Children's Gender-Typed Preferences for Musical Instruments: An Intervention Study

Abstract

This study investigated the influence of exposure to counter gender-stereotypic role models on children's gender-typed preferences for six musical instruments (piano, trumpet, violin, drums, guitar, flute). 357 children (aged 7-8 years) from three clusters of schools ranked their preferences for learning to play the six instruments and gave their gender-stereotyped beliefs about the instruments. Intervention concerts were performed at two of the three clusters of schools. Cluster 1 received concerts with gender-consistent role models (i.e., female playing flute, male playing drums); Cluster 2 received concerts with gender-inconsistent role models; Cluster 3 did not receive concerts (control schools). Instrument preferences were measured again immediately after the concerts. Results indicated an immediate impact of providing a counter-stereotypical role model on preferences for perceived "own-sex appropriate" instruments. Girls expressed less preference for the piano after observing a male musician playing the instrument. Boys ranked the guitar less favourably after they saw a female musician playing the guitar. In line with previous research, girls indicated greater interest in the piano, flute and violin than boys, whereas boys had a stronger preference for trumpet, guitar and drums than girls. Both girls and boys had similar ideas about which instruments would be played by either sex. Results are discussed with reference to social psychological theory of gender-related behaviour.