Grrrl211's Blog

Riot Grrrl saved my life. The words that I have so often spoke, so often thought. I guess I’m not the only one. Searching through YouTube I found dozens of videos where girls are posting their thoughts on the riot grrrl movement in the 90′s and how it changed their lives. Many of these girls all seem to have the same thing in common. They feel some sort of oppression. Whether it’s their own confusion and feelings of inadequacy in a male-driven world or they’ve been abused or mistreated by men these girls now are taken the message from riot grrrls and empowering themselves. Even though in the 90′s the movement was about ending the sexism in the punk scene (Yeah ever been to a show only to find it’s almost impossible to pit unless you’re so drunk you probably won’t remember or if you’re like 5’9 and 170lbs.) Not only in the pit was this scene but in the bands themselves. Even though many girls love punk as much as any other punk guy you didn’t see many girl bands. However bands like Bikini Kill, Bratmobile, X-ray Spex, Lunachicks, and Heavens To Betsy changed all that. like wild fire girls began to take it to a whole other level. being a grrrl now meant doing whatever you wanted, dressing however you wanted, and sticking it to the men!  almost 20 years later girls are still saying riot grrrl saved my life. Why? Because girls still find themselves sexually frustrated, with low self-esteem, and not knowing who they are.  How did riot grrrl save my life? sex. I grew up thinking sex was taboo. Any kind of sexual exploration is. but why? why should I feel ashamed for being curious about my own body and my own pleasures. Men weren’t told to feel bad. As we ALL know it’s quite the opposite. Hearing real girls who looked like me, heard the same music as me, and felt like me singing songs about sex. wow. It caught me  off guard and  opened up my mind on how I feel about my own body. I was listening to songs by women empowering other women to stick up for themselves and talk back. I was listening to songs about I was listening to songs shedding light on issues like police raping prostitutes, boyfriends hitting their girlfriend and overcoming it. I was listening to real women venting out their frustrations and in a way helping me vent mine.

Maybe I like you
Maybe I do
Oooh Ooooh Ooooh

Maybe I found something real
I just don’t know if was I wrong to trust anyone
Tell me, tell me
Did you tell them everything I said?
Did you tell them everything?
Did you tell them everything I said?
Did you tell them everything I said?

Why don’t you tell them?
Did you get a good laugh?
Tell me was it good was it good?
Was it good?
Was it good for you?
Did you win that race?
Did you score that point?
Oh yeah you’re so fucking cool, fucking cool
Now did ya, did ya, did ya, did ya, did ya, did ya, did ya, did ya, did ya, did ya, did ya, did ya?
Go tell your fucking friends
What I thought and how I felt
How punk fucking rock
My pussy smells
Now did you tell them?

I don’t care. I don’t care. I don’t care. I don’t care.
I really, really don’t know

Maybe I like you
Maybe I do
Ooooh Ooooh Ooooh