Shirley Manson struggles to be treated as an "equal" in the music industry.
While the Garbage frontwoman feels important within her band – also comprised of Duke Erikson, Steve Marker and
Butch Vig – she still finds it hard to be respected by other men in music although she will never let it "intimidate" her as she’s always been able to "fight her own battles".
She said: "I demand to be treated as an equal in my band, and I am treated as an equal entity in that environment, but I still struggle to be treated as an equal inside the patriarchal system which is the music industry. I’m set for the task – I can fight my own battles. I’m not looking for anyone else to do it for me.
"If I come face to face with a man who I believe is treating me disrespectfully or underestimating me, I’ll deal with him as I see fit. I’m not intimidated by it. The way you are treated is not indicative of your value as a human being. At no point do I find their attempt to diminish me diminishing in any way."
However, the 49-year-old singer is optimistic that change is coming and says the only way female musicians can make a difference is by "stepping up" and speaking out rather than being silenced.
She told Paper magazine: "Women just need to keep stepping up and expecting to be treated with equality. Sooner or later, I think we’ll get there, but it does take effort and you putting yourself, as a woman, on the line when it’s much easier to rage privately.
"Sometimes you have to look ugly and graceless and make a bit of a scene."
The ‘Why Do You Love Me?’ hitmaker also admits she’s had to cause a "few scenes" over the years to be noticed and while it’s not a graceful approach, it was necessary to be heard.
She added: "I’ve definitely had to make a few scenes over the years, but at the end of the day I feel so much better about speaking up instead of going back to my room and seething in private.
"Unfortunately, when me and my band come up against a wall, my three counterparts who are male can get over that wall with a little more elegance and grace because I have to fight harder than they do. I don’t believe it’ll be that way forever."
Shirley Manson’s equality struggle
