Can women play heavy metal? Misogynistic affectivity in Brazilian heavy metal

This article seeks to understand how misogyny and affectivity intersect in environments in which women are part of the minority. In this context, we ask: what are the survival strategies of female artists in heavy metal? This article develops arguments about how bassist and vocalist Fernanda Lira, from the bands Crypta and Nervosa, became a target of what we call misogynistic affectivity, stemming from the hater culture on social media, observed in this study based on heavy metal fans. Through a documentary analysis, using Fernanda’s interviews with Brazilian journalists as a source, and a subsequent case study, it is possible to observe the reaction of heavy metal fans to the artist's public stance. The case study serves as a methodological support that grants this research the necessary materiality to argue about the affective perception towards artists who take a stand against the fan base's imaginary—feminism versus misogyny.