Björk takes a stand against sexist media
Björk has taken a stand against sexist media in a lengthy Facebook post. The iconic performer played DJ sets in Texas recently. She received flack from certain media outlets for not “performing” and choosing instead “hide behind desks”.
She decided to respond, and by doing so she highlighted the ready dismissal of her artistry unless it filled a certain criteria. With this move she displayed a willingness to stand up for creative integrity.
Björk said…
“Most of us played mostly other peoples music and would slide in instrumentals of what we’ve been working on recently
I am aware of that it is less of a year since I started DJing publicly so this is something people are still getting used to and my fans have been incredibly welcoming to me sharing my musical journey and letting me be me. It’s been so fun and the nerd in me editing together pieces of others peoples songs for weeks, gets to share the different coordinates I feel between some of the most sublime music I know.
Some media could not get their head around that I was not ‘performing’ and ‘hiding’ behind desks, and my male counterparts were not [facing the same accusations]. I think this is sexism, which at the end of this tumultuous year is something I’m not going to let slide: because we all deserve maximum changes in this revolutionary energy we are currently in the midst of.”
She said something particularly poignant about what women are “allowed” to sing about…
“Women in music are allowed to be singer songwriters singing about their boyfriends, but if they change the subject matter to atoms, galaxies, activism, nerdy math beat editing or anything else than being performers singing about their loved ones, they get criticised.”
The keyword here is variation and the freedom to see this through. Gender roles are passé and as we move forward into the musical future it is the hope that minds like Björk’s of both boys and girls continue to sprout.
Sourced
