LibGuides: Women in Classical Music: Take Action

There are many ways to promote women in music! Below are just a few of the many ways to participate in this work.

Jump to: Equalize the Classroom | Explore Feminist Resources | Support an Organization

Equalize the Classroom

Work against the dominance of male narratives and practices by amplifying those of women in the classroom.

Websites

Confronting Racism and Sexism in American Music Theory
Six blog posts aimed to instigate constructive dialog to make antiracist/antisexist change in music theory.
Inclusive Early Music
Collaborative project to collect resources for teaching early music more inclusively. Currently in a Zotero bibliography, with instructions for use.
Music Theory Examples by Women
Database of music by women composers, categorized by theoretical concept. The examples, either excerpts or full works, include the score and a recording.

Books in the Harrison Libraries (selections)

Feminist Pedagogy in Higher Education by Tracy Penny Light, Jane Nicholas, Renée Bondy (Editors)
Call Number: LC197 .F464 2015 [Mortensen shelves]
Publication Date: 2015
Contributors from a variety of disciplines discuss feminist pedagogy and academic feminism by exploring how critical perspectives can be brought into the classroom.
The Oxford Handbook of Social Justice in Music Education by Cathy Benedict, Gary Spruce, Paul Woodford, Patrick Schmidt (Eds.)
Call Number: MT1 O935 S63 [Allen shelves]
Publication Date: 2015
Frames social justice within social, historical, cultural, and political contexts; grapples with issues of inclusivity and diversity, racism, and other cycles of injustice in music pedagogy; and offers specific examples of social justice in action.
Race and Gender in the Western Music History Survey by Horace J. Maxile, Jr.; Kristen M. Turner
Publication Date: 2022
Information and approaches for instructors to include women and people of color in a music history survey course and foundational music theory classes.

Explore Feminist Resources

Feminist Books in the Libraries (selections)

The Second Sex

An essential masterwork in feminism. A powerful analysis of the Western notion of "woman," and a revolutionary exploration of inequality and otherness.

Down Girl

An analysis of what misogyny really is, how it works, its purpose, and how to fight it.

Whipping Girl

A transsexual woman and professional biologist shares her experiences to reveal how fear, suspicion, and dismissiveness toward femininity shape our attitudes toward gender and sexuality.

The Beauty Myth

Also available online.
Exposes the relentless cult of female beauty as a political weapon against women's recent advances, undermining the material freedoms feminism has achieved.

Living a Feminist Life

Also available online.
Shows how feminist theory is generated from everyday life and the ordinary experiences of being a feminist, and supplies practical tools for how to live a feminist life.

The Genius of Women

Explores the powerful forces that have rigged the system, and celebrates the women geniuses past and present who have triumphed anyway.

The End of Men

Concludes that women are now the dominant sex, and reveals how this is radically shifting the power dynamics between men and women at every level of society.

Full Frontal Feminism

Smart-ass feminist messages about pop culture, health, reproductive rights, violence, education, relationships, and more.

Find more books about women's issues

Search subjects in the catalog, for example:

Femininity
Feminism
Sex discrimination
Sexism
Women
Women > Economic conditions
Women > Social conditions
Women's rights

Support an Organization

Performing Organizations

ANNA Crusis Feminist Choir
The longest-running feminist women’s choir in the U.S., committed to musical excellence and promoting social change.
Black Pearl Chamber Orchestra
Combines artistic excellence with cultural diversity and innovative community engagement.
Chicago Sinfonietta
Founded by conductor Paul Freeman to address the lack of diversity in orchestra performers and repertoire.

Other Organizations

Alliance for Women Film Composers
Supports and celebrates the work of women composers in film, TV, video games, and multimedia projects.
Donne
A charitable foundation fighting gender inequality in the music industry worldwide.
Institute for Composer Diversity
Research resources plus databases of composers and works searchable by genre, ensemble, and composers' demographic information.
International Alliance for Women in Music
Advocates for women in music around the globe and promotes their music through concerts, competitions, conferences, and grants.
Women in Music
Advancing equality, visibility, and opportunities for women in music through education, support, empowerment, and recognition.
Women's Philharmonic Advocacy
A nonprofit that advocates for the performance of women composers by orchestras and ensembles.

Suggest a Resource

Know of a resource you think should be added to this guide? Let us know!

Want to suggest we purchase something new? Contact Tracey Rudnick (rudnick@hartford.edu).