Figure 1.--Young boys show a strong poreference for the trupet, drums, and saxophone. This id definitely the case in America, Australia, and England. We are less sure about other coiuntries.

There are clear gender preferences among children learning to use musical instruments. These prefrences are epecially pronounced among younger children. Young boys have a strong preference for drums, saxaphones, and trunpets. Children trend to become more flexible as to instrument choice when they grow older.

Preferred Instruments

Teachers have noted for some time that young children, both boys and girls, have very strong gender preferences. Boys show a marked preference for drums and horns. The favorites are: the trumpet, drums and saxophone. Girls tend to chose quite different instruments. The favorite instruments for girls are: the violin, clarinet or flute. [Repacholi and Pickering]

Country Trends

Studies have been noted in the United states during the 1970. The University of Washington study referenced here deals with Australia. Music teachers in other countries, however, have experienced similar gender-based prreferences. Researchers recruited more than 600 kindergarten and 4th Australian school children to participate in two different studies. The studies used eight instruments that adults in the United States, England and Australia had previously classified by gender -- flute, violin, clarinet and cello as feminine instrumentsand drums, saxophone, trumpet and trombone as masculine instruments. [Repacholi and Pickering]

Age

These preferences appear in very young children. They have been noted in childreas young as 5 years of age. One study in the 1970s assesed instrument choices among American 3rd and 4th graders. Interestingly, three decades of increasing attention to gender equality and various programs such as equality in athletic oppotunities in America appear to have vhad no impact in these apparently deep-seated gender preferences.

Strong Gender Preferences

Reserachers note that these gender preferences are much more intenses among boys than girls. Teachers are often able to convince girls to try other instruments, but this is far more difficult with the boys. [Repacholi and Pickering] Some instruments are an especially difficult sell with boys. Virtually all children leaning to play the harp, for example, are girls. Boys see some instruments as suitable for either boys or girls. "Girls become more flexible as they get older, but boys mostly pick masculine instruments. They just cannot pick a feminine instrument. It is so hard for them that it just astounds me," according to Repacholi. The researchers exposed children to images showing both sterotypican and counter-steroypical playing. Seeing counter-sterotypical playing did affectinstrument choice, but many boys even when exposed to counter-stereotypical playing were very reluctant to select instruments that have a feminine image. [Repacholi and Pickering] This is consistent with other aspects of gender behavior. Girls are often willing to try activities and clothes seen as boyish while boys avoid anything seen as girlish--often vehemently.

Origins of Gender Images

We are not sure about why boys and girls have these preferences. Perhaps it is the image of the instruments. Even young children have seen movies, television, music videos featuring these instruments. There seems to be a military aoociation with two of the choices (drums and trumpets). Another facyor may be the sound generated. Boys seem yto prrefer high decible level instruments. Many other factors could be involved such as the size and size or shape of an instrument or the sound. Rapacholi writes, "What makes a flute a feminine instrument -- its high-pitched sound and delicate look? And is a trumpet masculine because it sounds deeper and louder? Making gender-based choices can restrict what children, all people, do in life."

Significance

There is some significance to these findings. "These kinds of choices and stereotypes can affect what you learn and what you do later in life. "We know these stereotypes affect all kinds of leisure activities, the sports people play and career choices. Even at age 5 children believe doctors are males and nurses are female. When it comes to music, a little boy may be the next Yo-Yo Ma but is not encouraged to play the cello. So he picks the drums, is terrible, and winds up not playing any musical instrument. Or a girl who wants to play the trombone is advised not to and that stops her from pursuing a career playing that instrument. Our studies show these stereotypes can be modified. But I would emphasize that the changes we showed are short-term. Three-minute videos or drawings are not going to create permanent change. We also wouldn't advocate using counter-stereotypes by themselves because we would simply be creating new stereotypes. We need to present both males and females playing a full range of instruments to show that anyone can play them. Gender should not be relevant," accoding to Repacholi.

Sources

Repacholi, Betty and Samantha Pickering. Sex Roles (November 2001). Reacholi is a research associate with the Center for Mind, Brain & Learning, University of Washington researcher. Co-author Samantha Pickering is a doctoral student at the University of Sydney in Australia.

Repacholi, Betty and Joel Schwarz. "Youngest bys and girls prefer different instruments," UniSci--Daily University scienceNews, April 15, 2002.

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Created: January 20, 2000
Last updated: November 6, 2003