Hear Me Out…
When did punk become generally understood as nihilistic rebellion? That’s never been the case. In fact, the very bare bones of punk, its ethos, deeply rooted in egalitarianism, DIY (do-it-yourself) culture, and solidarity, prove the very opposite of apathy. Dismissing punk subculture as ‘edgy teenage nonsense’ erases its true intended legacy of building spaces for resistance, self-expression, and collective agency.
So, I propose a challenge to the common assumption: punk subculture has always been and will continue to provide a voice for the voiceless. And who needs a voice more in our society than those fighting patriarchal oppression? This is why punk rockers have the potential to make the best frontline feminists. Because they challenge oppressive systems, fight for agency, and equality. So long as the shoe fits… it fits perfectly.
The Punk Ethos
From its very emergence in the 1970s, punk offered more than raucous instrumentals to drown out working-class stress. The subculture has always spoken for those least able to speak for themselves, voicing struggles of the poor, powerless, slighted, and marginalized. Beyond music itself, punk subculture uses space and place to express its values. When you strip away the aesthetics, punk ideology is purely egalitarian. At its core, the subculture stands for individuality, community, anti-authoritarianism, and a DIY ethic.
Punk was born as resistance to the mainstream– specifically, to capitalist society’s control over how people live and move through spaces. So they brought power to the spaces they control, where performers and audiences interact on equal terms. Punk shows have lower stages, encouraging open crowd participation. They welcome stage dives, allow audience members to climb fences and poles, and encourage mosh pits. This is the very reflection of egalitarianism. Supporting equal rights across gender and social division, flattening hierarchy into a melting pot of good music, good people, and good beer.
The first time I attended a concert underage (don’t tell anyone), I was initially intimidated by the wave of tall men in all black clothes and gauges. As a 4’11, 17-year-old girl, I scrambled to the front row to catch a glimpse of my heroes, the Welsh pop-punk band, Neck Deep. Being shorter than most and wearing seven-inch-heeled boots, I got kicked in the head during a crowd surf. But as I staggered and fell, people around me formed a shield over me, instead of trampling me to death. "There's a girl here!" someone called out, and suddenly, the priority in the immediate area shifted to me instead of the band performing. Audience members shoved people off me while others started guiding me to a safer spot on the side.
So, as Ben Barlow sang about government censorship, all I could think was how the space felt like a dead ringer for peaceful protests. The idea that you must protect your fellow man, hold their hands, rinse tear gas from their eyes, and speak up for what you believe in. Such was the unspoken ethic: mutual respect, mutual aid, and self-empowerment.
Artists Who Walk The Walk
That ethos of solidarity and resistance didn’t emerge in a vacuum, but was woven throughout punk’s history. The commitment to speaking for the marginalized and challenging authority has been central to punk since its mainstream breakthrough, evident in bands like Green Day, Neck Deep, and G.L.O.S.S.
Green Day
Green Day’s discography has always been riddled with rebellion and disillusionment. Their critique of systemic abuse and political propaganda consistently takes the side of youth struggling within broken socio-political structures, particularly evident in albums like ‘American Idiot’ and ‘21st Century Breakdown’. Songs like ‘American Idiot’, ‘Know Your Enemy’, and ‘Revolution Radio’ amplify people’s voices against war, media manipulation, and societal oppression, refusing the apathy and silence that power structures depend on.
But this isn’t performative politics. Tre Cool, Mike Dirnt, and Billie Joe Armstrong live these values offstage as much as onstage. In one powerful moment, frontman Billie Joe used his platform to advocate against domestic violence during a 2024 show on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. “All the women out here tonight, don’t let any man lay his hands on you,” he announced– a direct challenge to patriarchal violence. It doesn’t get any more punk than that.
Neck Deep
Much like the bands that came before them, Neck Deep picked up the baton to represent modern youth voices. Their music focuses on criticism, optimism, and empowerment, their gentle undertones nurturing youth struggling with mental health. Songs like ‘Happy Judgment Day’ and ‘Don’t Wait’ provide commentary on government censorship, corruption, and questionable policies. But between the rage, there’s gentleness they advocate for, making peace with past trauma. They encourage finding silver linings in a bleak world. Neck Deep essentially says “I understand what it’s like,” aiding youth who struggle with the socio-political climate they wake up to daily.
