Kathleen Hanna

1. Kathleen Hanna By Summer Julian & Emily Despain

2. About Kathleen: Childhood • Kathleen was born in Portland, Oregon on November 12,1969. • Kathleen moved many times around the U.S. from the time she was born and he parents divorced when she was in high school. • She was first exposed to feminism when she was nine. Kathleen’s mom took her to a rally in Washington D.C. • Her father did not approve of her and her mothers actions in the women’s rights movements. • Kathleen’s first rally, reading magazines and books about feminism while growing up really made a mark on her and she knew she wanted to do it forever. • Also at 15 Kathleen had an abortion.

3. About Kathleen: College • Kathleen went to Washington State’s Evergreen College. In the late 1980’s • While in school she became a stripper to support herself. • Studied photography. • Kathleen and two friends opened up an independent feminist art gallery called Reko Muse. (They also started the band “Amy Carter”. • She volunteered at a women's shelter across the street from the gallery, where she was a rape counselor and heard many stories about rape, domestic violence and more. • Kathleen did spoken word performances about the stories and things she heard at the shelter . Her writing also reflected those topics. When asked by Kathy Acker (A favorite writer of hers) “Why is writing important to you?” Kathleen replied “Because I felt like I’d never been listened to and I had a lot to say.” Acker said “Then why are you doing spoken word-no one goes to spoken word shows! You should get in a band.”

4. About Kathleen: Adulthood • Kathleen married Adam Horovitz in 2006. • She has a blog and is on twitter. • Kathleen still fights for things she believes in such as keeping planned parenthood and getting the “Pussy Riot” band out of jail by inspiring other young girls to start another movement for feminism. • Bikini Kill has also been working on their own record label and Bikini Kill Tee-shirts.

5. The Bands • Bikini Kill was named after a zine Kathleen and Kathi Wilcox created. • Kathleen worked with Joan Jett and even wrote some songs for her. • Kathleen was apart of Bikini Kill, Le Tigre, and The Julie Ruin (Solo album) • Kathleen help name Nirvana’s song “Smells Like Teen Spirit” when she wrote Kurt Smells Like Teen Spirit. (Fun Fact)

6. What Kathleen did. • Kathleen changed the way people thought about girls in music and music in general. • The Riot Grrrl movement is so much of what third wave feminism is about. She helped create the music, zines, attitude and fight. “You cant talk about the Riot Grrrl movement without talking about Kathleen.” • Kathleen and others of the movement self-produced their own zinesand got the word out about other girls and female power. • Kathleen often wore outfits that would make some fans think outside of the box and put some on edge. • In her off time from La Tigre she volunteered at a camp of rock for girls.