Interesting article on women in bluegras

Subject: Interesting article on women in bluegras
From: GUEST,Mrr
Date: 26 Jun 00 - 01:09 PM

Check out this Sunday's Washington Post magazine, long (cover) article on women in bluegrass. Would be interested in y'all's take on it, it is likely to be at washingtonpost.com but I read it on paper. Should I look up the URL or can you make yourselves independent?

Subject: RE: Interesting article on women in bluegras
From: Mark Clark
Date: 26 Jun 00 - 01:18 PM

Thanks, Mrr. I found it right here. And you're right, it is a good article.

      - Mark

Subject: RE: Interesting article on women in bluegras
From: GUEST,Mrr
Date: 26 Jun 00 - 01:46 PM

I especially enjoyed the Top 10 reasons women shouldn't play bluegrass...

Subject: RE: Interesting article on women in bluegras
From: Mark Clark
Date: 26 Jun 00 - 02:18 PM

Yeah, I enjoyed that too. I guess the writer of that "top 10" list doesn't know about all the years Bessie Lee Mauldin played bass in Monroe's band.

      - Mark

Subject: RE: Interesting article on women in bluegras
From: GUEST,Mrr
Date: 27 Jun 00 - 11:28 AM

Well, Mark, looks like it's just we two... I am surprised. I thought at least we'd get all the folks who don't like bluegrass!

Subject: RE: Interesting article on women in bluegras
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 27 Jun 00 - 11:36 AM

OK Mrr, you asked for it. Here's reason #11 why women shouldn't play bluegrass: It makes for more women playing the music I enjoy :-)

Jon

Subject: RE: Interesting article on women in bluegras
From: Whistle Stop
Date: 27 Jun 00 - 01:03 PM

Great article -- thanks for passing it along. The women they mentioned in the article can play circles around most of us, so hopefully this prejudice will die before too much longer.

Subject: RE: Interesting article on women in bluegras
From: SINSULL
Date: 27 Jun 00 - 02:12 PM

"Out in the oat bin with a kerosene lantern"? I'm a city girl but even I know this is an invitation to disaster.

10 Reasons... I remember hearing these almost word for word when women wanted to go into combat. And the wives still don't like it.

SS

Subject: RE: Interesting article on women in bluegras
From: Barbara Shaw
Date: 29 Jun 00 - 09:42 PM

I keep starting to read this article. It's well written and I'm in agreement with most of what I've read so far, but it's just too long! I've got festivals to go to and jams to play in and even gigs, and just can't find the time to sit that long reading about someone else playing bluegrass. . .

There are people who stop by our jams to check out the woman singer/guitar player (me) who also fills in on bass when necessary and can do some fiddle if desperate for fiddle. I'm a novelty in some places, but then these "good ole boys" get over it and get back to the music. Women are definitely in the minority on stage and in the fields, but it's never bothered me (I've always enjoyed being surrounded by men...)

Of course, I'm not young and gorgeous, so it's easier to ignore the woman in bluegrass issues with someone like me. Young, good-looking girls who are good musicians are quickly surrounded by fans, some of it because of the novelty, some of it because of the testosterone in the audience, and gradually, some of it because of the appreciation for the music.

Subject: RE: Interesting article on women in bluegras
From: Áine
Date: 30 Jun 00 - 11:22 AM

You're right, Barbara, that article is very long. But it was well worth the read, so thanks to Mrr for letting us know about it.

The barriers to women in music (any kind) are breaking down slowly, but surely, and I think that in 20 years or so the "ladies who play" will be surprised that there ever was a controversy about it at all.

The best thing for all of us to do, of course, is to encourage girls to get involved in playing and performing, and to assure them that they have every right to be up on stage with the fellas.

Keep playing, singing and writing (everybody), Áine