Danielle Dietze

Record Store Owner

January 25, 2017

How old are you?

I am 24 about to be 25.

Where are you from originally?

I was born in Florida and grew up in Tennessee and then we moved to New Orleans when I was in the third grade.

What made you want to stay here?

I didn’t. I moved away. I moved to Nashville two years ago because I liked that style of music but I didn’t find that it was what I was looking for so I came back and opened the store. New Orleans is really special.

In what capacity are you a part of the music community of New Orleans?

I’ve been at WWOZ for six or more years. I worked at The House of Blues as an employee for a year in the marketing department and I own a record store. I DJ from time to time.

Do you remember being told or taught anything regarding the behavioral expectations on you as a girl when you were growing up?

I am an only child so I didn’t really have a big role model to look up to. I was alone a lot and very internal and made my own role models through girls in bands and Patti Smith, you know?

Can you define sexism as it presents itself to you?

I don’t know. That’s hard to answer. It sucks having to feel like you have to prove yourself than a male.

Are there any particular stereotypes of men or of women that just drive you insane?

A lot of people have called me this and it annoys me: the manic pixie girl stereotype. It really bothers me. A girl who is just being creative is this manic, crazy, pixie girl. Another stereotype is that I am a groupie since I don’t play in a band but I go to a lot of shows and then I am friends with a lot of people in bands.

Why do those two stereotypes bother you?

They’re both negative. It portrays the woman as this dumb follower. And it’s always a man that defines it. Those roles are defined because of the male half of it.

Can you recall any specific occasions when you experienced sexist behavior against you that may have stuck with you?

People are surprised when they find out that I pick out the music that is in my record store. People say, “So who helped you do this?” Nobody, I did it myself. Why can’t you believe that? They are surprised and they think that telling me they’re surprised is a compliment.

How do you feel about the fact that a lot of the language used to describe this issue can be seen as attack against the opposite sex?

I think it’s based out of fear that people are going to sit there and have to attach themselves to their words. It’s like a language barrier. It’s just a term. What everyone is actually doing is standing up for themselves and standing up for their feelings of being portrayed as a woman. I think people hear ‘feminism’ and ‘sexism’ and are immediately afraid and they think it’s aggressive and I think that’s an ignorant way of thinking.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

I think there’s a lot of really cool women within the music industry and creative industry in New Orleans and I think it’s really exciting that you’re doing this.