Well yes, but as far as traditional music (especially singing) is concerned, women didn't have a different "role to play" (to quote Bee's question. There just weren't so many of them doing it - though I'm not too certain of that either.

In fact in the Victorian and Edwardian middle classes women were generally expected and encouraged to be singers and musicians.

I'm not sure was Les's point was, so I may not have addressed it squarely.

Anahata