Where are the straight edge women?

Abstract

Straight edge is a male-dominated and, some would argue, hyper-masculine subculture (Haenfler, 2006; Nilan, 2006). The core characteristics of straight edge – namely its tenets of abstinence from sex, drugs and alcohol – were outlined in Chapter 7, so do not need repeating here. Instead, we pick up on a passing observation made in that earlier chapter by Nilan and Threadgold, that straight edge subculture provisionally appears to function as a ‘temporary, clean-living, largely female-free, subcultural space of refuge’ for young men. What experiences does straight edge offer young women under such terms? Questions of gendered belonging have received scant attention in the literature on straight edge, leading to the silencing of female participants’ voices. The aim of this chapter is to highlight women’s understanding and experiences of their ‘place’ in straight edge subculture.