Women in Bhangra

Much of the narrative surrounding bhangra is, undoubtedly, male dominated. Female performers have been consistently marginalised within the music scene and one would do well to ask where are the women? Women’s voices are to often forgotten when male representations are easily found. Bhangra is not without its women however, examples of the early years, the 50’s and 60’s, saw singers such as sisters Prakash Kaur and Surinder Kaur who sang of the challenges facing Asian women, whilst singers such as Narinder Biba and Jagmohan Kaur (also performing duets with her husband K Deep) highlighted hierarchy and community pressures facing many women. More recently, they have become increasingly central to the scene as DJs such as Radical Sista and DJ Ritu, younger performers like Amar and Hard Kaur have created a unique sound and presence. Women are frequently represented within bhangra tracks, unfortunately much of this representation rests in stereotype with the village ‘belle’, and her fabled beauty as well as the pure, nurturing, mother figure. The role of women within bhangra is to often subscribed to as the male fantasy, selfless in support of the men in her life. Apache Indian’s ‘gal from Jullundar’ in Arranged Marriage is just one example of such romanticisation. The females in bhangra are inevitably seen as a site where territorial claims are made and difference negotiated – defining and protecting community honour in a manner never seen in the role of men within bhangra. Little has been done within the bhangra community to challenge the representation of women, although this exhibition acknowledges the difficulties, and wherever possible has sought to combat this. However, this is not an easy nor simple challenge, since documentation is vital and the contribution of women have, too frequently, been too readily dismissed. Today, artists such as DJ Ritu and Hard Kaur are doing much to challenge stereotypical views and take on the dismissive attitudes of some men, as is the growing musical fusion increasingly seen within bhangra. Some producers and recording outlets, such as Birmingham based outlet, Nachural Records, are seeking to profile female singers, however they consistently experience considerable prejudice with predetermined notions of the ingredients that make up bhangra: namely male vocals. Subsequently, the majority of bhangra sales are from albums featuring male singers and performers, when a woman is featured the single or album has considerably fewer sales. Culturally, acceptability is also a factor, since women are frequently patronised or perceived by those working within the industry as inferior to men. Furthermore, sadly, many men within bhangra see women’s roles and abilities as secondary within the music industry and as with many creative industries, much of the planning and development takes place on an informal basis, over drinks, sports, within the social sphere, arenas in which women are rarely welcomed.