Beyond social commentary, Neck Deep becomes a strong contender for the feminist frontline. Their single ‘She’s A God’ celebrates strong women everywhere. “She’s a god, and she walks amongst us, on her way to work,” the lyrics echo, spreading the message that every woman should be treated with the reverence they deserve.
G.L.O.S.S.
From its beginning to its deliberate breakup in 2016, G.L.O.S.S. (Girls Living Outside Society’s S***) existed as the messenger of unapologetic resistance. This trans-feminist hardcore punk band screamed songs about racism, police brutality, gender, and queer identity, riding the momentum of the ‘Black Lives Matter’ movement. Despite their brief career, G.L.O.S.S. made their voices heard nationwide.
Their aggressive social critique targeted homophobia, transphobia, and queer oppression while also attacking media-driven gay politics and passive liberalism. They positioned themselves at the very frontlines, protesting cisheteronormative culture and carving out essential space for marginalized and queer people in the punk scene. G.L.O.S.S. told every listener they were tired of being rejected by male-dominated audiences and invited marginalized groups to fight back. And in the end, as the band grew too large to ‘feel’ sustainable, they disbanded as the ultimate anti-capitalist move.
Punk in Practice
In case it’s still not clocking to you that I’m standing on business, let’s examine examples that prove punk rockers are the best candidates for frontline feminists. Many movements start from the smallest spark in punk subculture. But they’re all rooted in one thing: solidarity.
Riot Grrrl
Riot Grrrl, an underground feminist punk subculture, emerged in 1991 to voice defiant growls against issues that the mainstream culture ignores. This scene demanded space, covering topics like rape, domestic abuse, the patriarchy, and female empowerment. Riot Grrrl was a moment– one dominated by female solidarity and revolution. Bikini Kill, an American punk rock band integral to this movement, famously enforced a ‘girls to the front’ policy, literally and figuratively reclaiming space from men at punk rock shows, so women in the audience could safely dance, vibe, and see bands up close. You go, grrrl.
But it was never about surface-level solutions. It was always about sparking flames that invited women in punk spaces into political conversations, asking the right questions about why girls can’t enjoy the same hardcore punk music as boys. Yet, as fast as it appeared, Riot Grrrl disappeared like a Prius in a hit-and-run– enough to do damage, enough to stay relevant for decades.
Pestapora 2025
One of Indonesia’s biggest indie, alternative, and punk rock festivals, Pestapora, was scheduled for September 2025. What made the festival unique this year wasn’t its stages or lineup – but rather the lack of a lineup.
On September 6, 2025, a slew of musicians and bands set to perform at Pestapora 2025 suddenly announced they’d cancelled their gigs. It wasn’t some foodborne illness or faulty equipment that caused it, but an act of protest towards one of the event’s sponsors, PT. Freeport Indonesia. The company, infamous for exploiting natural resources, violating human rights, and clashing with Papuan Indigenous people, was public enemy number one that day. Musicians voiced that values come before a paycheck– one they would rather miss than take the stage with Freeport’s blood money as sponsorship. This solidarity for human rights, putting human lives over their own careers, effectively led Pestapora to terminate its affiliation with the company.
Takeaways
Punk rockers are solid, empathetic, and passionate people who hold the value of human life in high regard. They scream for the voiceless, stand up for what they believe in, and refuse to roll over to common norms.
Just like feminism, punk rock has the makings for breaking past gender norms, stereotypes, and the patriarchy. Punk rockers don’t just support feminist causes; they embody the very essence of feminist resistance. Decades have gone into perfecting the art of challenging patriarchal systems, creating inclusive spaces, and amplifying marginalized voices. While others are learning to fight oppression, punks have been doing it since the 1970s. They don’t just talk about equality– they mosh to it.
So, unless you agree with me, don’t you dare identify yourself as a punk. Because if you can’t critique the status quo while vibing to raucous music, you’re not punk enough, pal.
