We Deserve to Have a Space Here

This chapter draws upon my PhD research into feminist digital activism in extreme metal by exploring the emergent discourses of ‘taking up space’ and ‘using your voice’ to illustrate how women extreme metal vocalists are using social media to continue to commit to and express their authentic feminist identity. Through establishing a feminist space in metal, vocalists can shout back against oppressive narratives in the genre. The feminist space helps vocalists to reclaim their silenced voices, allowing them to share their experiences in a space where they can both heal and be heard. Digitalisation has enabled a multiplicity of voices to be elevated in metal and digital feminist spaces have helped to highlight the intersectional complexities of the lived experiences of women, revealing differences and potential solidarities in metal music culture. The digital metal landscape has both helped and hindered the progression of feminism within extreme metal, providing a space for feminists to expand the reach of their feminist voice whilst also giving a platform to anti-feminist and misogynistic hate speech towards feminism in metal. Using social media, vocalists can call out toxic behaviours of musicians, journalists, and festival organisers, show their continued existence in metal and further elevate the feminist voice they commit to in their music. Overall, the chapter will identify some of the unique feminist spaces the virtual world can offer women in extreme metal whilst tackling the challenge of the utopian perception of the internet as a liberatory space for feminists.