Outline of Feature Story
In an ideal DIY scene, everyone would get along and play harmoniously. That is not the case in some instances. Some people view the DIY music scene as a “man’s world” and believe people try not to leave room for people of color or women/non-binary folk in the scene.
Another issue being presented in the “man’s world” is the over sexualizing of fans. In one band’s apology, they mentioned looking into the crowd to see who would have sex with them. Analyzing band’s behavior is a way to see how well they fit into what is supposed to be an inclusive space for artists to express themselves and for fans to be comfortable.
When speaking to friends of mine, they have mentioned other fans in the scene have over sexualized their knowledge of knowing about the band or about music in general. Seeing that as an issue in what is supposed to be a safe space of a scene, I would like to write an article about the problems this causes.
I would interview people in the scene such as various bands that have woman or non-binary folk in them and see their stance on it. I would also interview my friends who have expressed these problems to me. Some bands I have in mind are Oceanator, Charly Bliss, and Camp Cope. They are all bands part of the punk scene and have made songs and albums about sexual harassment and being mistreated. They have spoken at shows about creating safe spaces and making sure people are okay in every situation they present themselves in.
Some questions for the bands are:
- Have you experienced difficulties being a woman in the music scene?
- Do people take your band seriously during soundcheck?
- How often do you get mistreated for being a woman in the punk scene?
