When it comes to the culture that encourages girl-on-girl bullying, punk-rock legend and feminist activist Kathleen Hanna doesn't mince words. "It's always about taking the scraps off of the man's table. It's like we're just eating off the floor," said Hanna, former frontwoman of Bikini Kill and Le Tigre and current frontwoman of The Julie Ruin.
In a Nov. 25 interview on HuffPost Live, Hanna explained exactly why sexism is so damaging -- not just to women, but to men as well. She told host Ricky Camilleri:
Sexism hurts everyone. It hurts men in the fact that a lot of men are put in this position where the only way they know how to bond with each other is through racism or sexism or homophobia. And they don't know how to actually have real friendships. And I think that can be similar with women. The only way that they know how to bond with each other is through this viscousness towards other women and towards other groups of people that are different than themselves.
Hanna also pointed out that our 24/7 connectivity to technology has actually impeded our ability to connect in real life. "We just don't know how to connect in a way that's actually beautiful and present," she said. "Everyone's on their computer phones and what-not, and it's more of not being here."
Well said, Hanna. Now excuse us while we go tap into our '90s Riot Grrrl selves and rock out.
Head over to HuffPost Live to watch the full segment.
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