Building a women-centered DJ Collective

Abstract

This article is a case study that explores the US women-centered electronic/dance music (E/DM) DJ collective Sister SF. Specifically, it investigates the ways in which Sister SF has established its identity and responded to the inequalities and barriers female DJs experience in the male-dominated E/DM culture. Although the collective's goals reflect a liberal feminist perspective that supports equality between the sexes, Sister SF rejects a feminist label. To build and sustain its identity and the presence of female DJs, Sister SF has adopted practices characteristic of both grassroots do-it-yourself (DIY) collectives and commercial/corporate culture. The collision of practices from these seemingly disparate cultures has created the unique hybrid E/DM DJ collective that is Sister SF. The article begins by tracing the study of women's position on the margins of popular music and more specifically within E/DM culture. It then discusses the need for the establishment of a women-centered DJ space in San Francisco before examining Sister SF's choice to identify explicitly as “not feminist” despite its feminist practices. From here the collective's DIY goals and underpinnings are explored. Lastly, the paper addresses the corporate/commercial practices that extend into Sister SF's management of its expanding nationwide collective known as Sister USA.

Keywords:

• branding
• community
• DJ
• electronic/dance music
• feminism
• Internet

Notes

1. In DJ culture, the term resident is used to refer to a DJ who has ties to a specific DJ collective or regularly performs at a specific location.

2. The drop from ten members to nine was the result of Annie Shaw's (known in the DJ community as XJS) decision to end her participation in Sister SF as a DJ but to remain a part of the collective in an advisory role.

3. Generally, the role of the MC in E/DM culture is to rhyme or sing while the DJ plays the music.

4. Male DJs are only invited to participate in Sister SF's annual event called “Dragnet—We Like Boys” at which they must perform in drag. 2006 marked the ninth annual Dragnet event (Sister SF n.d. a).

5. In this context the term “distros” refers to independent online distribution services that specialize in selling girl-made zines.