SUBLIMINAL SEXISM IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY

A sociological and psychological examination of how two of the music industry's biggest and most profitable genres contribute to the gender gap

In an interesting debate over class/politics/gender with a friend of mine (send him twitter hate), he made the following rhetoric: "Like its not sexist that the rock industry is dominated by males and pop industry is dominated by females?". This was interesting because it opened up a new perspective. We've all heard a lot about the fact that the industry is sexist - women as a whole have experienced moments were they aren't treated as serious musicians, but as pop puppets in the male game, etc. - however, through inclusive probing (scanning the web, looking at statistics, reading the opinions of others) I've theorised a possible explanation for why the industry is so rooted in sexism (besides from - but not excluding - the obvious existence of the capitalist patriarchy).

EOIN LOVELESS OF DRENGE: no girls allowed?
(photo creds: NME)

If you turn a blind eye and look at the side of the argument where the industry can be perceived as non-sexist, the difference in genres could be down to the biological difference between the sexes. Men are typically physically stronger, women are typically more empathetic. Solid fact. Therefore, it can be seen that the sexes have separated themselves into genres in which they thrive in due to their alternative biological wiring. Extensive research by scientists and psychologists alike have found key differences in men and women that suggest that we were born to be different. For example, Dutch studies on transgender and cisgender individuals in the late 1990s discovered that the size of the BSTc (bed nucleus of the stria terminalis), which is located in the thalamus of the brain, correlates with preferred sex rather than biological sex. This is one of the many pieces of research which defines just how men and women think differently - and are therefore fundamentally separate. Our brains are built differently and are zapping with different kinds of hormones. But how does this apply to our taste in music and preferences for different genres?

This study, and many others that consider the differences in male and female brains, would suggest that its highly possible that men dominate rock and women dominate pop because of our integral human diversities. But still, how would this explain why Royal Blood have female fans or why your mate Tom bought the Lorde record? Here the argument falls flat, and we are back to arguing the case in favour of sexism in music.

The biggest selling music act of all time is The Beatles. John, Paul, George, and Ringo changed music forever following the release of their debut 1962 single Love Me Do. The Liverpudlian quartet would go down in history as four of the most influential individuals of the Twentieth Century, but why is this? Probably because of the magic of the Lennon/McCartney writing duo and their consequent success following the band's demise, but Beatlemania would become way more significant than they had ever predicted. For reasons that have puzzled scholars and remain largely ambiguous, four working class boys from the North sent teenage girls across the world into a heightened frenzy. Beatlemania was a phenomenon never seen before. The Beatles were an important watershed in showing the big bosses just how many bucks they could make if they marketed acts to the right audience.

Henceforth follows the next fifty years in music when the ability to correctly market an act to an audience became one of the most successful ways to sell records. Of course, not all big artists sold because of marketability - take acts such as Pink Floyd, Whitney Houston, Fleetwood Mac, Jay-Z etc; covering a wide range of genres and line-ups, it's undeniably clear that merit and skill also churns out success. However, if we specifically examine other million-selling artists (particularly those from the 21st century) such as Rihanna, Katy Perry et al we can recognise similarities in marketability traits. Not to say these ladies should be diminished of their talent because they've proved to marketable, however their ability to be sold to the public as a product is of note.

MILEY CYRUS: is her sexuality the extent of her male appeal?
(photo creds: idolator)

Since the beginning of the media world we live in, the deprecation of women has been an essential factor in selling products. Unfortunately, as a woman, you are likely to have been socialised to be belittled since before you could talk, walk, or think for yourself. The media has used this belittlement to its advantage and so played on the universal insecurities which women suffer from in order to sell products. This works especially in cosmetic products, but can also be applied to fashion, food, and - in this case - the records we purchase. This means that females are more impressionable, simply because we've been socialised to believe that we can always be better than what we are. L'Oreal does this when they want you to buy their latest celebrity endorsed product, as do a multitude of other major corporations who cater to the female market.

This means that young girls can be easily sold to the pop star façade. Figureheads in pop are a model for girls to imitate. When males see a female pop star they don't think "hey, she's hot and a talented musician - I'm going to buy her single on iTunes"; they're more likely to think "hey, she's hot and a talented musician - she's one for the wank bank!". On the other hand, the manipulation of a young woman's psyche can lead her to think "hey, she's hot and a talented musician - what's her secret? How is she so goddess-like? Maybe if I buy her record, I can be like her. Maybe then I'll appeal to males too."

BRUNO MARS: one of the biggest pop stars
of the last five years
(photo creds: Us Weekly)

This works too with the boyband phemoneon. It's been happening since, what seems like, the beginning of time with groups from The Monkees to N*Sync, but the most recent and relevant example is, of course, One Direction. The British group are five attractive, wholesome, boy-next-door types and have been manufactured in order to centre their marketability on making them accessible to their audience. Songs like What Makes You Beautiful aren't just catchy pop classics, but tools to lure in their audience and make their listeners believe that they could be singing to them, triggering fantasies about being the one who makes Zayn Malik overwhelmed. Pop music is, therefore, female-orientated and relies heavily on feminine ideals and aspirations in order to appeal not just to the people who enjoy a well-written Mariah Carey track, but also to the vulnerable who have been manipulated by the pop star smoke screen. This is one of the many reasons why pop music succeeds. (Again, I do not disregard the genuine talent and star power of the majority of pop musicians. I am not destroying pop - it is a fantastic, innovative, and zesty genre - but, like all systems in society, it has its major flaws.)

