How Femme DJs Create Digital Spaces
By Gabriela Cohen (DJ JOLIE)
Featuring: Rach Brosman, SWDJs team, Slaycey, and Fattie Bee
How many women DJs can you name offhand? Take a festival lineup — Tomorrowland or Electric Castle — and scan and count how many female performers you’ve heard of. Why are some women and non-binary DJs more visible than others? Can a DJ be known for their craft without ever taking a stage? With so many ways to document culture, history, and art, how do we capture and share the ways the Femme DJ Movement is evolving?
There are blogs and articles online that highlight performers and trends. Films such as Underplayed and Amplify Her highlight women in electronic music. Industry awards such as the annual Femmy Awards recognize DJs, artists, record labels, managers, producers, clubs, agents, collectives, and more for their impact in this space. Social media captures real-time events.
As individuals and organizations shape the industry, the Femme DJ Movement is evolving online. For example, within two years, Rach Brosman, Founder of Support Women DJs (SWDJs) and her dedicated team have built a digital community with over 14k followers on Instagram, and an expansive network across other social platforms and forums.
Building SWDJs Online Platforms and Community
The Team Behind The Screen
Before SWDJs officially launched, Rach experimented with social media for fun. “Before Support Women DJs, I loved posting photos of my vacations, my nights out, & my friends on the gram… As a middle schooler, it was fashion/beauty videos under the username "shakeupyourmakeup97".
In college, Rach found her voice that would become part of Support Women DJs. “In college, I posted how-to videos for "young professionals" where I gave my advice on writing your resume, getting an internship, & even what to wear for an interview. I've always loved teaching others and sharing my thoughts, so my current social media presence is really just an extension of my personality.”
Eventually, her ideas touched on educational content with industry tips, events, and advocacy for women DJs. As her voice and vision became clearer, she recruited a team to help translate her perspective across platforms. The current team expanding the collective’s media platforms are: Samantha DaSilva (Head of Social Media), Michiko McGivney (Marketing and Executive Assistant), Michelle Quinde (TikTok Manager), Aneesha Mayekar (YouTube Manager), and Jennifer Serrano (Email Marketing Manager). The content ranges from new music Fridays, to event promos, flyers, event recaps, live streams from Delirium in Brooklyn, NY and more.
Samantha shares that the early days of posting for SWDJs felt, “Super exciting to be part of pushing a conversation the scene really needed for a long time,” Michiko adds that it was “Like a breath of fresh air. I recall telling all my friends the concept [and] they loved the idea.”
As Rach speaks across panels, podcasts, and online platforms, I wonder: how has the conversation around women DJs shifted both within the community and the industry?
“I definitely feel like the work that SWDJs has done over the last 2 years has been making a solid impact in the industry. At least here in NYC, I'm seeing more all-femme lineups & more venues booking women DJs. It really is so rewarding to see. However, I don't think that is the case in every city and every country, so now we are thinking about how to spread this messaging as far and wide as possible. The panels, press, & podcasts have been amazing outlets to share my perspective on the industry and the gender gap. I feel blessed to be seen as a trusted source in dance music, thanks to these opportunities.”
Two years ago, building an online community of this size must have felt like climbing a mountain. “It's a full-time job. I'm part of the social media team; it takes a whole village to run the account, hence its success,” said Michiko.
Samantha reflects on what was most surprising about the team’s journey to success. She recalled, “How quickly it became less about running an account and more about listening to and growing with the community. As we grew, paying attention to feedback and letting the community shape the direction became essential. The platform works best when it reflects the people in it.”
The team has many goals for when followers engage on the SWDJs platforms. Samantha hopes they feel seen and supported and that it is a safe space and a resource. Michiko wants the online community to have fun and build connections, get paid well, and be respected at all times. Rach wants to highlight those who are crushing it in the industry and provide more advice and tools for those who are working to get there. “I want each and every woman DJ who views my content to feel empowered and inspired.”
From the early days to now, the team has learned a lot about caring for a brand across social media and marketing. Samantha explained,
“Real growth doesn't come from chasing trends or virality, but from consistency, patience, and staying true to your values. As visibility grows, it's easy to fall into the "post just to post" mindset, but the content that really resonates is always rooted in the music, the DJs, and the community. Spotlighting artists, sharing resources, and uplifting people in real ways is what actually sticks.”
Finally Rach adds,
“Social media is such a love/hate relationship! It truly has been a blessing for the SWDJs community. I think the biggest thing to let go of is the social media habit of comparison. Especially in the DJ world, it is so easy to compare your journey to others in the scene - social media makes this as transparent and in your face as possible. By spending less time on these platforms scrolling and instead practicing daily gratitude for your wins, it is possible to move past that act of constant comparison.”
Why Posting Online Matters
Case Studies of DJs Beyond the Decks
Social media captures first-hand accounts. Without this content, the Femme DJ Movement risks being remembered without nuance. For female DJs posting online, the question becomes: why are we posting? Is it for authenticity? A way to claim space in an industry historically dominated by men? A new kind of digital competition for visibility? Or is vulnerability itself part of the movement?
A DJ’s social media profile often becomes both a portfolio and art. DJs post footage of their performances, their technical skill on the decks, or their upcoming song releases. Every post builds credibility. As Samantha highlights, “ A lot of DJs overlook how much community is built through small, genuine interactions. Reposting a friend's track, leaving a thoughtful comment, or being honest about your own journey matter more than people think. Those little moments add up and often turn into real relationships, not just followers.”
Two femme DJs who are using their social media platforms in this way are artist Slaycey and New Jersey Chapter Lead Fattie Bee.
Slaycey On Social Media
“My online vibe is confident, fun, and grounded in connection and creativity. I foster connection by engaging with the positive comments and messages that come in. I exchange demos with other femme artists in the community and add their new music into my sets. I repost new femme music to keep the cycle going for the girls.”
Fattie Bee On Social Media
“My vibe is bold, playful, energetic while cloaked in humor. I foster connection by being myself. Sharing my life experiences — big or small — helps me connect through social media. My proudest moment of 2025 was singing while spinning Zone 1 at Elsewhere in BK. I always share music made by my friends and artists I admire.”
Fattie Bee, looking back at 2025, what posting habit or expectation are you leaving behind in 2026?
“Last year I would post a monthly schedule of all my gigs. I’m ditching that in 2026.”
2026 is a fresh start, what’s something new you’re excited to experiment with on socials?
“I’m looking to experiment with using voiceovers in my reels and posts featuring new music soon to be released.”
FLINTA DJ Movement in 2026
The FLINTA DJ Movement is connecting, mentoring, and creating in online communities where women’s creativity is being valued. In 2026, Support Women DJs (SWDJs) was nominated for the Activist and Impact award alongside Bass n’ Babes, which is cool because these organizations collaborated in August of 2025 (click here to read or watch and learn more about their event). With every post, mix, and collaboration, SWDJs and their community are shaping the industry’s narrative through resilience, creativity, and belonging.
