Feature: Feminism Up To Eleven

I have an interesting blogger to introduce: Jessica Roti has a blog similar to mine based on both being focused on women in music. However, Roti's blog is much more in depth as to why certain artists can be considered feminist or not. Here's the interview I did with her. It was a pleasure to interview someone I have so many views in common with. Enjoy!

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“Put it up to eleven” goes the classic quote from the ‘mockumentary’ This Is Spinal Tap.  The quote is rightly referenced in the music critique blog “Femme Louder”, which aims to facilitate dialogue on how music is influential and at times detrimental to mainstream representations of women.

The blog’s content will largely be centered on female musicians, therefore providing a voice not represented in This Is Spinal Tap, by the “Femme Louder” female author. While this may sound exclusively female, all audiences are welcome to read and engage with the blog.

University of Illinois at Chicago senior and aspiring music journalist Jessica Roti combines her gender and women’s studies major with criticism of the music industry.

“Femme Louder”, Roti’s blog title, fuses both of those worlds together. Her goal with this blog is to show how musical representation, both lyrically and visually, affects the way women and men are perceived in the industry and real life.

Because the way women are perceived differs from genre to genre, Roti said she will emphasize and provide heavier coverage of rock, pop, hip/hop and rap as those are the genres she is most familiar with and can provide more informative coverage on.

The feminist blogger would like to focus on both lyrical and visual content of music videos and artist performances, but she feels that because young people react mainly to visual stimulation, she will sharpen her focus to explaining her thoughts utilizing images and videos.

Some influences for her blog and its topic are positive feminist icons such as Brody Dalle of The Distillers and Kathleen Hanna of Bikini Kill who reject expected gender presentations.

Roti believes the stigma and negative connotations attached to identifying as feminist are “ignorant and ridiculous,” so she openly identifies as one to show that it does not equate with man hating and other false stereotypes. 

Roti would like feminism to be more accessible to a larger audience and show that it is a positive label.

Somewhat boastful, Roti admits that her feminism began at the young age of 6 when she had a strong dislike for girl versus boy gym class activities.

However, her senior year of high school is perhaps the more defining moment of when she realized that there was a need for a feminist space in mainstream media. As a child she would mock pop stars from television, who were often sexualized, because those were the accepted versions of women and femininity.

“I believe in the power of social media but I don’t think everyone uses social media to further their own agendas,” Roti said. She aims to do so herself for this reason.

Roti promotes her feminism through Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr, which are all-inclusive of transgender, queer, gay, lesbian and other identities.

Due to Roti’s vocal support of feminism, she has lost some friends and believes that she would not be successful were she to hold “heterosexist, white elitist, patriarchal views.”

“Feminism doesn't exclude anyone, my feminism doesn't exclude anyone, and that's how I live my life.” 

To stay updated on how Roti employs her feminism ideals through mainstream music criticism, here is her blog: femmelouder.wordpress.com.

[UPDATE: Made on 3/18/14 at 12:15 pm]