'Pop' isn't just a fizzing burst of energy - it is also a contraction of 'popular'. Pop is the mainstream. Therefore rock - or alternative - acts as a counter-movement to the revolution of pop music. Therefore, it's an alternative to pretty boys in suits - though, being real, rock music is not shy of them - and big budget arena showdowns. Alt seeks to be the polar opposite of pop, though the lines are becoming more and more blurred as the genre is slowly being embraced, by creating a genre which encircles male interests by pushing out the females. Males dominate the genre because it's a territory they believe to have acquired. Not only does this lock out a lot of passionate female acts, but it ostracises female fans as it means they're not taken seriously as ardent music lovers.

CHERRY GLAZERR: women who rock
(photo creds: LA Record)

Girls are made fun of for screaming at concerts (which, okay, is extremely irritating and uncomfortable for those surrounding them, but it's all just a bit of fun) or for worshipping their favourite band (which Jack Black TOLD. US. TO. DO), but no one bats an eyelid at the "spirited" fans of sports teams who literally riot when their teams lose...They resort to actual violence over something that has no importance after the season finishes. Yet teenage girls at Justin Bieber concerts are 'sad' and 'pathetic'. Regardless of your opinion of the Biebs, is this not misogyny at its finest? And yet, I have met boys who've acted with surprise at the fact that I love Foo Fighters. Am I not allowed to because societal standards dictate that my gender means I've crossed into the wrong territory? Gender doesn't dictate where your music preferences lie. I simultaneously enjoy the tunes churned out by Taylor Swift and by The Cibs, and I don't see the problem.

I leave you with the following quote. Unfortunately, I don't know the source as I found it on Tumblr but I hope that it makes you think about the impact of socialisation on young girls and in the media in which we consume:

"There’s still very much this stereotype that teenage girls are not serious consumers of music, even though they are the number one purchasers of music. Teenage girls are the number one consumers of music, they are the number one drivers of taste, and yet they are still not considered serious music fans." (x)

READ MY PREVIOUS POSTS ON FEMINISM-RELATED ISSUES (I promise one day that I'll write something that's more important than Western white feminism, just give me a couple o' trys)

• feminism for beginners (march 2014)
• gig groping: the philosophy of ask the cutie before you touch the booty (november 2014)
• international women's day mixtape (march 2015)

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY MIXTAPE

"I love to see a young girl go out and grab the world by the lapels. Life's a bitch. You've got to go out and kick ass." - Maya Angelou

LISTEN TO THE PLAYLIST //HERE//

Today - 8th March 2015 - is International Women's Day. Though we should be celebrating the achievements of phenomenal women everyday - no matter how small or how large - today we truly appreciate womanhood. From Malala Youzafi to your local community women's centres, the past 12 months have caused for a lot of praise for the work of women across the globe who are slowly but surely pushing oppression out and bringing equality in. This International Women's Day prioritise women of colour, women being murdered or mutilated for their right to say no, transsexual women, poor women, etc. Look beyond what these women can do for your feminism, but what your feminism can do for these women. This playlist complies songs by artists who highlight the importance of women, despite what the patriarchy tells us we are, and though it's largely focused on Western ideals, this International Women's Day I think we must look beyond the problems in our own society and into the ones of those littered with women without privilege, and therefore, without a voice. Just think about that.

(this post comes one year on from my 'feminism for beginners' post. the response i got from that was overwhelming, and over 400 views in 365 days may not seem like a lot to some but to me, wowee. thank u billion upon billions)

1. Nicki's verse from Monster

Nicki Minaj is one of pop culture's finest feminist role models. She consistently speaks out about the importance of education, women owning themselves and their sexuality in the way that men do, and rightly identifies herself as a rapper - she does not degrade herself to be categorised as a female rapper. This doesn't mean she believes to be female is dehumanising in any shape or form - she's proud to be a woman - however she fully realises that she is at the top of her game and is on par with, if not better than, the top male rappers in hip-hop. As a guest speaker at Oxford University last week, Kanye West admitted that he was destroyed by Nicki in his own song. It's the subject of countless of internet memes, and now it will go down as history as the moment when Kanye's ego was finally murked. He met his match, and I bet he never thought it'd be a woman.

TOP EMPOWERMENT MOMENT: you can be the king but watch the queen conquer. Your successes and accomplishments should not be devalued because of your gender. You should not be placed into a category of 'female excellence' as opposed to simply 'excellence'. It's patronising and ridiculous, doing nothing but further increasing the gender gap, suggesting that women cannot even fathom to reach the standards of men. Sometimes girls are better than boys, and that's a fact of life that needs to be recognised.

