Rock and Roll has been overwhelmingly
dominated by male musicians, male industry functionaries, and a male press corps. Not surprisingly,
sexism – defined as the systematic discrimination and degradation of women – found its way into almost all
quarters of the culture. The institutionalization of sexist values built up almost insurmountable obstacles to
females who wished to become involved in any phase of the music business. Paradoxically, the industry
that renders women as absent or insignificant, is also the same industry that invites the full participation
female fans because the success of many (male) bands depend upon their appeal to this cohort. The
arrival of the Folk Revival in the 1960s, however, saw a growing number of female singer‐songwriters,
such as Joni Mitchell, Buffy Sainte‐Marie, Laura Nero, and Carole King, who rightfully staked out claims to
practice and make a living from their art. Listen selectively to Patti Smith’s Horses (1975), and Madonna’s
Like a Virgin (1984) and discuss how each artist articulates a uniquely female perspective.
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