They do understand that we turn things upside down. It is in their interest to ignore women's accomplishments, to marginalize and ridicule our efforts, to distort, co-opt and diffuse the best of our culture in order to maintain the status quo. It's easy to see this truth in action. Look at the difference in descriptive labeling that attends Sting, Bruce Springsteen and Peter Gabriel in contrast to those of us in Women's Music. They are considered artists of conscience.
Critics admire and respect their music because it has content and politics.
I'm not sure. There certainly is a network of independent women in the music business. Folded into that is a chosen commitment to serve a community, a vision, and a belief system. The Women's Music movement grew out of the women's liberation movement as a translation and manifestation of feminist values into music and performance. There are more rapes, murders, assaults, more domestic violence, incest, than ever.