Searching for a feminist space in music

Men are in majority of those who work in the music industry, the culture and the taste in music is androcentric it is thus often difficult for women to enter the domain. The simple fact that the term all-female band is frequently used but all-male band hardly ever indicates that bands where all the members are women is a kind of a anomaly. The gender specialist, Lára Rúnarsdóttir, who is also a mucician, has studied feminist space within the music industry in Iceland and the possibilities for women to challenge the predominant male dominance in the industry.  "We can learn a lot from the current work in the field, however, it is important to seek additional and alternative ways for change and improved access for all to the music industry," says Lára.  

The study, carried out by the support of the Student Innovation Fund, combines Lára's passion for feminism and music, making it exciting for her to tackle the inequality within the music industry. Her point-of-view was as a musician, but in particular as a board member of KÍTÓN, Icelandic women's association in music.

Lára points out that some female musicians decide to adapt to the world of the music industry, whilst other create their own space as critical actors. They criticise the male culture of the industry and their music and rhetoric is feministic. Lára studied whether this way, women creating their own space and empowerment, led to more equality within in the Icelandic music business. "It was important to me to study further how we increase women's part in music in Iceland," said Lára. 

Lára interviewed members of Reykjavíkurdætur, rap band, and former participants in the rock summer camp Girls Rock! "Results indicate that Reykjavíkurdætur provoke the current parameters in rap, hitherto masculine. Derogatory rhetoric about women has been tolerated historically in rap where the sexes and sex are portrayed for the most part in connection with men's position of power over women. The camp Girls Rock! is operated on a feminist vision with the aim to react against inequality in the music industry," says Lára.   

Supervisor: Gyða Margrét Pétursdóttir, Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Political Science.