Sunday Short: Been a Son: Kurt Cobain and His Challenge to the Masculine Ideal

But there’s something else about Kurt Cobain that we should remember when we think about his legacy. He was a deeply flawed guy, but he was a guy who used his time in the spotlight to challenge cultural ideas about masculinity, advocate for the LGBT community, rage against ‘isms’ of all kinds, and draw attention to feminist concerns. Through his music, his interviews and his own performance of gender, he offered a different kind of rock archetype: an image of masculinity that was thoughtful, emotional, non-violent and aware of the privileges of white maleness. He didn’t always get it right, but there was a sincerity in his efforts to support the feminist cause and critique the male ideal – especially in the face of mockery and conflict. Kurt didn’t strive to be any woman’s protector or saviour, but instead, their ally and friend. And when we think about what we want from male feminists, that’s pretty freaking cool.

Rebecca Howden's written a great piece on Kurt Cobain and feminism over at the Kill Your Darlings site. It's a pretty tender and honest exploration of Cobain, faults and all, and the changing tides of punk music that Nirvana intrinsically were a part of.  

You can read 'Been a Son: Kurt Cobain and His Challenge to the Masculine Ideal' over at the Kill Your Darlings website.