Misogyny in the dance music industry.

Look at it this way, how many female singers/popstars can “make it” by not taking off most of their clothes?

How many new-generation “superstar DJs” (male and female) are NOT “good looking”?

It’s the unfortunate downside of the music industry. Ever since the dawn of music video, popstars have been judged more on how they look and what they can sell over any actual “talent” they might have. Look how “manufactured” they are now.

In the club/DJ world, women have been and are still treated as a commodity. For the patron, she is more or less treated like a hooker. A hot piece of flesh brought in under the royal treatment to tempt men to spend money on them…all in the hopes of getting laid. Why do you think clubs will give priority access to good-looking women?

When it comes to female DJs, too many clubs only think of image over substance. They dream of some hot looking girl in the booth over the typical men who show up to play. It sucks for women who want to be taken seriously, as they are pressured to be good looking and sexual in order to get ahead.

You can take solace though in that you don’t see any of these “stripper DJs” going beyond the trendy/trashy club. It’s not like we’re seeing them headline UMF or something. The few females who do get in deserve it (in my book). They didn’t sell themselves short and showed they can play and produce…not just “look pretty”.

Looking at things more “macro”, I’ve noticed that ever since 2007 or 2008, political correctness has been under fire. I see deep-seeded racism, sexism, ageism, and other prejudices brought into the spotlight. It’s become almost “fashionable” in some circles (if you’re a white male) to be racist and misogynistic. Kind of a sad state of affairs if you ask me.

I get it, sex sells, but I think real female DJs had to fight hard for respect behind the decks

Unfortunately this is not something that applies only for dance music industry. Not even only music industry at all, but pretty much everywhere. And it’s sad to know that (at least where I live) clubs organize events sometimes where, if the girl comes semi-naked (don’t know how to explain it in an english word sorry haha) she has a free drink and stuff…

But is this something we, clubbers and DJs, can fight ? Of course I (and a lot of people) find it very annoying that girls have to show their boobs if they want anything but it’s hard to fight it…

(I’d make a 1000 words post about it if I could, sad thing I’m french)

Eliah,

Yeah, I get what you’re saying. However, I think there’s two overlapping topics at hand here.

1) General gender-based hatred toward female DJs.

This I agree is mostly a male problem. If people are hostile towards a fellow (no pun intended) solely because their gender, they’re undeniably being huge jerks. Then again, this is only part of the bigger jerk-problem in the scene; there seems to be a HUGE number of DJs who find the most ridiculous reasons to hate, diss and look down their fellow DJs. Gear purism, genre purism, the age-old sync debate – you name it.

2) Sexualization and objectification of female DJs

Some women choose to take the easy road and choose to present themselves as little more than hot piece of ass. This is a conscious choice on their part. That IMHO it not mens fault. Everybody is free to make whatever career decision they deem necessary. But here’s the thing…if one makes the career decision to, well, basically exploit the way men’s brains are hardwire, they IMHO should take the negative implications that come with it. To put it bluntly, if you look and act like a bimbo I’m going to make the assumption you’re a bimbo and I’m not going to lose any sleep over it.