10.4 Intersectionality in music studies

Music shapes and reflects our complex identities. Intersectionality in music studies examines how factors like race, gender, and class overlap to influence musical experiences and practices. This approach challenges single-axis views of music and identity.

From instrument choice to industry power dynamics, intersectionality impacts all aspects of music. It shapes access to education, performance styles, and how music is received. Understanding these intersections helps us grasp music's role in expressing diverse identities and experiences.

Intersectionality in Music Studies

Intersectionality in music studies

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• Intersectionality concept introduced by Kimberlé Crenshaw in 1989 examines overlapping social categories (race, gender, class) influencing experiences and systems of oppression
• Framework for understanding complex identities in musical contexts challenges single-axis approaches to studying music and identity (classical music, hip-hop)
• Highlights interactions between gender and other factors shaping musical experiences and practices (instrument choice, performance styles)

Intersections shaping musical experiences

• Musical practices influenced by intersecting identities affect instrument choice, accessibility, performance styles, and composition approaches (women in jazz, Latinx composers in classical music)
• Access to music education, participation in music scenes, and reception of music vary based on intersecting factors (socioeconomic status, cultural background)
• Representations in music reflect intersectional identities through lyrical content, visual imagery, and marketing strategies (Beyoncé's Lemonade, K-pop global marketing)

Music for intersectional identities

• Genres associated with specific intersectional identities express multiple aspects of identity (queer punk, Afro-Caribbean jazz)
• Music in social movements addresses intersectional issues through protest songs and benefit concerts (Civil Rights movement, LGBTQ+ pride events)
• Cultural fusion creates new genres reflecting intersectional experiences by blending musical traditions (bhangra-hip hop, Latin jazz)

Intersectional analysis of music industry

• Power dynamics in musical traditions manifest through gatekeeping in traditional scenes and hierarchies within ensembles (orchestras, indigenous music preservation)
• Industry inequalities examined through representation in executive positions, resource distribution, and pay gaps (gender disparity in music production, racial diversity in A&R)
• Critical analysis methods include examining historical contexts, analyzing industry statistics, and conducting intersectional interviews with musicians and professionals