Hey everyone! Thanks for the great turnout on my Intro Survey! If you haven't taken it yet, please do. I've been getting some wonderful responses.
There was a really interesting response on the survey today. It really made me stop in my tracks a bit and think about it. In response to the final question, one woman shared: I think less men go to school therefore they are band members.
What do you think of that? Do you feel this is a common perception? Do you feel it's accurate? What do you think are some reasons that men appear on stage and are in bands so often? What are some reasons that women appear on stage and are in bands less often?
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That's absolutely ridiculous. The gender gap in college students is 57 to 43, which is not nearly big enough to explain the male to female gap in the music scene.
ReplyDeleteLook at it from a more social point of view. For instance, the Chicago punk scene is ridiculously dominated by males. So look at the attributes that are given to punk music: the music is loud, the mosh pits are rough, the people are crude, and everything is usually extremely energetic. Now look at the traits that are encouraged in boys growing up, and expected in young men during later development. They're boisterous, loud, usually much more physical than their female counterparts, and it's quite expected for them to be crude.
Now look at careers that are generally considered to be feminine. Teachers, secretaries, clerks, nurses, etc. Careers that are considered to be masculine? Construction workers, firemen, businessmen, etc. Why are female fireman, lady cops, male nurses, or male school teachers considered funny or abnormal? Because the careers reqiure of their workers traits that are generally attributed to the other sex.
Try that angle. It makes a lot more sense.
I've never heard that before. I don't believe that statement has merit. Most of the male musicians I know got into music while still in school.
ReplyDeletebrookgo, you make a lot of really interesting points!
ReplyDeleteone thing I'm curious about, though. In the punk scene, as you said, there are a lot of masculine-associated traits. this translates to punk bands being mostly men, but also punk audiences being mostly men. How would you account for the higher prevalence of men on stage in a scene that has a more mixed-gendered audience, such as alt-rock or pop-rock scenes?
Dave, do you have any thoughts about an explanation for the gap between men and women on stage that does have merit?
I agree with brookgo, those are good points. But I can say I know guys who are in bands that are going to school or have went. They'll also have good careers while being in a band as well. But part of that statement could be a bit true. I've also met alot of guys in bands that say they are okay with not going to school anymore,living with their parents, working at a minimum wage job, putting all their money towards their band,etc.
ReplyDeleteThere is a statistic that men do engage in more reckless and dangerous activities. The life of rock n roll can be attractive to some males, drugs, multiple partners, mosh pits, touring in shady areas,etc. The point is SOME men are more attracted to and may perfer this lifestyle more than school. That's not to say women won't do all these same things, but now more than ever women are choosing to go to school. Most women know it's not just men that need to go out there and work especially in these tough times. And it's scientifically proven women mature faster than men. Women just want to get out there to work and learn too. There is also some women who would choose band over school too. But these can all be possible components as to why more men are band members. Hope that make sense.