<HTML><FONT FACE=arial,helvetica><BODY BGCOLOR="#ffffff"><FONT COLOR="#004000" SIZE=3>Fellow Dyna-women and Sister DJs,
<BR>
<BR>...females being portrayed as mere "go-go" dancers in FRONT of the decks ...
<BR>having little inclination for genres, labels, DJs, producers or anything
<BR>pertinent to the underground music scene other than shaking her little ass...
<BR>
<BR>scary shit, EH? *Canadian terminology*
<BR>
<BR>It appears that our "neighbors to the North," especially our male
<BR>counterparts up in Toronto need to be reminded that we are no longer in the
<BR>1980s.
<BR>
<BR>My visit to Toronto this week included a stop at a record store called "The
<BR>Pit" ... excuse me. Did I say "record store?" I meant "DJ Store." At least
<BR>this is what I was informed it was by a male staff member. This was told to
<BR>me right after he yanked a "Chicken Lips" EP sleeve from my hand and slammed
<BR>off the Gemini turntable (how appropriate). I then proceeded to explain to
<BR>him that I had wanted to check out a few records while away from the states.
<BR>He scolded me, saying that I wasn't allowed to just "come into a DJ STORE and
<BR>listen to a record." I was to go to him, tell him what type of music I liked
<BR>and he would pick out records for me; this was the way it is in any DJ STORE </FONT><FONT COLOR="#004000" SIZE=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" FACE="Arial" LANG="0">
<BR>(???)</FONT><FONT COLOR="#004000" SIZE=3 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" FACE="Arial" LANG="0">. He sure didn't have the same attitude toward any of the boys doing the
<BR>exact same thing as I had been doing. I was literally on fire inside as he
<BR>further informed me that I wasn't supposed to be listening to Chicken Lips
<BR>because it wasn't "house." He proceeded to hand me a stack of "house"
<BR>records to "look" at. I kindly thanked him for his time after handing the
<BR>records right back to him. I was outta there.
<BR>
<BR></FONT><FONT COLOR="#004000" SIZE=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" FACE="Arial" LANG="0">I am not saying to stop supporting "The Pit," because I'm sure the owner is
<BR>not the one at fault. I just want everyone to know that this kind of stuff
<BR>still exists. Also, this incident is not isolated. I spoke with a few girls
<BR>in the local downtown area who claim that they have had similar experiences
<BR>themselves. </FONT><FONT COLOR="#004000" SIZE=3 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" FACE="Arial" LANG="0">
<BR>
<BR>Is it just luck that has gotten you this far within whatever musical journey
<BR>you may be on? It sure the fuck isn't. It's your love and knowledge of the
<BR>music. It doesn't matter what your reason for getting behind the tables are,
<BR>you do it because you love it. Each and every one of you has helped in the
<BR>advancement of females being recognized in this industry, even something as
<BR>minute as supporting the local club or party that your favorite sister is
<BR>playing at on any given night.
<BR>
<BR></FONT><FONT COLOR="#004000" SIZE=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" FACE="Arial" LANG="0">My point is this: long after "Equal Rights" have become our "Right," this
<BR>stuff is still happening. It doesn't make any sense. There are still males
<BR>out there who think girls just don't KNOW, as we parade around the female DJs
<BR>who DO know like a circus show... Males in the scene need to take a hard look
<BR>into themselves and make sure that they aren't doing the same thing. Maybe
<BR>even unintentionally. It needs to advance up and away from this form of
<BR>thinking. Real quick. </FONT><FONT COLOR="#004000" SIZE=3 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" FACE="Arial" LANG="0">
<BR>
<BR>**Please do not reply publicly back to the list. The last thing I want is to
<BR>start a riot. If you must vent, or do not like what I have to say, reply
<BR>back to me personally, or spend the energy doing something constructive to
<BR>help further support the female DJs in your own community. Sexism sucks**
<BR>
<BR>Cherilyn</FONT></HTML>