Not all Bodies are Free to Express Themselves A Brief Study of Growling from a Material, Measurable, and 'Metal' Symbolic Perspective

In this chapter, I challenge the commonly held prejudice that understands growling as an expression of powerful masculinity. I draw on Nina Sun Eidsheim's theory and methodology for this aim. Her point of view allows me to review the scientific evidence on growling, as well as the symbolic one. Furthermore, Eidsheim's theory enables me to show that the symbolic dimension of growling influences the scientific evidence about it. I also show how the symbolic perspective of the metal music scenes has associated growling with an exclusive practice of white men's bodies. I conclude that the material and measurable research on growling demonstrates that any body type can perform this voice technique. Still, metal scenes’ gender and racial biases affect how this type of voice is practised in racialised and women's bodies. Due to such questionable allegations and beliefs, we need further studies on the performance of growling from an intersectional and embodied approach.