There's little question that gender stereotyping existed in the music field in past generations. The question remains, does it still exist today? If it does, can it be overcome?

Opinions vary. Some directors, like MENC member Robert Adams in Runnemede, NJ, believe gender does not enter into instrument choice; he has male flute players and female low brass and percussion. George Rowe, of Windsor Locks, CT, would agree, saying that instrument choice is more a matter of fundamental personality traits.

What do the polls say? A look at three different polls over the last 30 years may only add to disagreements.

A 1978 poll by Abeles and Porter asked undergraduate music and non-music students to determine the placement of eight instruments on a masculine-feminine continuum. According to the study, the most 'masculine' instruments were the drums, trombone, and trumpet; the most 'feminine' instruments were the flute, violin, and clarinet. The cello and saxophone were ranked in the middle.

The same poll done 30 years later within the MENC staff shows there are some changes to those feelings, but the overall trend remains the same. The MENC staff poll ranked the flute and violin as overwhelmingly 'feminine'; the drums, saxophone, trombone and trumpet as 'masculine' and the cello and clarinet in the middle.

In March of this year, a poll was taken of MENC members via the MENC Web site about gender stereotyping. The results were mixed, but showed that current band directors in the field are seeing marked improvement over gender stereotypes. When asked if a student's gender determined his band instrument choice, only 5% said yes; 18% answered no, and 74% said somewhat. Regardless of how they answered the first question, members were then asked what are the main factors that influence student choice. (They could check all that apply, so total does not equal 100.)

• 66% felt gender is an influence
• 74% felt that student size/physical attributes are a factor
• 47% chose student capability/talent
• 78% felt that their input was a determining factor

Perhaps of most relevance, responders were asked how they felt gender perceptions had evolved in the last 5-10 years.

• 26% said that gender as an influencing factor on student band instrument choice is pretty much the same as it was 5-10 years ago
• 51% believe that gender isn't as strong an influence on student band instrument choice as it may have been 5-10 years ago
• 3% feel that gender is a stronger influence on student band instrument choice than it was 5-10 years ago
• 8% don't believe that gender influences a student's band instrument choice and
• 6% have no opinion

If gender stereotyping in any way still exists, what can be done to change it? Part 3 will examine excellent suggestions from MENC members on how they have overcome this centuries-old issue.

Source:
Susan A. O' Neill, "Gender and Music", The Social Psychology of Music
©Oxford University Press, 2004

To learn more on this topic, visit the MENC Gender Research in Music Education SRIG

Part 1 of this series - What is Gender Stereotyping?

Discuss your own experiences with gender stereotyping.

--Becky Spray, October 6, 2008 ©MENC: The National Association for Music Education

Coming up:
Part 3 - Crossing the Gender Divide - Tips for Overcoming Gender Stereotypes