What can experiences of sexism and violence in music teach us about the imminent dangers perpetuated by hypermasculinity?

Drawing from her own experience as a cis-woman in the realm of heavy metal music, author Deborah Kay Phillips critiques the genre’s role in amplifying hypermasculinity to the point of violence. Exploring the intersections of gender, gun culture, and mental health, Metal Music, Masculinity, and Mass Shootings follows Deborah’s first-hand experience of a metal concert mass shooting, and the resulting reflection on the issues surrounding metal music in the throes of PTSD. Deborah argues by comparing her own experiences to the academic research that the toxic, violent, and misogynistic foundations of the genre produce real world consequences that must be examined for transformation.

Providing an important critique of a male-dominated genre and the repercussions of its toxic masculinity, this book is ideal reading for students of Feminism, Gender Studies, Music Studies, and Mental Health.

Deborah Kay Phillips is a Professor of Communication Studies at Muskingum University.