Sex-role Associations of Music Instruments and Occupations by Gender and Major

Abstract

Undergraduate music majors and nonmajors rated the names of 17 music instruments and two related occupations on a scale from most feminine to most masculine. The harp, flute, and piccolo had high feminine ratings; the trumpet, string bass, and tuba had high masculine ratings. Multivariate analysis indicated that instrument ratings were significantly different for major, but not for gender.