2. ***Flawless (feat. Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche) - Beyoncé

As the pinnacle of feminist pop, Beyoncé inspired thousands following her 2014 VMA performance in which she stood firm and proud before the word 'FEMINIST' to promote the 21st century makeover of the movement. The music industry is among the most misogynistic (and, unfortunately, most influential) industries in the world, so this was a huge turning point in the movement's perception in pop culture. Women in music are highly undervalued (for instance, out of the 2015 BRIT Award winners, the only female winners were those nominated in female-specific categories) despite being equally, if not more, successful than their male counterparts. Taylor sold the most albums worldwide last year, Nicki broke countless rap records, and Beyoncé continued to sell out venues across the world, so why are the music industry so reluctant to give women in music praise for their excellence? Regardless of a stuffy corporate male's opinion, we salute you, Bey - thanks for all you have done to promote women's interests.

TOP EMPOWERMENT MOMENT: the sample speech from acclaimed Nigerian writer and social justice fighter Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche. The entire prose piece is ground-breaking but the lines that deliver the most impact are the opening ones - we teach girls to shrink themselves, to make themselves smaller. It's important that, in the future, we refuse to socialise girls in a way that makes them think of themselves as anything but a force of nature.

3. Bros - Wolf Alice

Wolf Alice are the female-fronted act of the year, and - though it should be shocking, but is rather unsurprising - one of only ten female artists booked to perform along with hundreds of other acts at this year's Reading and Leeds Festival. This means there will be only twenty female performances across the two sites over the August bank holiday weekend. Again, this highlights just how much sexism there is in the music industry. It is not entirely the fault of festival organisers, but more of the problem of lack of female role models in rock/indie/alt etc, despite research showing that females are the largest drivers of taste - they decide what is popular and relevant but are under-represented in terms of those who are actually making the music. This festival season is a chance for people like Wolf Alice wonder woman Ellie Rowsell to inspire and encourage the industry to take female acts more seriously.

TOP EMPOWERMENT MOMENT: it may be called Bros, but this song is about nothing but the power of female friendship - me and you / we can do whatever / I'm quite sure. Just because you were born undervalued in the eyes of the patriarchy, doesn't mean you should settle for anything less than incredible things - you were not meant for mediocrity.

4. My Song 5 - HAIM

Whoever says women have no place in rock have clearly never been to a HAIM concert, because they truly put female rock on the map. You better take them seriously, else they'll kick your ass. The GRAMMY-nominated sister trio vibe harder than most bands out there, blowing all competition (male or female) out of the water. Any frontman would find themselves breaking a sweat in a jam session with lead singer and multi-instrumentalist Danielle, but all three are at an equilibrium in performance level and songwriting capabilities. Their quick-witted sass and boppy riffs to match has attracted the attention of critics, an army of fans, and Stevie Nicks, proving that they've dominated a genre that usually suppresses women from succeeding in. Plus My Song 5 has a really boss video to match, with appearances from Grimes and Ezra Koenig.

TOP EMPOWERMENT MOMENT: renouncing themselves of all male possession - honey I'm not your honey-pie. You are more than an object of male desires - you are an embodiment of your own aspirations. They are not dictated by patriarchal values or gender barriers. What can you do to defy expectations?

5. After Hours - The Velvet Underground

When you think of The Velvet Underground, you are immediately picture Lou Reed. Or maybe a banana. However, one of the most underrated, badass females in music has to be Velvet Underground's drummer Maureen (aka Moe) Tucker. She admirably taught herself how to play the drums before gaining respect on the 60s New York music scene (which was probably a million times more sexist than it is now) and continues to demand that respect today through her unconventional drumming techniques. Known for her androgynous exterior, she showcases her sugary sweet vocals on After Hours - one of only a small number of songs which Tucker leant her voice to. As The Velvent Underground was released in 1969, this was an early and significant moment for rock music.

TOP EMPOWERMENT MOMENT: just the fact that someone as amazing as Maureen Tucker exists is empowering in itself. She toured and did studio work while pregnant and with a family; a big fuck you to Nigel Farage's recent comments on Loose Women about how its a "fact of life" that women cannot balance work and family lives and must choose between a career and motherhood. Shoutout to all the incredible working mamas out there, you are loved and you are appreciated.

6. I Will - Sky Ferreira

Ferreira's 2013 debut Night Time, My Time was crafted in electronica-indie heaven, but it was a result of a seven year process which she suffered crippling setbacks and blows to her self-confidence. A year and a bit later, her breakout LP is still as important as it was on its first listen. It's honest and raw, and though still encompassing these elements, I Will is the most brash and outspoken track on the record. Heavy guitars and heavier synths make for blissful levels of female angst. Try screeching along to this when you're drunk.

TOP EMPOWERMENT MOMENT: the entire song is a spicy rebellion about the impossible standards that accompany not only the celebrity persona but also being a woman. It narrates the struggles of female voices being heard among those that deem them to unimportant to listen to. But shout louder, bite back - well it's with me you're messing / I'm gonna teach you a lesson. Be bold and be heard. Forgive me for my misquote, but a famous woman once said something along the lines of "if a man is assertive, he's the boss, but if a woman is assertive, she's a bitch". Defy this, be a hardcore take-no-shit bitch if it means you achieve your dreams and aspirations.

