Modifying Children's Gender-Typed Musical Instrument Preferences: The Effects of Gender and Age

Previous research has indicated that children display gender-typed musical
instrument preferences. Two studies were conducted to determine (a) whether
these preferences can be modified by presenting counter-examples (i.e., in-
struments played by gender-inappropriate musicians) and (b) whether child
gender or age (kindergarten vs. 4th grade) influences the efficacy of such in-
terventions. A videotape presentation format was employed in Study 1 and
drawings in Study 2. Children exposed to counter-examples were less stereo-
typed than those who saw the instruments without musicians (Study 1) or with
gender-appropriate musicians (Studies 1 & 2). Age did not influence children’s
responsiveness to the counter-examples, but boys were more resistant to the
intervention than girls. There was some evidence that the counter-examples
were effective not simply because children were attracted to same-sex musi-
cians. Instead, children’s instrument choices also appeared to be motivated by
a desire to avoid behaving like musicians of the other-sex. Potential strategies
for increasing children’s responsiveness to instrument counter-examples (e.g.,
multiple exemplars; portrayal of positive consequences) were also discussed.