBT community.  

Finally, we will turn our focus to L7, a band whose blend of punk and grunge propelled them to commercial success.  Together we will listen to their Billboard chart topping song "Pretend We're Dead".  The song was a Trojan horse or sorts, sneaking feminist ideology behind a catchy melody and riffs that would make anyone want to pull out their air guitar.

At the end of the class, students will engage in a reflection discussion connecting the music they heard with the ideals of third wave feminism. 

This course will make heavy use of music and is designed to be fun and interactive!  Throughout the way I will engage with students and lead group discussions.  I encourage questions from students at all times.  No prior knowledge of third wave feminism, punk rock, or the artists/songs used is necessary. 

**NOTE: The Bikini Kill song used does contain mild profanity.  While not excessive, this class may be best suited for more mature students.  I have chosen to include this song due to the value I think it holds as a primary source for learning about the ideals of the movement.