"There were a lot of women in the beginning. It(the Punk Movement) was women doing things. Then it became this whole macho, anti-women thing. Then women didn't go to see punk bands anymore because they were afraid of getting killed. I didn't even go because it was so violent and so macho that it was repulsive. Women just got squeezed out".

-Jennifer Miro, "The Nuns", commenting on what she saw happening towards the end of 1977.

 

There are differing thoughts as to the origin of the riot grrrl. Most agree riot grrrls originated from the punk movement. Riot Grrrls are both a historical music movement and a basic ideology. In music the battle cry was "Revolution Girl Style Now!" lead by all grrrl bands like Bikini Kill and Bratmobile. Politically, riot grrrl are people (girls and boys) who stomp out sexism and inequality wherever they see it.

Riot grrrl activities in the early 1990's included national conventions in D.C., the Pussystock festival in New York City, and a slew of zines, notably Girl Germs, Satan Wears A Bra and Quit Whining. To their horror, the riot grrrls found themselves media darlings by 1992, featured for dragging feminism into the mosh pit in magazines from Seventeen to Newsweek. Internal disagreements led to resignations of people like Jessica Hopper, who was at the center of the Newsweek coverage. Riot grrrl leader Kathleen Hanna of Bikini Kill called that year for "a press block" and reporters from papers like the Seattle Times, Washington Post, and Houston Chronicle found themselves fleshing out riot grrrl articles by describing exactly the way in which various scenesters hung up on them.

While the riot grrrl label was soon being fixed on any aggressive or overtly sexual girl-band--including major label bands like L7 and Babes In Toyland--most actual riot grrrl bands stuck doggedly to independent record labels and maintained a commitment to cheap, all-ages shows.

Today riot grrrls are empowered, strong, oft times angry people say what they think and feel and continue to kick ass in the everyday lives.

Sofia Klatzker 1998

Guerrilla Girls are activism at its best!
Bad Ass Women United, an artist and activism site with useful links and inspiring quotes.
RiotGrrl is online 'zine filled with rantings, brilliant theories, and lots of entertainment for riot grrls everywhere.
Cybergrrl is a site of Webgrrl organizations for women interested in media and technology
Virtual Sisterhood, Information and links for feminists, both traditional and radical.
Geek Girl 'zine, with information and articles on grrl things, tech things, and the underground scene.
Blue Stocking, an "unabashedly feminist" 'zine from Portland, Oregon (US). Pro-sex, fun, and full of good information, art, literature, and articles.