Document Type
Research Paper
Publication Date
Fall 2024
Abstract
Louis Armstrong, Charlie Parker, Thelonius Monk, Dizzy Gillespie, the list of jazz greats goes on and on. These are the people who developed the culture, style, and rules of jazz we know and love today. The question lingers, where are the women? In most other genres, styles, and even in pop culture, most people can list one or two women who had an impact on the development. However, in jazz, there are seemingly no women who made a lasting impact on the genre. Women were incredibly prevalent in the development of jazz, but they are not remembered by history. Although the jazz industry continues to improve the glass ceiling that exists for female performers, there is still a lot of work to do. Improvement must occur across the whole jazz community, from middle and high school band directors, jazz listeners, and band leaders in many different arenas. Teachers especially can be conscious of gender bias while selecting pieces, encouraging students to choose whatever instruments they feel called to, and supporting students to follow any dream they have. Although jazz greats such as Marian McPartland and Mary Lou Williams began this fight in the early twentieth century, the world still has a lot to do as we make the jazz community as inclusive and accessible as it should be.
Recommended Citation
Gray, Melonee, "Female Representation in Jazz" (2024). Fall Showcase for Research and Creative Inquiry. 197.
https://digitalcommons.longwood.edu/rci_fall/197
Included in
Art Education Commons, Gender, Race, Sexuality, and Ethnicity in Communication Commons, Music Education Commons, Social Justice Commons, Women's Studies Commons
