The Experiences, Attitudes and Expectations of Music Students from a Feminist Perspective

Abstract

Attempting to explain the mis-match between women's low profile in most music professions and females' success in formal music education, I looked for differences in the attitudes, experiences and expectations of music students. This was done by using repertory grids with relatively small numbers of A-level and undergraduate music students, and postgraduate student teachers with music degrees. Constructivist psychology, of which repertory grid technique is a practical example, offers approaches in harmony with feminist preferences for the meaning people attach to their situation and the usefulness of their interpretation over notions of truth. Thus participants' responses dictate any groupings to emanate from analysis, rather than their being placed in pre-determined categories.The outcomes of the study suggested, however, that little differentiates female and male musicians, as represented by these music students. Conversely, the results implied that the sexes are inclined to think similarly, insofar as likenesses in their attitudes could be associated with their instrument, and, crucially, that each sex tended to look to mo dels I mentors who reflected their sex as well as instrument. The sexes' inconsistency of achievement might then be explained by differences between sex-role models.