Opinion

The history of rock and roll celebrates rebellion and freedom, but for decades women in the industry have endured systematic violence and exploitation. 67% of women in the US music industry report experiencing sexual harassment ERIC, with 37.1% of women experiencing intimate partner violence CBC throughout their lives. Icons like Tina Turner broke decades of silence when she detailed sixteen years of abuse by Ike Turner in her 1986 autobiography, sparking conversations when domestic violence was rarely discussed publicly. Courtney Love warned about industry predators years before MeToo. Kathleen Hanna and the riot grrrl movement created alternative spaces where women could make music safely. This article explores how women rockers have confronted male violence—from intimate partner abuse to industry-wide exploitation—and examines why the music industry remains complicit in allowing predatory behavior to persist.