Klarinet Archive - Posting 000199.txt from 1999/02

From: Bill Hausmann <bhausman@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Women and orchestras
Date: Thu, 4 Feb 1999 23:38:07 -0500

At 08:02 PM 2/4/99 EST, DHmorgan wrote:
>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?
>
If the audition is truly double-blind, the judges will be unable to execise
their prejudices, since they won't know which person to favor or disfavor.
In a writing situation, something in the subject matter may give clues, but
do blacks/women/hispanics/whatevers really interpret Mozart differently
enough that the distinction can be made on sound alone?

Bill Hausmann bhausman@-----.com
451 Old Orchard Drive http://www.concentric.net/~bhausman
Essexville, MI 48732 http://members.wbs.net/homepages/z/o/o/zoot14.html
ICQ UIN 4862265

If you have to mic a saxophone, the rest of the band is too loud.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unsubscribe from Klarinet, e-mail: klarinet-unsubscribe@-----.org
Subscribe to the Digest: klarinet-digest-subscribe@-----.org
Additional commands: klarinet-help@-----.org
Other problems: klarinet-owner@-----.org