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The author examines the inter-relationship between authenticity, music and gender in relation to a particular contemporary genre, emotional hardcore or emo. Noting how hard rock often defined itself as authentic in contrast to (feminine) pop music, the author argues that it is possible to see the ‘persistence of masculinism’ in wider debates around the performance of (appropriate) fandom. Drawing on a wealth of online data from platforms such as Reddit, Tumblr and Facebook, the author observes that even as male fans of emo distance themselves from hyper-masculine forms of hard (or cock) rock, they also critique the presence of female fans as ‘inauthentic’.

Within the fields of feminist media and cultural studies, questions around authenticity and gender have become increasingly pronounced in recent years. This chapter outlines the scope of this work by not only examining the extent to which digital media culture increasingly trades in ideas of ‘realness’ and of ‘being yourself’ but also the consequences of this for particular marginal groups, including women, queer and feminised people. Three significant avenues for research around authenticity are also discussed: masculinity, authenticity and victimhood; feminism, trauma and ‘authentic voice’; and feminism, transphobia and ‘authentic womanhood’.