7. I'm A Girl - Peace

This addition is a bit cheeky because, okay, an International Women's Day mixtape should be about celebrating women, but this Peace track - although performed by an all-male line up - celebrates women and femininity. Though we, as humans, should all celebrate each other anyway and shouldn't praise men for appreciating women because that's what they should be doing anyway, it's nice to know that these boys are on our side. As Harry K himself said "sausage rolls: good; gender roles: bad".

TOP EMPOWERMENT MOMENT: a nice renouncement of typical gender expectations for men - the creators of man were calm, kind, and nice / but nature demands / that we fuck, eat, and fire / if you're not macho then try to be funny / if you can't fuck or fight then I hope that you're hungry. An important aspect of feminism is working for equality, and that means dismantling stereotypes that affect both genders. The human race can't achieve equality until we no longer suffer from harmful ideals.

8. Doing It (feat. Rita Ora) - Charli XCX

Pop perfection comes no shinier than in the form of super Brit duo Charli and Rita who undertake Spice Girl levels of girl power in this anthem. Regardless of your opinion of her music, Charli XCX is one of the biggest advocates for female equality in the music industry and has openly spoken out about her distaste for the misogyny in her field of work. Aggressively fun and youthful, it's refreshing to hear something other than a love song by a crooning male or a demeaning piece of crap about booty or some shit on the radio.

TOP EMPOWERMENT MOMENT: the ethos of the song is what stands out most as it's a true celebration of female friendship, showing just what women can do when they put their minds to it. 

9. Feeling Myself (feat. Beyoncé) - Nicki Minaj

No, it's not about masturbation, but does explore an important aspect of female sexuality: identification. Flavoured hot and urban, they are recognising that their greatest weapon is their womanhood. It's something to brag about and they're not shy of it. Yet it's not in a way that they want to brand themselves as "better than" you or I, but in a way that's encouraging taking those key steps to self-love. They have the kind of confidence that we should all aspire to. Destroy the myth that confidence is attractive but cockiness isn't. Who defines where one ends and the other begins? Why is realising your potential anything but an admirable quality?

TOP EMPOWERMENT MOMENT: I stopped the world / male or female / it make no difference / I stop the world - on this International Women's Day, the queens of contemporary pop music want you to step up to the plate and lead your generation. Do something incredible, show-stopping, game-changing that positively influences both your future and the future of those who need it. We, as women, were born to achieve greatness but have spent thousands of years being told we weren't. Stop that motherfucking world.

LISTEN TO THE 8TRACKS PLAYLIST CONTAINING ALL THE TRACKS FROM THIS POST BELOW

international women's day mixtape from sweetlamplight on 8tracks Radio.

GIG REVIEW: Amber Run - Dingwalls, 3rd February //

for fans of: Saint Raymond, Coasts, Young Kato, We The Wild, Bad Suns

(photo creds The Mahogany Sessions)

The Communion Music Group have a refined taste for supporting the freshest new talent. Acts they've previously backed include rock newbies Twin Peaks as well as bona-fide folk stars Ben Howard and Matt Corby. Feel-good pop quintet Amber Run were hand-picked by Communion to headline their second annual sold-out New Faces tour this Autumn. With songs that already sound like hits so early in their career, the world's a stage for the Notts boys. But just who are Amber Run?

No, not Wiz Khalifa's bald ex-wife. They're on all my Spotify playlists, they're frequently played on XFM, their logo was spray painted all over Bristol when I visited this summer, and they have opened for acoustic balladeer Lewis Watson, but I knew little about them. I discovered quickly that they have quite a substantial following, especially in their hometown of Nottingham, but after some digging around the blogs I happened upon some thought-provoking comments. A particular YouTube comment summarises the general feeling as they described the band as "middle-class indie drab". The other night in the cloakroom queue I heard snippets of the following conversation:

Man #1 (early-20s): Did you enjoy it?

Man #2 (mid-20s): I did actually - they're pretty good for posh pop

This kind of thing gets thrown around a lot, and you wonder what it really means. How tightly has capitalism grasped the bottom of the music pile? Are the underground nobodies of bandom actually just another classic example of the rich getting richer? Is there actually anything that bad about "posh pop"? All the rhetorical questions, but no answers.

(Disclaimer: I do not know Amber Run or their background, and so the entirety of the argument below is based upon speculation alone. But I do believe one of the members is called Felix, so.)

