Punk rock is a unique and ever-changing musical genre that originated in both England and the United States in the late 1970s. A largely underground music scene, relying on a rejection of social norms, a disdain for capitalism and consumption, a strong reliance on community, and a strong do-it-yourself and self-empowerment attitude, punk continues to have a great influence on the contemporary music scene. Punk rock, however, faced problems when it came to concepts of sex and gender. Bands within the scene are usually made up of men, women are objectified in song lyrics, and masculine values ​​such as aggression and violence are often glamourised, especially in subgenres of punk such as hardcore punk. But women have managed, especially through the Riot Grrrl movement, to stake out their own piece of punk rock territory. They used punk rock to redefine concepts of gender and sexuality in a way that empowers them and gives them choices in life, rather than having values ​​imposed on them. To situate gender concepts in punk rock, it is necessary to take a brief look at the history of punk rock. Punk began in the late 1970s, mostly in New York and London. New York bands were influenced by artists such as New York Dolls, Patti Smith and The Stooges, while London bands were influenced by glam rock artists such as David Bowie and Mott the Hoople; as well as pub rock acts like the 101ers. The punk movement flourished briefly between 1976 and 1983, when it lost much of the popularity it had gained, especially in England. In America, a thriving underground punk scene developed in California. In the early 1980s, this led to the birth of hardcore punk bands like Black Flag, Bad... middle of paper... in doing so, they take the power away from these words and force others to look at them for what they are, rather that like an epithet shouted in anger. Their interactions with each other, through music, zines, and community-based connections, play a significant role in helping them determine for themselves who they are as people. This in turn influences how they present themselves as gendered beings to the rest of the world. The central theme coming from women within punk rock culture is that they will no longer accept being defined in any way except those they choose for themselves. They ask to be recognized as unique and valuable members of the punk rock community, as well as society as a whole. They seek empowerment through their actions and will no longer tolerate being treated like second-class citizens.