| Musical instruments have a long history of being 'gendered' (for example, flutes have traditionally been considered 'feminine' while tubas have been 'masculine'). Since its surge in popularity in the 1960s the electric guitar has, likewise, been viewed as a 'masculine' technology. For the past ten years, guitar manufacturers have tried to encourage females to play the guitar by manufacturing 'girl guitars,' acoustic and electric models designed specifically for and marketed to females. My thesis examines ways in which gender is both negotiated and reinforced through the designs of the guitars and the images used in girl guitar advertisements. It also considers whether or not girl guitars have given women further access to the creation of rock music. By looking at the designs, marketing schemes, and uses of girl guitars, the study evaluates the extent to which masculine ideologies surrounding the electric guitar have altered due to the creation of girl guitars. |
