Codyrene1995

Women Of The Early East L.A Punk Scene

The women within the inception of the East L.A punk scene created a space of their own within the already exciting scene.. They created a sub cultural movement associated with a brand of feminism that combined the ethics and politics of second wave feminism, the Chicano movement, and punk rock. The women of East L.A created a space that was safe for women and members of the LGBTQ community to express themselves artistically and politically.

Origin Of The East L.A Scene

The East L.A Punk scene gained organizational momentum through throwing backyard shows through a lack of a steady club scene in East L.A, and it being near impossible for a band from East L.A to gain a slot at a club in the Hollywood scene. After a steady network of backyard shows began to appear, places of notoriety within the scene began to appear such as Bird and Cornwell, First and Velasco, Beastie’s Pad, Boo-Boo’s House, Joe’s Pit, Flipper’s Pad, and the Dustbowl. A person could get into a show for three dollars or less, and one could see one to eight bands.

Feminism and Chicano Culture

As expressed by Alice Bags of The Bags and Teresa Covarrubias of the Brat, they turned to the punk scene due to their feminist's stances being rejected by the greater Mexican American community as well as their cultural identity being rejected by mainstream western feminism. Songs performed usually had lyrics that were associated with the second wave of feminism, rejection of western culture.

"Don't want your private lives.

Don't want your industrial lies. Your politician dreams, Your psychodrama schemes. One false move, you're gonna die! "- Babylonian Gorgon by The Bags

The Art Of The Performance

The Women within the scene challenged what it meant to be a woman on stage. Examples can be seen in Alice Bags dressing in a polka dot dress, heels, chola makeup, performed in a way on stage that earned her the name “Violence Girl” and has been referred to by Henry Rollins of the band Black Flag as “real L.A”. Backstage Pass wanted to challenge how women were supposed to act on stage in total disregard to what men wanted a women to behave on stage. Vaginal Davis of the band Cholita! “The Female Menudo” and Nervous Gender, used defiant humor, and social critique within her performances. "Known for their hybrid performance art concerts, leaned into the social chaos and uncertainty of living in Los Angeles", she used her performances to create a sense of an "aesthetic assualt".

"Once you commit to not being constrained by male rules, you don’t have to fight anymore. You can be sexy or you can be a bitch and you don’t have to worry about anyone judging your behavior." - Marina Del Rey

Bands

• Backstage Pass,
• Castration Squad (Members of The Go Go's and the Bags)
• Cholita! (The Female Menudo)
• Nervous Gender
• The Bags
• The Brat
• Spitboy

Legacy

Legacy of these women can be seen in contemporary bands within the East L.A scene that cover topics with their lyrics and performances that are associated with the fourth wave of feminism, rejection of western culture, and historical mistreatment of Mexican Americans within the United States. Bands include Downtown Boys, Destruye Y Huye, Futura, Strangers, as well as many others.

" You can't ball the fuck on us

I won't let that go I'll never let that go You can't ball the fuck on us I won't hide I won't hide I won't let that go

I'll never let that go" - A Wall by Downtown Boys