Define posh pop: a fairly modern revolution where the music industry has become the latest to fail the working class by ways of capitalism championing the middle and upper-middle classes. Again. Previously, the ones who succeeded in British music were the likes of the McCartneys and the Morrisseys but, in more recent years as the war against the working class wages on, the ones at the top are more likely than not privately educated. Chris Martin, Mumford & Sons, and Florence Welch are the most classic examples, and if I ever have to hear about Lily Allen sing about 'the streets' or 'the ghetto' one more time, I'm going to scream. Noel Gallagher has recently hit out at musicians of socio-economic privilege making it a hot topic of discussion (though in the past month, he's hit out at everyone from Ed Sheeran to Alex Turner, probably all in promotion of his newest album, and to be honest, no one really gives a shit what he says anyway). With funding into arts education slowly being shoved out the window by the Conservative government, the only people that can be educated in music and other arts subjects are the ones who can afford it. Even indie heroes like Peace and Bombay Bicycle Club have come from more privileged upbringings, which begs the question - is success even in this lucrative market still down to genuine talent, or the ability to financially support your way into the big time? Personally, I'm not sure where I stand on the issue: on one hand we don't need to contribute to any more demonization of the working classes - in what fields are we supposed to succeed in then? - but similarly, why should noses be turned up at talented young people because of the way of life they've been born into? It's a complicated matter that I don't feel able to weigh in on just yet.

So what does this mean? In short: nothing. In something as vast, exciting, and innovative as music, backgrounds shouldn't matter. To judge a band shouldn't it really all come down to the most obvious thing? In terms of Amber Run, they're passionate enough about making genuinely good music to drop out of Nottingham Uni and pursue the band dream, hence silencing the classist warriors. With the February leg of their UK tour selling out venues - including Camden's Dingwalls - across the country and an upcoming April tour consisting of some of their biggest headline shows to date, what can distinguish Amber Run from the rest of posh pop?

First it's the range of their appeal. Scattered among the audience was practically everyone within the realms of ages 14-54. Generally, this is a good sign: a nice even mix of people means that you're attracting enough young people to hit the mainstream, enough industry-types to create a buzz and a name for yourself, and enough older people to, err, well, have sing-along drunks in the audience.

The other, fundamental, recipe to their charm is the ability to utilise their talents in all the right places. For example, lead singer Joe Keogh's voice is the definition of divine - with pipes like that it's no way that he couldn't have had a choir boy past. Though strong, composed, and on-key throughout the set, it stood out on chilling opener I Found. Chosen as one of my top 22 tracks of 2014, the five-piece harmonies are just as delicious live as they are on the recorded version and captivated the audience in a split second. With little lights transfixed into the backdrop of the stage, the palatial vocal-synth blend made for a transportation to somewhere glorious.

They continued to churn out stellar tracks throughout the set - a perfectly timed length that made you think "is that it?" before you realise just how much time had flown by while you were enveloped by their joviality. Amber Run craft songs that focus so heavily on impact and so their lyrical weakness becomes a bit more prevalent. But don't sweat it, as a new band, their skill will eventually evolve so that their strengths in punchy instrumentals work in cohesion with a lyrical ability that's not quite there yet.

Nonetheless, crowd interaction is what the band nourish their vigour with. Take Pilot, for example; the commoving first track off the eponymous EP is the definition of a crowd-pleaser. Anthemic, and almost power ballad-esque, without the 80s hair to match. Throbbing drums wizzed around Dingwalls' notoriously questionable sound system before the thunderous impact of the guitars kicked in. This is matched in Spark - a favourite for those who enjoy vigorous hand-clapping and zesty chanting - and the very Mumford and Sons-y Noah. While Kites' rustic acoustic guitars and the charm of Heaven are peachy enough, they don't pack as much punch as some of the other corkers in the Amber Run catalogue.

In response to the two men I overheard in the cloakroom queue: before us are a very important band in terms of putting the fun and games back into music, and shouldn't be overshadowed by whatever label they've been defined as. Posh pop or otherwise.

CATCH AMBER RUN ON THEIR UPCOMING UK TOUR IN NOTTINGHAM, LONDON, MANCHESTER + NEWCASTLE
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GIG GROPING: the philosophy of "ask the cutie before you touch the booty"

As our wayward journeys on this erratic earth progress I think a time comes when we learn to accept that certain events are inescapable. We are going to be swathed into situations that are awkward and uncomfortable, and there's nothing much we can do about it other than just let it slide. I believe that we have adopted a certain tendency - whether this is culturally specific or not I don't know, but it does seem like a very 'British' habit - to sweep things under the rug to avoid said sticky predicaments. Sometimes it's just not worth making a mess over because scenarios are awkward and beef is seldom necessary, but there are rare occasions where I won't let shitty people get away with being shitty for my own peace of mind.

I went to see Circa Waves at Heaven on Wednesday night (19th November) to: a) see a band who play great music, b) spend time with a good friend, c) boogie a bit on a night out, and d) maybe write something nice on here after. I did not go to see Circa Waves at Heaven on Wednesday night to deal with infuriating circumstances.

(photo creds: Circa Waves Facebook)

The audience were riled up by Public Access TV - a NYC jangly rock outfit (think Drowners or a softer, boppier Skaters). They couldn't have been older than 19 yet they proved to be more than capable to deliver an overwhelmingly impressive catalogue of steamers. Bleeding charisma and a light dusting of cocky charm, songs like In The Mirror demonstrated a future so bright that it became understandable why the guitarist wore shades.

