Although she has always been a staunch feminist, Yoko Ono has rarely spoken out explicitly against sexism in her art and music. Her pioneering creations have opened the way for other women in performance art, and her influence as a strong female icon can be traced in the provocative work and defiant attitude of artists and musicians such as Marina Abramović, Peaches, Kim Gordon and Siouxsie. Her Meltdown festival is notable for having an approximately equal number of male and female guests.