33rd Annual Student Research Conference
Gender Distributions of United States Orchestra Flute Sections
Emily K. Zuber♦
Dr. Jay Bulen, Faculty Mentor
Flute holds a strong feminine gender association. Prior research has shown that most people recognize the flute as a “female” instrument, and the majority of children who choose to play the flute at the K-12 level are female. The purpose of this research was to examine the flute sections of notable orchestras in the United States and document the distribution found.
A data set was constructed, comprised of 150 United States orchestras and 415 flutists. The findings indicate that although women comprise a significant majority of orchestral flute sections in the United States, men are still more likely to hold a leadership position, and more likely to be present in higher-paying ensembles. This may be evidence of gender discrimination occurring during the audition and recruitment process or male privilege, though there are many alternative interpretations of these findings.
Keywords: Flute, Gender Distribution, Orchestra, United States , Privilege
Topic(s):Music
Women's and Gender Studies
Presentation Type: Oral Presentation
Session: TBA
Location: TBA
Time: TBA