(photo creds: tmrw magazine)

Circa Waves, propelled to attention by Zane Lowe, are one of Britain's fastest rising bands who've toured with The 1975 and The Libertines so it was only natural that we wanted to move into the crux of the crowd. Though the set opened with stellar power tracks like Young Chasers and Good For Me, it took a while for the crowd's spirits to go from mildly pathetic to "that's a bit more like it" considering the vigour of the band's garage rock. Still, it was kind of nothing compared to most of the crowds I'd been in lately - meaning I'm more than used to having zero personal space, being pushed around like a rag doll, and sweaty bodies at every turn. Although I'm highly familiar with this kind of atmosphere, it doesn't mean I'm used to or in any way should expect to get my butt grabbed by a massive, excessively perspiring man.

Besides this week I have been groped once at a gig: I had just turned sixteen and was waiting to see Two Door Cinema Club. Admittedly this was one of the first proper gigs I'd been to (in terms of general admission madness), but it's not like I was unaware of the basic mechanics of how these things work. Long before Two Door Cinema Club had even started their set I could feel this boy behind me rubbing his hands up and down my legs and bum with the occasional soft pinch. To say I was incredibly uncomfortable and extremely embarrassed would be a severe understatement. Being only sixteen and unlikely to be able to defend myself against a nineteen year old boy, I kept quiet and pretended it wasn't happening while my sister continued to talk my ear off, oblivious to the problem at hand (I later revealed to her the grotesque nature of the groping once we were back home). Luckily during the show itself I was able to """accidentally""" elbow him in his cratered face, but that was the extent of my self-defence.

Times have changed. It is 2014 and I am not afraid of anyone. Especially not gross perverted men.

Why should I be subjected to sexual assault because I am a young girl at an angsty rock concert? I may be categorised as a fangirl because I'm a female consumer, but does my gender automatically mean that I do not belong at this event? That I must only be there because I find the members of the band aesthetically pleasing and not have any interest whatsoever in the music they create? Therefore I deserve to be touched inappropriately because it's 'all part of the experience'? Trust me, I have been to many a gig in my time and I can assure anyone with a shadow of a doubt that this is not a price that typically comes with the territory.

At first I thought it was an accidental encounter that followed the tides of the crowd. I gave the guy a dirty look, but realised it could have been unintentional so brought my focus back to the music and my own personal enjoyment. It often bothers me how stupidly naive and optimistic I can be; always hoping for the best in others when I'm consistently proven wrong.

The second time around confirmed that his actions were entirely purposeful. This time I experienced a full throttle grope in the area of my bum. I yanked his beefy hand away from me as his shiny face grinned at me. "You're a fucking disgusting arsehole!!!" I attempted to shout at him over the lo-fi rock. He chuckled in reply and reached for my waist again before I balled my hands into fists and hit him somewhere on his face as hard as I could. My hand couldn't have made a very large impact as I have as much upper body strength of a small child, but it was probably more of a shock to him that a female in a vulnerable position actually had the ability within her to defend herself. He called me a "little fucking bitch" but need I respond? I mean, I'd already replied physically to his threats - I didn't need to prove anything else to him because he now knew I was unafraid. (This is not the first time I've gotten into beef at a gig, but maybe those stories are for another instalment.) Arguably this action lacked common sense because who knows how he could've reacted, but thankfully I was able to relish the rest of the short but sweet showcase of Circa Waves' upcoming debut album assault-free, including the boppy delights of one of the year's strongest singles Stuck In My Teeth.

The fact of the matter is that I did something that I was proud of - besides the act of physically assaulting a stranger, I stood up for and protected myself. I've always been the kind of person that a few of my friends have said that they "wouldn't want to get on the wrong side of", but what does that say about me? For some it means I probably have too much attitude, but maybe it also means that I have the courage to not be pushed around and treated like a second-class citizen. Regardless of the fact that my bum is more inclined to the Taylor Swift rather than the Kim Kardashian end of the juicy booty spectrum, consent is always required before you so intimately touch a person (not that me or anyone else is going to say "yes" if you ask anyway). Especially with cases such as the Sam Pepper scandal coming to light recently, shouldn't men realise by now that women do not want your meaty hands on our bodies without our explicit permission? Would you want some strange chunky hand grappling at your groin area? It's ridiculous that I'm having to explain this. Accept the fact that gig groping, or groping of any kind, is not and will never be okay.

@acciogeorgia not cool! We'll have none of that at our shows.

— Circa Waves (@CircaWaves) November 20, 2014 

(what definitely IS cool is that bands care)

What vexed me most about the incident was not even the fact that I was groped, but the possibility of other young girls in the crowds being preyed on by this giant gross loser. As music fans collectively unifying to celebrate something we all enjoy, shouldn't we treat each other with comradery and respect? Thankfully I taught that wasteman a lesson and he was put in his place, but unfortunately girls in the future will continue to be taken advantage of when they're meant to be having the time of their lives, and that's a crying shame. Concerts are supposed to be experiences that grow to become a part of us, not something tainted with venomous memories. We need to protect girlies, not endanger them.

betty and the not-so-subtle art of copycatting

cop·y·cat (n.) informal - one that closely imitates or mimics another

They say that imitation is the highest form of flattery; that if someone copies you it should be taken as a compliment of crown accord. Perhaps the herds of sheep gagging to dress/talk/look/be like the kewwwlest person you know should give the aforementioned awesome guy/gal tingling feelings of bashfulness and unadulterated power. This would suggest that the concrete embodiment of flattery is having your very own dupe be stuck to you like a shadow. However, the truth is that it's actually pretty annoying - something that matches irritation levels of having gum residue still glued to the sole of your shoe despite the absence of the actual gum itself.

