'Women Rock' show in HBC celebrates, supports women

Lara, MinJoo and Jina of bellydance troupe Navah / Courtesy of Second Studio

By Jon Dunbar

Women from all kinds of walks of life will come together at The Studio HBC this Saturday, in a benefit show raising funds for single mothers. The show includes local indie bands, as well as burlesque, belly dance and drag performances, resulting in a unique and kaleidoscopic celebration of women.

Although women still struggle to be treated as well as men in the workplace and many other areas of life in Korean society, they have been caught in the crossfire of a reactionary movement of young Korean males who increasingly blame women for all their troubles ― including the fierce competition for employment in the low-growth Korean economy ― while at the same time claiming that gender equality has already been achieved. It sounds laughable, but amid this senseless culture war, those who are already the most vulnerable continue to suffer from inequality and discrimination, as well as heightened marginalization of their voices.

"I wouldn't be creating the kind of performances I do if gender equality were actually something we'd achieved," Flowerbomb, a producer, performer and director who is the house mother of House of Tease and head mistress of Seoul School of Burlesque, told The Korea Times. "The way that I move forward is by continuing to create with the intent of pushing boundaries, putting myself out there as a feminist ― to the shock of almost every Korean man I've ever met, but also handled quite well, since it seems to also pique interest in knowing more about the kind of feminist I am ― and being involved in events/organizations/fundraisers/voting that influence progress."

"As women, we definitely don't feel or experience true equality in our lives," said MinJoo, the director and choreographer of Navah bellydance troupe, who will be performing at the show. "Although it got better in recent years, there is still a long way to go, not just in Korea… People are attracted to conflict, even if they feel it's the only way forward. Our best hope for the future is if people can simply find ways to understand and accept each other."

"Korea is a very, very misogynistic country in general," said Christmas, lead singer of the punk band 18 Fevers. "Korea for sure has improved a lot, but we have such a long way to go. Not only is there the gender equality issue, but Korea is very closed, fat-phobic, homophobic, etc. Korean men are so used to be in a privileged position, so when women are raising their voice on sexist matters, men think they are being oppressed."

Drag artist Maia P. Sparkles agrees with Christmas. "Women have been oppressed and objectified for...basically always? These men who think that gender equality has been achieved are not looking hard enough. They're too worried about the 'rights' they feel they are losing because things are changing. And I'm also going to add that they haven't changed that much. There are so many things that need to change in regards to the gender equality struggle. Women are still underpaid, underappreciated, under heard and ignored. The best way forward is for men to actually listen to what women say ― period."

Sparkles speaks from a different place of insight than the others, as she teaches English as a male by day and performs in drag as a woman by night, electrifying audiences with surprises, sass and the question, "Why are men?"

Maia P. Sparkles / Courtesy of Robert Michael Evans

"Drag is another way to uplift women," Sparkles said. "One of the reasons I'm a drag artist is I love that it lets me explore my femininity in ways that I hadn't been able to before ― or at least in ways that are judged less harshly by others. It's always great to celebrate the femme/feminine."

Drag has become an increasingly visible counterculture in Korea in recent years, and the other female performers welcomed Sparkles' inclusion in the show.

"I respect drag as an art form," said SAAE, the guitarist of 18 Fevers, "and it does not mock or stereotype transgender women's lives."

Shortly after 18 Fevers was formed last year, SAAE came out to her new bandmates, informing them that she is a transgender woman. She has faced employment discrimination, unequal access to healthcare and pressure from her religious family members, all because some people have trouble accepting the premise that trans women are women.

"I have never felt anything in my personal life that would be a conflict between women's rights and transgender rights," SAAE said. "Because cisgender women and trans women still live very different lives, it will take a lot of time for them to be on similar social standing. It will take a lot of improvements in people's perceptions."

"There are lot of different opinions about how or what defines women, but what I think is if one believes and knows oneself as a woman, she is a woman," said Christmas, her bandmate.

Christmas, front, and SAAE of 18 Fevers perform at Studio HBC Dec. 18. / Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar

"Gender is a performance, and I enjoy performing my gender on and off the stage," added Flowerbomb. "There's a certain kind of excitement and empowerment that comes with claiming, redefining, bending, blending, reinterpreting and distorting societal expectations of easy-to-check-off-in-a-box genders. Most of the time, only two boxes are really ever acknowledged. So I'm excited to present a version of my femininity that exists outside those boxes."

"We support all kinds of people and genders, especially to express themselves through their art and performances," said MinJoo. "We're glad to do this show with a wider representation of what women can be. Even for our shows, we need people to bring an open mind."

With such a diverse selection of music and dance performances, the "Women Rock" show should have no trouble proving its name true, if such proof is even necessary at all.

"'Women Rock' is a good title to set the tone that we are showing confidence, in a positive way," said MinJoo. "As women, we don't feel that we need or want to prove something; what we need is for other people to allow women to be themselves and express their art in any way they want."

"I feel like women in all male-dominated professions are struggling to 'prove' themselves, including in music," said Christmas. "And of course, hell yeah, I rock!"

"What an amazing way to celebrate many different facets of womanhood," said Sparkles. "It's wonderful to be able to be on a stage with different kinds of performers celebrating the same things in their own ways."

"I choose to exist and have that be proof enough," said Flowerbomb. "The audience can decide what they get out of my performances."

Flowerbomb / Courtesy of Robert Michael Evans

The show will raise funds for Galwol Community Welfare Center, a social welfare center in Yongsan District, which will identify the single mothers most in need of the support and provide them with as much help as possible.

"One of the major causes I want to support this year is equality," said Ryan Goessl, The Studio HBC's owner and the organizer of the event. "Women have it very difficult here in Korea, and I feel it is our responsibility that everyone is treated equally and fairly. So, we want to make sure that all women are represented at The Studio."

The bands playing include Daddy O Radio, psychedelic blues band Billy Carter, ska-punk band TalkBats!, grunge-punk band Beacon, punk band 18 Fevers, synthpop band Kontrajelly and blues soloist Mustang Sally. Dance performances will include Navah, Flowerbomb and Azalea Jade, an aerial hoops and burlesque artist, as well as drag performer Maia P. Sparkles.

The show will run this Saturday from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. Entry costs anywhere between 10,000 won and 30,000 won, with larger donations encouraged as well. Visit fb.com/thestudioHBC for more information.