Music, Womankind and Patriarchy: Women Break Music Industry Ideological Myths

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

January 2001

Publication Title

Women & Language

Abstract

This paper challenges mainstream music industry myths suggesting that women, because of their gender, are not discriminating music listeners. As part of a larger interpretive audience study, fifteen women were interviewed about their relationship with female rock artists who embody a feminist and/or political sensibility. The findings explored in this paper suggest that women are clearly capable of cultivating abilities to appreciate music and cite complex sound, substantive lyrics and professional autonomy as some of their favored distinctions. Moreover, women were quite cognizant of the music industry's monolithic condescending view of not only themselves as fans, but of female musical artists in general. Through their engagement with and support of female artists, these women are activists taking part in abolishing false ideological myths about themselves.

Notes

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