ARE MOSH PITS AN INHERENT THREAT TO WOMEN?

Short answer: no. Of course not. And yet a few journalists and zine-makers alike have taken to writing lengthy think-pieces (hypocrisy noted) hell-bent on proving exactly that.

So, what’s the argument from their side of the divide? It’s no secret that the pit is, for lack of a better word, violent. Cram a group of excited, potentially intoxicated punks into a tiny space and any band worth their salt could send a few home with nosebleeds. And despite the lack of reflection in typical media, quite a few of those punks happen to be women. According to one article in particular - you know the one - these displays of aggression are ‘inherently masculine’ and therefore a distinct sexist threat.  

But I bewilderedly disagree: there is nothing specific to men about the release of tension through moshing. Women have been part of this scene since the beginning and, if anything, could be said to benefit more from the freedom to be forceful without judgement

Alternatively, pits are on the way out because they’re somehow the catalyst for sexual abuse. While I could see that argument being made in regards to crowdsurfing I’m not sure it holds up here. There’s no question that assault is a problem in the live industry (hell I’ve experienced it myself), but it’s in no way confined to the walls of the circle pit. 

Whatever the angle, I can’t for the life of me think of a single solution that doesn’t take agency away from women who do want to mosh. Banning them entirely is a fool’s errand. Moving to music is a necessary form of expression and I don’t know about you, but the idea of pulling a ‘Saturday Night Fever’ to a hardcore track doesn’t sound very cathartic  

Gender segregated pits (yes I did see that one suggested, no it’s not a joke) would be both impossible to enforce and a dangerous precedent to set. Apart from being a ridiculous idea altogether, policing gender _­at a punk show is the start of a slippery slope that goes against everything the scene purports to hold dear. 

And well-meaning as it may be, over-protection isn’t useful either – the number of times I’ve been bodily pulled from a heavy pit by a well-intentioned man on the side-lines is frustratingly high.

This all isn’t to say that bad pits don’t happen – they do - and taking the view that those few rotten apples spoil the bunch is perfectly valid. They cost venues money in extra insurance; pose a threat to folks at the edges who don’t want to be involved; may be taken advantage of by bawbags in steel-capped boots. But banning the pit is not a solution.  

The optimistic conclusion to tempering violence at shows is a conscientious crowd. See someone struggling? Help them out. Notice someone harassing others or trying to start a brawl? Get them ejected. The focus should be on education, cutting out abusers, and encouraging empathy. 

Because for all the myriad dangers women face at shows, having a good time isn’t one of them.  

Photo Credit: Charles Peterson