Now That’s My Kind of Seminar

UVic speech focuses on women in the punk and metal movement

Sometimes it only takes a single question to really get an interview rolling. In the case of Sara Sutler-Cohen, chair of Bellevue Community College’s sociology department, who speaks at UVic Monday on women in the punk and metal movement, the question was this: in your experience, what have been the roles of women in the punk and metal scene, and what are the misconceptions about these roles?

“I can’t speak for other women, but from my vantage point, we were all much more involved in the scene than American Hardcore will tell you,” begins Sutler-Cohen. “We were as much sewn into the scene as our male counterparts. Of course, this ranged from scene to scene, but I think that’s the point—there is no one role of women in the punk and metal scenes.”

“I mean, do we ask what the male role is?” she continues. “No, because it’s implied through marketing and lyrics, so we don’t have to engage those questions. The fact that anyone would try to figure out what [women’s] role is limits the answer.”

Presented by the UVic Women’s Studies Department, Sutler-Cohen’s lecture will recall some of her experiences in the underground music scene from the 1980s until now, and will examine how gender roles in punk and metal can be redefined.

But now back to her comprehensive answer: “There are a multiplicity of women into punk and metal, and thus a multiplicity of roles. And that range should enable us to consider a deeper understanding of the complexities of both women and the scenes. When Lemmy Kilmister [of Motörhead] talks about Girlschool, he’s very clear about saying they’re good musicians. Period. He purposefully doesn’t add that they’re good musicians for women.”

It’s observations like this that should also make Sutler-Cohen’s memoir-in-the-works an interesting read. Focusing on her time as a youth in the Berkeley, California punk scene, the process of writing the book has reaffirmed her belief that the metal and punk scenes are a safe haven for those questioning mainstream society and people who are willing to educate themselves.

“[Writing the memoir] has affirmed my outlook on metal and punk,” says Cohen. “I hold on to the majority of the political beliefs I had then, and I still listen to metal every day, and still go to shows.”

Besides Monday’s metal/punk talk, Sutler-Cohen will also speak at UVic on Tuesday about creatively teaching students about issues such as racism, classism and homophobia.

“I’m a little nervous,” she confides. “This is my first foray into anything like this. I’m just this poor punk-rock metalhead kid from Berkeley with crazy hippy parents. So sometimes I just sort of go, ‘Uh, what?’ when it comes to these sorts of opportunities. But I am really excited.”

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Sara Sutler-Cohen: Women in the Punk and Metal Movement
3pm Monday, October 6
UVic, Hickman Building 110
Free • 250-721-7378