Musical instruments – masculine or feminine? [study]

If you’re wondering whether musical instruments can be graded according to whether they’re perceived as masculine or feminine, the answer is yes (such perceptions can be graded).

For an example study, look no further than the Journal of Research in Music Education, Volume: 29 issue: 1, page(s): 57-62, Issue published: April 1, 1981, where you’ll find : Sex-role Associations of Music Instruments and Occupations by Gender and Major by Philip A. Griswold and Denise A. Chroback.

The research team found that the musical instruments’ gender association continuum tended to play out like this [ most ladylike first ] : Harp, flute, piccolo, glockenspiel, cello, violin, clarinet, piano, french horn, oboe, guitar, cymbal, saxophone, bass drum, trumpet, string bass, tuba.

A full copy of the paper may be found here

Research research by Martin Gardiner