But first, let me get something straight: there is a huge difference between being inspired by an individual, or buying the same clothes as your friend and actually attempting to become a reincarnation of the person whom you so idolise. As human beings we absorb the energies of those whom we admire and feed off of their auras in order to incorporate what's so great about others into ourselves. It is only in our nature to want to improve our own semblances in the mirror of others so that we too are as kind and cool and intelligent as them. Yet that's where we should draw the line, for in an age of distinctiveness what's the use in becoming a sheep? I noticed it a lot when I was in rural-surburban America over the summer: everyone dresses the same. Why?

I'm also not saying that I'm copied a lot - which I'm not at all, like if you want to copy the clothes I wear/the music I listen to/the ways in which I choose to spend my free time I assure you that you're setting yourself up for a lifetime of uncoolness - but, yes, I will put my hands up and say this post was created with the intention of being biographical of a certain someone (who, of course, shall remain utterly anonymous). And I guess if said person, let's call her Betty, was just modelling herself off of myself this post could (and maybe it does, and if it does I'm truly sorry) come off as bitchy and conceited but when Betty's copying everything from her dialect and lingo to the shoes on her feet from different people, I gotta step in and be all "Betty, don't be a wasteman".

In a social media age it's easy to masquerade as someone you're not. It's now easier than ever for clones to thrive in a world that's now online and exposed for all to see; it's a breeding ground for copycats. For example, it's gotten to the point where Betty will copy social media posts word for word and pass them off as her own pioneering thought when it's not and that's just so not chill. Haven't you ever heard of plagiarism, Betty? Didn't your English teacher ever tell you that if words are not your own that you must place them in quotation marks? Honestly Betty, it's really pissing me off. I've never heard you mention that band that girl in your class loves that you claim to be so "proud" of, or used phrases like "pixie aesthetic" (whatever the fuck that is) before you started following that other girl. Why can't you be happy being you? I'm not saying to not follow the latest trends or to not listen to "mainstream" music, but when your whole personality isn't actually true to yourself, then you know there's a problem. Because there's nothing wrong with conforming to a type, but just don't let that type become you.

The book I'm currently reading is a gorgeous Japanese novel called Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami. It's enchanted me so much that I've breezed through a lot of it in less than a day and as I sat reading today, a particular quote stood out like a sore thumb (and ohhhh the irony, honestly):

"If you only read the books that everyone else is reading, you can only think what everyone else is thinking."

I think it really emphasises how important it is to be true to yourself in a world so bland and full of bandwagons. Go outside and think about stuff and issues and everyday life; don't listen to what the media or your Twitter feed tells you - how do you think the world can be improved? Could you be a pioneer of your generation? I promise you that you can if you take the words of Murakami into your stride and quit doing what everyone else is doing and have a little bit of thought for yourself.

It's sad that it seems that some people feel that to be happy in life that they must live it through the lives of someone else - through someone else's creative outlet, or choice of literature, or way they style their hair - when the person they truly are has the potential to be groundbreakingly amazing. As the human race is unfortunately just that - a race - it doesn't take much to slip into the blur and mists of being the same as everyone else and end up joint last.

I guess in a blog which usually attempts to influence the opinion and taste of it's readers, to turn that back around and say "hey, stop copying me you little fuckass" seems highly hypocritical and a lil bit mean. However, I think the point of this was not to disparage people from becoming a sheep (though that is something you should think about avoiding) but rather encourage even just one person to step away out of the shadow of someone else. You were born out of original DNA, there is no one else on Earth quite like you. We're not all American Apparel zombies, embrace that.

feminism for beginners

Feminism is a hot topic at the moment, that fact is indisputable. In the light of International Women's Day yesterday the word has been fresh on the lips of the media as well as ordinary people around the world. What is a seemingly disputable debate being tossed around right now is what exactly feminism means. Lately I've been so frustrated by comments by acquaintances, friends, passer-bys, writers, and celebrities alike who simply do not understand what it is to believe in feminism, or to be a feminist. The thing is, it's okay to not understand! It's totally, totally fine - the important thing is that we all must learn what it means to exercise a healthy view on women and their positions within our society. And so, I've complied this article (mostly for myself as an outlet for my ever-growing grievances against the sheer ignorance of some people) to help hopefully just one person change their perspective and overcome any unawareness they once had.

Let's being by asking ourselves: what is a feminist?

No, it's not a insane bra-burning lesbian with armpit hair who has a burning grudge against the male species. This is not the 60s, this is the 21st century, and so it's time this stereotype was abolished and we followed the pure, most simple definition. I think the most effective way to explain the definition of a feminist is through a lil bit of Queen B...

