history of women in jazz

Throughout its history, jazz has produced countless icons, the majority of whom happen to be men. There are several theories and reasons as to why this may be. One theory suggests that instrument choice is the cause of this gender gap. Because jazz has been shaped by brass, woodwinds, and rhythm section instruments like the drums and bass, women were originally at a disadvantage. In early American life, women were encouraged to pursue singing and playing the piano, but a woman playing an instrument such as the trumpet, let alone pursuing a music career, was very rare. Additionally, the widespread discrimination that women experienced generally, made it very difficult for women to be taken seriously in music. Despite these setbacks, women across the globe continue to participate in jazz, and the environment has improved significantly for women, especially in the last decade. In 2012 women made up roughly 9% of jazz musicians. In 2021, women made up almost 27% percent of jazz musicians. These statistics don’t suggest that the gender imbalance in the jazz world has been solved, but they do remind us that the jazz community is constantly improving its acceptance of musicians across all backgrounds.