We will defeat the Patriarchy, and we will do it dancing
“I would much rather be the obnoxious feminist girl than be complicit in my own dehumanization.” - Kathleen Hanna
Punk has always been more than music; it is about making a statement about the world and your position within it. The beauty about punk, for me, is it is a form of raw expression with no rules or boundaries. Anything can be punk if you want it to be.
Feminist punk is often defined alongside the Riot Grrl movement, but although it was influential to the development of the genre, feminist punk did not begin and end in the 90s.
Feminist punk is any form of music with a rallying cry that questions and retaliates against all forms of inequality in the dominant society, and it is still relevant today.
So here are 10 feminist punk songs that I use to get me riled up enough to overthrow the patriarchy:
Who’s Got My Lighter?
Panic Shack
Finally, a band talking about real issues in the world: people stealing your lighter, which is a clipper no less!
In all seriousness, this song is a ball of energy, and something about the bassline in the opening lights a fire in my belly.
This debut single from Panic Shack oozes raw punk energy, and I am here for it.
I’m Yer Dad
GRLwood
If you are an avid TikTokker, you have probably heard this song as it has soundtracked more than 134,000 videos on the platform.
I’m Yer Dad is a satirical commentary on the power older men feel they have and the sickening way they use it to prey on younger women.
It also alludes to society's use of the word ‘daddy’ in an intimate context and how often this is a sign of sexual dominance.
Dream no.9
Big Joanie
Racism still exists in the punk scene and feminist punk hasn’t quite caught up in terms of intersectionality.
Big Joanie, an afro punk trio from London, are fighting for visibility of black, female rockers and are creating a space for representation in the industry.
That is the definition of punk if you asked me.
Bad Reputation
Joan Jett and the Black Hearts
This one is technically a ‘rock’ song, but its message aligns with feminist punk, so it still deserves a place in this list.
This is, for me, an anthem for anyone who has retaliated against the idea that women have to be palatable to men or must follow a rigid set of rules to have a ‘good reputation’ amongst them.
Plus, it was in a Shrek movie; that’s pretty punk.
Yuk Foo
Wolf Alice
Again, not strictly a punk band, but what is punk if it has rules?
I could talk about this song for hours but I'll sum it up in three words:
Ellie Rowsell’s vocals.
The way she roars ‘I don’t give a shit’ just wakes something inside me.
Oh Bondage! Up Yours!
X-ray Spex
This one deserves a place on every feminist punk playlist; it’s a solid classic of the genre.
People speculate that this song is about sex or kinks, but Polly, the lead singer, always said she wrote it with images of slavery, suffragettes, and restrictions on women in mind.
This song is calling for those chains that hold us back to be broken.
Violet
Hole
Violet is a song for when you are angry at the world and the abuse women suffer at the hands of men.
It is full of rage at men’s audacity to believe they can take whatever they want from women, both physically and spiritually.
There were rumours that Courtney Love wrote this song as a hex on the unlucky guy it is dedicated to.
In my opinion, that makes it even more iconic.
Gimme Brains
Bratmobile
Have you ever been on a date with a guy who is in a band or plays an instrument and thinks they are so unbelievably cool and superior in both artistic style and intelligence?
Well, this is the song for you.
I particularly resonate with the line “I want you to know that I hate you so, and all the fucking boys in the fucking bands”.
Another Tear
The Txlips
The Txlips are a recent discovery of mine, and the second I heard this song, I immediately added them to my playlist.
They are an American band using their music to smash barriers they are faced with as black women in the music industry.
If you haven’t listened to them yet, do yourself a favour.
Rebel Girl
Bikini Kill
Rebel Girl is the ultimate Riot grrrl anthem and is a kind of snapshot of how women, like Kathleen Hanna, were trying to push the feminist agenda in the punk movement.
This song is a celebration of any girl who has been labelled a ‘bitch’ or outcast by society because of her unwillingness to conform.
Beware of this one because it will be stuck in your head for weeks
Of course, this list is by no means exhaustive, and feminist punk is a huge umbrella term for a lot of different sounds.
But I hope these songs have provided you with a solid foundation for the soundtrack to your OWN daily dismantling of the patriarchy.
Enjoy!
Find the full playlist plus more feminist anthems here:
The Riot Grrrl movement
The Riot Grrrl movement began to take shape in the early 90s when women, frustrated with the limited space they had in the industry, began forming their own bands with a feminist agenda.
On top of this, they created 'zines' that promoted their cause to normalise female anger and sexuality, and to push for more representation in the male-dominated punk scene.
Read more about the history of the movement here.