I heard you guys like spidersFollow

Probably because orchestra has a well documented prejudice, extending to the present day, against women?

It's hard to link any one case to institutional sexism unless it is very overt indeed; all interactions are to some extent affected. Was it a deciding factor? Who can say. That analysis is somewhat artificial. Similarly, no-one weather event can be conclusively linked to anthropogenic climate change

In this case, maybe some comment was made? You haven't got a clue. You seem to assume by default that any claim of sexism is bogus, to the point of 'calling someone out' without anything on which to base your supposition. Charitably, your comment is simply a sign of a personal dislike of catwho, and a corresponding lack of faith in her abilities. Believe me, I'm sympathetic to that. But I don't think your skepticism is justified.

Specifically, orchestras in the US have a long documented prejudice against female brass players. Even my own mother was astonished at my choice of instrument at first, going so far as to say "Girls don't play trumpets!" Woodwinds and flutes? Fine. Drums? Be a rebel and go play this xylophone. Piano? Trés bon. Saxophone? Ehhhh... ok sure, but you'll want to switch to oboe or bassoon eventually.

Most girls in my (fine arts) school who started out on trumpet eventually moved to the French horn, which is considered less, um, phallic. I was also the only female member of my school's jazz band... Rather than wear the ugly garbage bag black dress that was my formal band uniform, I asked my mom for help and she found me a tux top at goodwill and sewed black piping on a pair of slacks for me.

It's actually changed a lot just in the last decade. I think if I were auditioning today, I'd have much better odds of being accepted. I just had rotten luck to be auditioning for one of the greatest band leaders of all time who was unfortunately still stuck in the 20th century mentality that women didn't have the requisite lung capacity to play brass instruments right.

Edit: That S, it is tricky and slippery.

Edited, Mar 13th 2012 11:45pm by catwho

My sister-in-law is a professional oboe player across the whole of Western Europe. There are many more world-class musicians than permanent orchestra slots, or even Temporary slots covering absent, sick or parenting permanent orchestra members. She had pretty solid Temp work playing in the best auditoriums with elite orchestras. She had to audition anew for every Temp slot. Half the time, the auditioning musicians played for the interviewers from behind a screen that would make them anonymous. I presume this was so that the most desirable musician was picked on basis of present sound, and not for any other reason.

It might not have been to make the choice gender neutral, since pretty much the same pool of Temps were auditioning over and over for the same orchestras, and music directors got to know and like or dislike individuals based on personality and looks, and have pets and enemies. But the effect was the same in eliminating any lingering unconscious gender discrimination.