Representations of women in music: what difference does difference make?

Abstract

This article focuses on the interaction between feminist debates and music. It explores the way in which two musical texts, representing different musical genres and different racial and social contexts, confront issues of gender and sexuality by redefining instances of gender stereotyping. The argument is put forward that music may offer poignant insights into feminine subjectivity, reflecting the challenge and transformation of gender-related boundaries. It is argued that the musical text, in all its richness and ambiguity, is often a contested site of constructing meaning, and deserves close and critical scrutiny.