They play fast, conscious hardcore punk music. They sing and shout about equality, street harassment, the gender wage gap to mention only a few issues and they have a new album coming out in 2018. Shouts contacted the band and Shawna from War On Women was kind enough to participate and answer a few questions.

For those who are not familiar with War On Women can you tell us a bit about the group?

War On Women is a feminist punk band from Baltimore, Maryland, USA.

What do you hope to achieve through your music?

First and foremost we play music that we want to play! I don’t see a point in sharing our message of equality with others if it’s unlistenable. So, we want to make good music, with intersectional-feminist themes, that validate what people are feeling, as well as educate folks on something they maybe didn’t know about.

Are you a part of a strong scene of like minded bands or do you feel isolated at times?

I do think there is something special to being grouped in with other political bands, but we don’t all have a secret Facebook group where we chat, though maybe we should!

What are some of your favorite political bands, current or not?

Well the question might be what constitutes a “political band”? Are you political if you talk about social issues? Does feminism count as political because “the personal is political” and men in charge of governing seem to politicize women’s bodies? Does being a non-white man mean that anything you do is automatically politicized? The most obvious bands that come to mind are Bikini Kill, Fugazi, Strike Anywhere, Propagandhi, GLOSS…But that’s a really incomplete list! I’d rather people comment on this interview with their fave political bands!

Let’s hope people do exactly that. Do you partake in any extra curricular, political activities besides the music?

Yes I do, for years I’ve run the local Hollaback! chapter in Baltimore (which is an anti-street harassment organization) and I teach DIY clubs and venues how to become safer spaces.

What’s next up for War On Women?

Thank you very much for participating in our project and for the music you make.

That’s very kind, thank you!

𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘄𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗯𝘆 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘂𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗼𝗻! 𝗪𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗼 𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮, 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝘀𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗰 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀. 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂!