There really is nothing to warm the heart like a bunch of gals in fishnets, crash helmets, and vintage rollerskates hip-checking each other and cursing like sailors.
from Susan Moss’s Roller Derby photo exhibit (Susan Moss)
If, like me, you are missing the gene required for rollerskating (also walking in high heels, appreciating small dogs), you can still check out Susan Moss‘s photo exhibit of the ladies in question, which will be on display at Blizzarts (3956a St. Laurent, in Montreal) for the month of November. The show kicks off with a vernissage on Nov. 1st from 8 to 11 PM.
The Montreal derby gals also have a bout coming up on Oct. 28th - sadly (for me) it’s in NYC, but cross your fingers for them nonetheless. And, if you think you have what it takes to strap on your kneepads, grease up your wheels, and get medieval on someone’s hiney, the crews are always looking for new members. Toronto also has several teams - check out The Smoke City Betties and The Gore Gore Rollergirls for starters.
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four comments
You know, I always thought of Roller Derby as incredibly feminist and tons of fun to watch. I've only ever attended around Atlanta, where the outfits can bit a bit wilder than in the photo you've posted, but I always saw the fish nets etc. as thumbing noses at the patriarchy. Yet, when I recommended seeing a bout to a friend, she saw it as really a sexist degrading of women's sport. She posted on her conflicted feeling about Roller Derby as a sport last August and drew some fire from a Roller Derby player who said that we were way off base to be even considering the dress.
How is Roller Derby seen in your circles? Do you think that people would still show up if the players ditched the goth make-up and the short skirts?
Posted by la pobre habladora
October 29, 2007, 5:32 PM
La Pobre Habladora - I'd be really curious to read your friend's post on derbies being sexist... got a link for that?
Without knowing the details of her argument, I think the reason the derby scene doesn't strike me as sexist is because it seems to be mostly about women doing it for themselves. It's true that Derby is often sexualized in a way that, say, skateboarding or hockey isn't, but I don't think that makes it degrading for the women involved. I suppose if the audience consisted mostly of straight men who were there to leer at the players, it might make me think twice, but as far as I can tell (I don't play myself, due to aforementioned defective rollergenes) it's more about women having fun constructing unconventionally sexy and aggressive characters for themselves and each other. Which is straight-up feminist in my books.
Posted by Anna
October 29, 2007, 6:08 PM
Awesome. I might quote you in any future arguments on the subject. Here is the post, though, with all our comments.
Posted by la pobre habladora
October 29, 2007, 7:27 PM
Great discussion over at Second Innocence. It's nice to see this isn't the only place on the internet where people can have different opinions and talk about them without resorting to insults, deliberate misconstruing, or childish name-calling. Because sometimes I worry, I really do.
Posted by Anna
October 30, 2007, 1:50 PM
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