“No Beauty Tips or Guilt Trips”:Rockrgrl, Rock, and Representation

Rockrgrl (1995–2005) was an American-based music magazine which showcased female musicians. My study assesses its claims to possess an “alternative voice” by examining whether or not “diverse points of view” are reflected in its content. Drawing on intersectionality theories, I seek to explore the policies and practices through which Rockrgrl simultaneously challenges and reinforces many tropes of mainstream rock criticism. Rockrgrl challenges how female musicians are talked about by focusing on their music, and what is talked about by offering feminist critiques of the music industry. However, Rockrgrl reinforces who is talked about by predominantly discussing the talents of white women musicians at the expense of women of color.