Music and Gender

When I was growing up in the late 90s, it seemed like all the girls were listening to Backstreet Boys, Nsync, Destiny's Child or Brittany Spears. My step-brother was secretly listening to these groups and he wouldn't DARE tell his friends. These groups are what my school (Rockingham Middle School) considered "girly" music. Most of the boys I knew listened to Rock, Hard Rock, or Country. If a girl was singing a Country song, it was also considered a "girly" song. It didn't matter what the song was about. If a girl was singing it, it was "girly".

 Of course, I don't agree that music has a gender, or that it can have an adjective that refers it to a certain gender. Music cannot be a "genderist".


In the 1970s, when my aunt attended her high school band in New York, she was a saxophonist. She never agreed with the gender roles that U.S. society pressed on her. I think she subconsciously picked the saxophone because it was considered more of a "male" instrument. She even went to "All-State" in New York because of her skill. In her high school band days all of the females played flute or clarinet. The band was somewhat disproportional because there were so many flute and clarinet players. Her band consisted of about half males, and half females. All the flute and clarinets players were female. There was one female saxophonist, my aunt. The tuba, trombone, trumpet, and percussion sections consisted of all males.

When I went to high school, I was a flute player. Yeah, I know. I'm disappointed I give in to a "female" instrument. But, I loved playing it so much!

Anyways, when I was in high school band, the instrument "gender" changed quite a bit. The flute and clarinet players were all female. The trumpet section had one female. The trombone section had all males. The french horn section had one player who was female. The saxophone section had two females and one male. The tubas were all male. The percussion section consisted of one female and five males.

 There are many "gender roles" that society has made up. They often change with time. Sometimes, I think it's best to just ignore them. Society is made of people, and people can make such a big deal of trivial things. If no one in society changes, then society will never change. So no matter your gender, play whatever music or instrument your heart desires.