Growing up, it was always easy to tell what certain people thought certain genders should do, even when it came to music. Although, I grew up always listening to the music my dad played. This consisted of Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, the Eagles, Journey, Aerosmith, etc. I have always been told by others that even listening to this type of music is not considered "feminine." I have always been a person to like all types of music, and always have thought the idea of certain genres belonging to a certain gender is incorrect. Obviously, not everyone had or has his mindset, but I remember a specific moment in the 4th grade when I was talking to a male classmate about my favorite song at that moment (that song being by Aerosmith.) I was met with a judgmental look and the words of "Girls don't listen to that."
I realized as a 9 year old how stereotypical the world can be, even at such a young age. It also goes both ways, I remember overhearing how it was too feminine for guys to listen to female artists. Overtime, gender norms have become less scrutinized and I have no embrassment stating that artists like Aerosmith will forever be some of my favorite.
I never experienced any scrutiny with any of the instruments I have played. I have played the piano, the violin, and the ukulele. I always thought it would be very cool to try a percussion instrument, but was too nervous in the end. I had a very close family friend who played the drums though, and she would hear things from some of the guys at her middle school. She never cared or let it affect her in any way, and she still plays a little bit! Overall, I feel like society as a whole isn't so judgmental when it comes to what people listen to now a
This is a song by Led Zeppelin called Rock and Roll. It was a signature song that me and my dad would listen to, especially on car rides.
This is a song by Journey, another band that I really enjoyed listening to. This is one of their most popular songs, Don't Stop Believing.
I cannot agree with you more Avery. The world is super stereotypical, it is sometimes sad to see it. My dad would also listen to Aerosmith and Pink Floyd. I think it's pretty cool that you've played a variety of instruments, such as the violin and piano. I also want to try to learn how to play a percussion instrument, I once tried to play the drums but didn't have much patience for it. Overall, great blog post!
ReplyDeleteI love all the points that you make. It is crazy how stereotypes form, even at a young age, about genders listening to certain types of music. I used to play the drums when I was younger, and from personal experience, I can confirm that there are definitely more men who played the drums. This meant that all of my instructors were men, and anyone also learning was usually a boy. However, like you said, the idea of certain genres or playing instruments should not belong to one gender or the other.
ReplyDeleteSomething I agreed on with you Avery is the stereotypical genres that what genders "should" listen to. I listen to a lot of different kind of music. At first I didn't play all kinds of music around others because of being judged. But later I realized it's my music taste and I don't really care at all anymore. I actually found out, even tough they didn't want to say it in front of everyone, that other people liked it too. Good work Avery!
ReplyDeleteI find your connection to Led Zeppelin’s "Rock and Roll" with your dad really interesting because it’s such a high-energy song and I love how you’ve tied it to your memories of car rides. "Don't Stop Believin'" by Journey is another classic, and I think it’s awesome how it has resonated with you over time. Both songs reflect a shared love for rock that defies gender expectations. They are good examples of how music becomes deeply personal through experiences.
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