Are heavy metal fans sexist? The relationship between metal music depicting misogynistic violence and sexism

Abstract

An exploratory study was conducted to investigate the relationship between heavy metal music and sexism based on metal subgenre preferences, lyrical preferences, artwork preferences and associated consumer behaviours. Previous literature has been inconsistent in defining the relationship between music, lyrics and sexism. Data was collected from 423 fans of heavy metal music including their subgenre, lyrical and album cover content preferences, affective responses to lyrics and album artwork, and intended consumer behaviours respective to metal music with misogynistic themes. It was found that the style of metal music preferred by listeners, including specific subgenres of styles associated with misogynistic themes like death metal, was unrelated to sexism. Hostile sexism was higher among those that preferred lyrics and imagery depicting misogynistic violence. Those higher in hostile sexism experienced more positive and less aversive emotions in response to both lyrics and imagery that depicted misogynistic violence, and they reported being more likely to buy albums, clothing, wear clothing and hang posters in their homes that depicted misogynistic violence. This provides evidence that enjoyment of specific styles of metal music is not associated with sexism, but there may be a subgroup of more sexist individuals that are especially drawn to lyrics and images depicting misogynistic violence in heavy metal.