Russian feminist punk band Pussy Riot is the first of many installments on my newest segment, Feminist Fridays. Each week, I want to showcase people that inspire, motivate, and give a good name to the feminist movement as a whole–women that make me proud to be part of the female species. Pussy Riot, resurging with politically loaded language and grotesque imagery (much like one of their inspirations, Bikini Kill) has embodied a 21st-century version of the Riot grrrl movement of the 90s (Kat Stratford, anyone?) by performing “pussy riots” all throughout Moscow and greater Russia.
For those of you not familiar with the band’s status, three of the leading members were declared guilty in Russian court of law and sentenced to two years in prison for “hooliganism.” The three ladies, all having young children, have been detained since March of earlier this year after performing the profanity-filled “Mother of God, Cast Putin Out” (Hail Mary’s and all) on the altar of Moscow’s Cathedral of Christ Our Saviour. (See footage of the protest here).
It’s very upsetting to me to know that freedom of speech, especially from a feminist standpoint, is not really an outlet for the people of Russia. A well-known atheist state is punishing its citizens for “hooliganism?” Punishing those who protest against a seemingly nonexistent political sense of checks and balances? (That sounds familiar, *cough* America). Perhaps the “shock and awe” tactic was extreme, but it got the point across about the unseen features of Putin and his political regime; no one was hurt, and now everyone is more aware of a pressing issue in Russian government. Unfortunately, the group is being, dare I say, unjustly jailed for making a bold statement in an unconventional way. This sentence just proves the lack of justice and oppression in a supposedly free state. At least the good in all of this is some bad PR for Putin’s leadership–it’s a start, right?
Regardless of the consequences, I’m glad this group of daring Russian peeps weren’t afraid to take a stand for their political values, for what they’re fighting against. But we also need to keep in mind this fact: If this type of judicial reaction to protest is happening in Russia, a well-known democratic state, who knows what could happen in the rest of world? Hell, even in America–a place crawling with Christian values and a recent combative spirit to the female population?
Bust Magazine, a driving force for neo-feminism, said it best: “We are all Pussy Riot.” #weareallpussyriot
Love, KiKi
