Björk Calls Out Criticism of her Day for Night Festival DJ Set as Sexist

Icelandic musician Björk issued a statement today criticizing the media's sexist expectations of women musicians. In a lengthy Facebook post, she said that she was criticized for her DJ set this weekend at Houston's Day for Night festival for not "performing," with detractors complaining that she was "'hiding' behind desks." Noting that her male counterparts would never be denounced on those terms, the artist describes the situation plainly: " i think this is sexism," she said,

She also said that there are prejudiced stereotypes about what women artists are "permitted" to make work about. "women in music are allowed to be singer songwriters singing about their boyfriends," she said. "if they change the subject matter to atoms, galaxies, activism, nerdy math beat editing or anything else than being performers singing about their loved ones they get criticized."

The artist said that because her 2015 album Vulnicura explored heartbreak, which is considered traditional feminine subject matter, it was her first record to get "full acceptance of the media."

She sees the present as a time ripe for change, though, and seems to be optimistic. "we all deserve maximum changes in this revolutionary energy we are currently in the midst of," she said.

Earlier this year, Tri Angle Records hinted at new Björk material, and called her sexist detractors "pig ignorant."

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