Jukebox Heroines Mission Statement

[the_future_modernes]

On Being a “Female, Chic, Woman, Girl, Grrrl and Lady” Musician

So, as many of you may have noticed, I use some labels a lot on my blog relating to gender.Relating to the female gender that is. This is a women in music blog. I use terms like “Female Guitarist, Chic Singer, Grrrl Band, Woman Artists” but not in the ways you may think. I am VERY aware that these labels are used to point out the anomaly that is women in music, the fact that “musician, guitarist, singer, band” all are normally coded as male, man, and masculine. It is the same with other professions. Doctors, lawyers, and soldiers are coded as male, where as nurses, secretaries and dental assistants are coded as female. That is why many must say “Lady Doctor, or Male Nurse.” It is because we assume one gender over another, and therefore must point out the difference, hence in some ways policing those who do not fit the “norm.” It is one of those horrible results of androcentrism. We gender everything, including jobs, including instruments, including music. However, usually what ends up happening is “female” means “deficient,” “lacking,” “less than.” Well, I am here to change that.MORE