Rock concerts

[fierceawakening]

On women being uncomfortable at rock concertsAnd I've never felt particularly uncomfortable at rock shows. After several dozen shows over two years, it's a familiar atmosphere. But that comfort is due to my privilege as a part of a heterosexual couple. I almost never go to shows without my male partner, whose central passion is live music. As a

Comments

[miz_evolution]

I;ve been to a lot of concerts. I'm not uncomfortable. Shrug.

[ext_101344]

I get the feeling that it's another permutation of the whole "women wouldn't do THAT sort of thing unless they were FORCED!" meme that is ever-so prevalent around sex work etc. Because all women are natural prudes, of course *yawn* *sigh*.

[fierceawakening]

I'm not sure, SD. I can easily imagine some concerts becoming really uncomfortable places for some women, particularly very feminine or conventionally attractive ones. I don't think I'd go nearly as far as to say that it's just imputing prudery to all women.

(Also, you're in the UK. From what I understand, exposing one's breasts is for some reason a lot more of a big deal over here. I've never gotten why, but I'm wondering if maybe "Show us your tits!" from rowdy men would be a bit more threatening/uncomfortable-making over on this side of the pond. Though I'd think it would be quite unwelcome in either place from gross people.)

What I do think, though, is that some of that comment thread misses experiences like mine, where yeah, it was all a little sleazy, but it was a sleaziness that seemed to be part of the atmosphere, something people wanted.

In the comment thread of the post that provoked this whole discussion, for example, there's this:

At Wing Ding last Sunday, I saw Powerman 5000 perform, and at one point during their set

[ext_101344]

I take the point about cultural differences. While "get yer tits out!" is still a threatening thing over here, the fact is at rock concerts, going topless seems to be something very common (look at crowd shots at events like Glastonbury Festival, and you'll usually see plenty of breasts on display) - so yeah, there is a difference (the whole Superbowl "wardrobe malfunction" thing was something the people just didn't understand what the fuss was about over here).

And yeah, I can see how someone who wasn't used to the "dirty rock grrl" image or culture would find it threatening just being around all that. But the suggestion seemed to be that the only reason anyone would get their tits out must be because they felt threatened, and that just doesn't seem to hold water.

But the mere fact that men rock stars like "filthy girls?" Nah, not so bothering to me. Unbridled sexuality and "being bad" are part of what rock is all about. :)

Yes, that.

[fierceawakening]

I take the point about cultural differences. While "get yer tits out!" is still a threatening thing over here, the fact is at rock concerts, going topless seems to be something very common (look at crowd shots at events like Glastonbury Festival, and you'll usually see plenty of breasts on display) - so yeah, there is a difference (the whole Superbowl "wardrobe malfunction" thing was something the people just didn't understand what the fuss was about over here).

Yeah, that's what reading your comment made me think of.

And yeah, I can see how someone who wasn't used to the "dirty rock grrl" image or culture would find it threatening just being around all that. But the suggestion seemed to be that the only reason anyone would get their tits out must be because they felt threatened, and that just doesn't seem to hold water.

Was she saying she was unused to rock culture though, or used to it but angry? She mentioned seeing several bands. It didn't sound to me like she was saying "I'd never been to a concert before."

[miz_evolution]

see, I am going to a concert tonigh, so i will be observing now and considering all this stuff.

It's outside, and it is hot, so I prolly won't be wearing much. I guess one could say I am 'conventionally attractive'- if you like ink and cyberpunk....but hey, it is a NIN concert, so yeah, prolly a popular look. I am in General Admission. I shall report my findings later.

[fierceawakening]

*nods* Please do.

[miz_evolution]

will do..should be interesting. In the 11 times I have seen NIN, I have never attempted to make it some sort of social experiment. I will, however, feminism be damned, sing along to 'Closer'. Heh.

[fierceawakening]

Heh. I must shamefacedly admit to hearing the Combichrist song making fun of feminists for being prudes and laughing my fool head off. No, it isn't very nice of him, but as someone who's a veteran of The Sex Wars Vol. 2 and got the scars to prove it... well... I laughed my fool head off.

Wiseass mode on ...

[lilairen]

I'm not comfortable at rock concerts because they're full of people, much like baseball games, subway trains, and parties.

I call this "introversion", not "femaleness". ;)

[ninja_kiza]

Excuse me, but: PFFFT.

Next week I'm heading to this festival for the 2nd time, I've been to numerous smaller metal festivals and concerts here and there and honestly....NEVER felt this kind of 'intimidation'. In fact I'll have to say I've felt more discomfort at pop/rock or techno shows than ever at metal gigs. In my experience there's a certain bonhomie and 'unspoken' understanding that maybe comes from being in a group of people who probably have, atleast at some point, experienced being ostracized or unfairly judged by society simply by their appearance/music taste and nothing else. It makes you appreciate the relatively few people that 'get' you, and you try to not behave like an ass to those few.

Last year I was at Hellfest with my best (female) friend, there were a bunch of people (mostly dudes) from Iceland there which we met occasionally and hung out with, but mostly it was just the two of us and neither of us felt uncomfortable or 'objectified' at any point.
There was of course some very scantily clad women and of