Notice the snippet from Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche:

We teach girls to shrink themselves
To make themselves smaller
We say to girls
"You can have ambition
But not too much
You should aim to be successful
But not too successful

Otherwise you will threaten the man"

Because I am female

I am expected to aspire to marriage

I am expected to make my life choices

Always keeping in mind that

Marriage is the most important

Now marriage can be a source of

Joy and love and mutual support

But why do we teach girls to aspire to marriage

And we don't teach boys the same?

We raise girls to each other as competitors

Not for jobs or for accomplishments

Which I think can be a good thing

But for the attention of men

We teach girls that they cannot be sexual beings

In the way that boys are

Feminist: the person who believes in the social, political, and economic equality of the sexes

Though I don't condone the use of calling your fellow females bitches (only because I believe it gives an excuse for people, both male and female, to use it negatively against you) I have so much respect for Beyoncé for empowering women and including such a strong feminist message in her song through the voice of this acclaimed Nigerian writer. Below is her incredibly influential speech, and props to Bey for indirectly encouraging young girls and boys alike to look up the speech for themselves and be inspired by her forceful words.

So: why are we so reluctant to label ourselves feminists?
Cleverly, the labeling of feminism has been sarcastically referred to as "the F-word" or "the F-bomb" based on the taboo nature of calling oneself a word which relates to the image of that insane woman with crazy eyes, denouncing the existence of all men. (A really great blog, focused on feminism in everyday life and pop culture, is thefbomb.org which has articles on just about everything to do with feminism.) A lot of this has come from public figures, whether it be pop stars or politicians, who have been reluctant to call themselves a feminist in fear of the negative connotations. I recently felt to smack my head against the wall when reading an interview with girl band Little Mix from an Australian newspaper which quoted:
"They have been dubbed the next Spice Girls and have a string of girl power anthems to their name, but don't go labelling Little Mix as feminists.
'I wouldn't say we're feminists: we don't hate our men,' band member Perrie Edwards told Confidential." [source].

my reaction:

What astounds me is that a group like Little Mix, who probably have songs bursting with girl power and sass, cannot even pretend to know what feminism entails? Like, honestly, that makes me want to die. How can you be in the public eye, with millions of impressionable teenagers looking up to you, but yet still make such uneducated comments? Astounding. Even my beloved Taylor Swift has previously had trouble admitting her feminism in interviews and this annoys me. Do we not proudly look up to mother figures and other strong females in our lives? Therefore, should we not be ashamed to proudly call ourselves a feminist. After all, we are just standing for the equality of both sexes. True feminists do not want one up on males, we don't want to be better, or to beat them: feminists just want to be viewed equally on economic, political, and social levels. We want to take a stand against slut-shaming, and the pay gap,and educational rights, and rape culture, and any other issues that affect how unequal we appear to the rest of the world.

And, no, these issues are not a myth: they're real and they're affecting us today, even in countries like the UK and America who are meant to be pioneers in equality. Recently, Lily Allen denounced feminism, saying she believes in equality because it exists, instead of celebrating feminism but, hey Lily, did you know, between 2012 and 2013, the pay gap between men and women in Britain actually increased, going from 9.5% to 10%? Equality doesn't exist. This is not even to mention the disgraceful levels of inequality in the rest of the world, where some girls aren't even allowed to take part in education because of their gender. Because, apparently, we are intellectually inferior and we belong in the home.

You may have heard the phrases "get back into the kitchen" or "nice story baby, now go make me a sandwich" being thrown around by chauvinistic males from time to time. And do you know why they say these things? Because they are intimidated by women. These boys probably experience serious mommy issues or are just scared of never getting a girlfriend, or whatever. But you're never going to get one with an outlook on life that's so demeaning and idiotic. Why would a woman want to date someone who sees their rights as a joke? Because this interview below, where actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt proudly announces himself as a feminist, gives me serious heart eyes:

Boys: don't be ashamed to call yourself a feminist - the other boys may, ignorantly, call you gay but who cares? It's very sexy and you're going to get all the girls (ps gay isn't actually an insult) x

For me, and probably a lot of people, feminism is also about support. I'm a firm believer in the powers of kindness, and so these may be those morals talking but I don't think feminism should be about the shaming of other women - or men for that matter. Just be nice! If somebody enjoys sex, whether that be a boy or a girl, let them. How does it bother you? If it's not destructive of relationships then it does not affect you in any way. We need to stop slut-shaming, and instead be shameful of ourselves for ever using words like "slut" or "hoe" (I never understand people who use those terms affectionately either. "hey slut!" - um? Thanks but no thanks?). Lorde once slammed Selena Gomez for her song 'Come And Get It' by criticising it's anti-feminist message. Personally I think if Miss Gomez gots it, Miss Gomez should flaunt it if that's what makes her comfortable. Her response to these comments were perfect: "That's not feminism. Lorde is not supporting other women." The world is a hard enough place to live in, why not make it easier by being nice to one another.

And so that was just a little bit about feminism for those who don't completely understand it yet. I encourage everyone who reads this to build curiosity on the subject by reading books like these, or just doing a bit of quick research online so you can impress your friends with your political and intellectual prowess.