This week I dig into an accusation that is often thrown at the punk scene: y’all are gatekeepy.
While I cannot dig into the psyche of others’, I know that I and many of my friends do not want well-meaning people who would benefit the culture to be deterred from the scene. Despite this, I have heard many of my non-scene friends tell me they do not feel comfortable attending shows because of a pattern of people who act like they are too cool for them.
In this podcast, I explore my own feelings of not fitting into aspects of punk culture, how the scene still seems to demand its own form of conformity, and why I believe these expectations ultimately don't matter.
Comment below to share your own experience of the culture welcoming newcomers, or any barriers you've faced when first entering your local scene.
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