Females & Prog

 For an english report im considering writing about Females and Progressive Rock music.

I was thinking along the lines of discussing female listeners/fans , there are some of us out there and female prog musicians.

 I would love to hear my fellow prog lovers views on  this matter.

              Jen.

The theme of the 2nd-to-last issue of Progression was Women In Prog. See if you can score a copy by way of a friend, somehow (don't sub or order from the site, it'll take you half a year to get it).

There are so few women who make prog, but even fewer, it seems who even like it. Thankfully we have ShrinkingViolet & threefates.

My girlfriend is a life long Rush fan, and likes some Yes and Genesis too, so I haven't done too badly.

Is anyone surprised I have an opinion on the matter?

You'd think that with such an overwhelmingly male fanbase, the women who did get into prog would be "tomboys" or exhibit some traditionally masculine personality characteristics...but in my experience, it's been almost the opposite. The female prog fans I've known have been unquestionably feminine. Of course, I've only known maybe 3 or 4, so it's not much of a sample to draw any real conclusions.

It's always dangerous to generalize, but prog tends to appeal to a specific sort of mentality...a curious blend of the creative and analytic, people who value artistic expression but also discipline and precision. That kind of outlook seems to happen more often in men than women, but whether it's a result of any hard-wired biological tendency or cultural/ social source (nature vs. nurture) is impossible to say.

There also seems to be some correlation between fans of prog, science fiction, and Monty Python...

sigod wrote: It's a great idea. The only female proggers that  know of are Tracey Hitchings of Landmarq and Christina Booth of Magenta. Are there any others?

Jane Relf then Annie Haslam of Renaissance, vocalist of Minimum Vital, Carol Grimes of Delivery, Gayle Moran variously of Mahavishnu Orchestra and Return To Forever, Annette Peacock on Bruford's Feels Good To Me. Do you count Julie Dyble and then Sandy Denny of Fairport Convention? Julie Tippetts (ne Driscoll). Anna Sofi Dahlberg of Anekdoten.  But the point is taken there are very few female musicians involved in past and present prog bands - I bet there are more violinists in prog then women. There too is some assumption prog rock has considerably more male followers than female.

Velvetclown wrote: Well work still sucks after 10 years

Male prostitution is illegal in the UK

James Lee wrote: Is anyone surprised I have an opinion on the matter? You'd think that with such an overwhelmingly male fanbase, the women who did get into prog would be "tomboys" or exhibit some traditionally masculine personality characteristics...but in my experience, it's been almost the opposite. The female prog fans I've known have been unquestionably feminine. Of course, I've only known maybe 3 or 4, so it's not much of a sample to draw any real conclusions. It's always dangerous to generalize, but prog tends to appeal to a specific sort of mentality...a curious blend of the creative and analytic, people who value artistic expression but also discipline and precision. That kind of outlook seems to happen more often in men than women, but whether it's a result of any hard-wired biological tendency or cultural/ social source (nature vs. nurture) is impossible to say. There also seems to be some correlation between fans of prog, science fiction, and Monty Python...

creative and analytical....wow! I just thought we were a bunch of nerds...cool! I'm more creative the anyone else(outside of prog archives) I am special!!