Representations of women in Mexican metal music
Main Article Content
This article analyzes the representations of women in Mexican metal scenes, specifically in the everyday speech of the genre’s followers. Through a theoretical analysis of the concepts of social field, social representation, and music scene, along with the application of interviews and participant observation, I identified five predominant categories that classify women in these spaces: the slut, the groupie, the butch, the normal, and the poser. These labels are constructed from stereotypes based on women’s clothing, behavior, and roles within the scene, reinforcing gender norms and cultural expectations. In the space of metal, which has been socially recognized as being by and for men, women are frequently subjected to violence and sexualization, as well as having their legitimacy and abilities questioned. This everyday discourse reflects a perspective in which female participation is measured by masculine standards, influencing how their contributions and performance are evaluated within the social field of metal. Finally, the study shows how these representations hinder the recognition and acceptance of women, perpetuating their exclusion within a space dominated by gender stereotypes.