Daughter says musical instruments are for men in pop music - how do I prove her wrong?

[mids2019]

My daughter play a the guitar and electric guitar.

I was trying to think of really good female electric guitar players to act as role models and actually struggled (my bad). Men however, Clapton, Hendrix, Marr etc. The list goes on. In fact when I watch bands it always seems to be be men on supporting instruments generally.

Modern pop music seems to equate women with good looks/sex appeal/ singing and there isn't much variation. Taylor Swift, Sabrina Carpenter , Arianna Grande, Tate McRae etc. etc. However the more heavy weight bands in pop cukture, The Beatles, Stones, Queen, Bowie are all male.

I am now seeing classical music as the genre where you have true gender equality and opportunities so I am trying to get my daughter to see at least a classical concert for this reason (as well as the music being brilliant). Am I wrong in this view??

Karen Carpenter was a drummer.
Dolly Parton plays guitar.
I think the Bangles played their own instruments.

These are the ones that came to mind in the time it took to read your post.
Carole King?

Joni Mitchell?

Off the top of my head- Janis Joplin, Joan Armatrading, Tracey Chapman, Rumer, Chrissie Hynde, Suzi Quattro.

As with everything historically men have been given better opportunities- but she can break the mould!

Check out Danielle Dax...rather niche but I think she was a multi instrumentalist who produced her own records.

Nancy, the guitar playing sister from Heart

It says so much that we can’t think of current examples! What has happened to feminism?!

Taylor Swift has lots of electric guitars and plays them on stage I believe. I'm not a fan but I understand she has a fabulous collection of Gibson Les Paul's

Taylor swift - piano and guitar
Chapel roam - piano
The last dinner party / all female band
Wet leg
KT Tunstall

Suzi Quattro
Joan Jett
Tracy Chapman

Susie Quatro?

I thought that I tried really hard - but I wasn’t sure if it is because I’m not familiar with what’s in the charts now or whether there isn’t anyone.

Kim Deal
make her listen to the Breeders or L7

There are many female musicians in rock music; your daughter needs to look beyond the ballad genre. If her ambitions lie in rock music rather than classical then that's likely to be the road to her heart, but there's no harm in encouraging her to explore classical music too - it's not one or the other, she should keep her options open.

Thanks....great examples. I need to get her into older genres.

Looking at this instrument wise women are going a bit backwards...

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2024/dec/31/female-artists-success-helps-arrest-20-year-slide-in-uk-sales-of-physical-music

Few pure instrument players and apart from Billie Eilsh's look sex sells with female music?

KT Tunstall sang and played every instrument on this:

m.youtube.com/watch?v=oeatDiU7Ee4

Taylor Swift plays guitar!

I do agree that there is still a looooong way to go for gender equality in the music industry 😞

Beabadoobee is a brilliant contemporary guitarist with a female bassist in her band too. Saw her this summer with DD.

To be fair I’m pretty sure Taylor Swift does indeed play the guitar, and is incredibly successful. She isn’t to my taste necessarily but you can’t argue she isn’t a very Big Deal.
Lady Gaga is an incredibly talented pianist. Lizzo plays the flute.

Sorry didn't realise Taylor played piano and guitar

I wouldn't rush to an orchestral concert if you're looking for representation - orchestras are still predominantly staffed by white men, although it is improving. Plus the music they programme is still mostly by white men...

So check out the balance of the orchestra first - or try to see something with a woman soloist.

Or for chamber there's Manchester Collective which has a good race/sex mix, or the all women Vulva Voce. Both are Manchester based but tour.

Taylor Swift plays a selection of instruments including guitar and piano.
Olivia Rodrigo plays guitar
Linda Linda's female pop rock band
Lady Gaga Piano
Ariana Grande plays guitar

Taylor Swift has several albums where she plays guitar on every song, she started out as a country singer. She also plays banjo and ukulele.

Maybe with Taylor you don't see her with a guitar as often as you would like?

Bonnie Raitt

And, as mentioned above, Lady Gaga. Fantastic pianist.

Sarah Jones is Harry Styles drummer.
Haim.

St Vincent