Klarinet Archive - Posting 000184.txt from 1999/02

From: DHmorgan@-----.com
Subj: Re: [kl] Women and orchestras
Date: Thu, 4 Feb 1999 20:02:55 -0500

In a message dated 2/3/99 5:43:07 PM Pacific Standard Time, dodgshun@-----.nz
writes:

<< The system we use for auditions here works well in that respect
- we do them blind. Each candidate plays from behind a screen and is
identified by number alone; this way you don't get any prejudice creeping in.
>>

Ah, but here's the problem. They've done studies that show that even in
double blind situations, evaluators will rank the performance of people of
their race and gender HIGHER than other races and genders. The examples I'm
thinking of have to do with writing, but I wouldn't be surprised if it weren't
the same with music. As long as you have humans in the equation, bias will
creep in. It's so subtly embedded in everything we do that we don't even
notice it. What to do?

Truly,
Don

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