It’s pretty obvious that we adore Canadian electro artist Grimes. Our current cover girl is not only one of today’s most exciting musicians, but super politically articulate (and you can hear it in her music– “Oblivion” is about sexual harrassment). If you read our interview with her, you’ll know she’s a fiercely independent, outspoken feminist who insists on having “[a] hundred percent” creative control over her work. (“I feel like if I didn’t do it, it’s not Grimes.”) This philosophy has never been more visible than in a post she put on her Tumblr last night in which she calls attention to sexism in the music industry, fan culture, journalism, and more. The whole post is fantastic, but check out some highlights below:
i dont want to be infantilized because i refuse to be sexualized
i dont want to be molested at shows or on the street by people who perceive me as an object that exists for their personal satisfaction
i dont want to live in a world where im gonna have to start employing body guards because this kind of behavior is so commonplace and accepted and I’m pissed that when I express concern over my own safety it’s often ignored until people see firsthand what happens and then they apologize for not taking me seriously after the fact…
I’m tired of men who aren’t professional or even accomplished musicians continually offering to ‘help me out’ (without being asked), as if i did this by accident and i’m gonna flounder without them. or as if the fact that I’m a woman makes me incapable of using technology. I have never seen this kind of thing happen to any of my male peers
…
I’m sad that it’s uncool or offensive to talk about environmental or human rights issues
I’m tired of creeps on message boards discussing whether or not they’d “fuck” me
I’m tired of people harassing my dancers and treating them like they aren’t human beings
I’m sad that my desire to be treated as an equal and as a human being is interpreted as hatred of men, rather than a request to be included and respected (I have four brothers and many male best friends and a dad and i promise i do not hate men at all, nor do i believe that all men are sexist or that all men behave in the ways described above)
…
I’m tired of people assuming that just because something happens regularly it’s ok
GOLF. CLAP. We could not be more proud to have her on our cover. Read her manifesto in all its glory here.
Image via the outtakes of our Apr/May issue, on newsstands now.
