The Persona Problem: How Expectations of Masculinity Shape Female Band Director Identity

• In Event: Roundtable Session 12
  In Roundtable Session: Exploring Identity in Music Education

Abstract

The conductor is synonymous with a persona, an inherently masculine identity that is consistently represented as powerful and authoritative in popular culture. The culture of masculinity in band directing restricts access for women seeking secondary instrumental music positions and influences the way female conductors construct professional identities. The purpose of this study is to examine three female high school band directors’ perceptions of the “conductor persona” and to understand how these perceptions influence their teaching identities. Participants agreed that school administrators and colleagues expect high school band directors to perform traditionally masculine behaviors in their jobs. This expectation of masculinity significantly shaped each participant’s teaching persona and is a likely reason for the continued rarity of women in the profession.

Author

• Colleen Anne Quinn Sears, The College of New Jersey