Gender and Relationships: Women and Femininity

Even though men dominate the scene in American popular music, women play an active and important role in creating and disseminating the music that has formed the backdrop of American life, from folk roots to manifestations in pop culture. As with everything else in American culture—and indeed world culture—deeply entrenched patriarchal values impact the appearance of women on the scene. In my fan database, there were twice as many men cited as favorite artists on both soul and country music surveys. In 2013, the Grand Ole Opry listed 18 women on its list of 66 inductees, just 27 percent of the list of artists deemed worthy of the honor. Similarly, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, a platform for artists who have excelled in several genres including R & B and soul music, lists 53 women out of 681 inductees, roughly 8 percent of the total.