By Elizabeth Hunter via SWNS
The majority of female bagpipers have experienced sexism – with 52% of pipers and drummers saying it was a factor in their decision to retire, a survey found.
The shocking study also says 26% reported that a senior or respected member of their community was attempting to use their status to take advantage of them.
Shockingly, 24% of those surveyed agreed that they had personally experienced inappropriate behavior during a piping or drumming event.
The data gathered through the survey evidences that:
52% of respondents advised they have experienced sexism within their piping and drumming community.52% of respondents who have retired from piping and drumming said their gender was a factor in this decision.26% of survey participants reported that a senior or respected member of their piping and drumming community had used or tried to use. their status to take advantage of them due to their gender.24% of those surveyed strongly agreed that they had personally experienced behavior they consider to be inappropriate during a piping or drumming event.
The study, which analyzed around 300 online survey responses, identified seven key themes:
Lack of representation and visibility of women in piping and drumming.Lack of community for women.Male-dominated environments.Lack of accountability for sexism.The contribution of alcohol in the creation of uncomfortable environments.Progress has been made.Many respondents reported they had no negative experiences.
Piper Ailis Sutherland explained her perspective: “Having grown up in the scene as a girl and young woman, these findings don’t surprise me.
“I see the piping and drumming scene in Scotland as a reflection of our society so when fewer women are around, the challenging behavior, dynamics and systems we navigate in everyday life, are mirrored in piping and drumming spaces.
“What is a comfort, however, is to have witnessed some notable and credible change in my lifetime as a piper.
“Many of the examples that come to mind are ‘firsts’, not just for me, but for my peers and our parents, who have been in the piping and drumming scene for decades.
“In the last year or so, the biggest sense of change has been leading a team of predominantly young women to deliver the National Piping Centre’s Piping Clubs across Glasgow.
“I have never received instrumental tuition from a woman, so it feels like progress to be offering almost 60 young people piping sessions led by young women with degrees and expertise on a weekly basis.
“As a result, we have started to see wider representation in our participant base and a positive shift in the culture within our learning environments.
“Piping is one of my greatest passions, so it is not a plausible option for me to just walk away and try something else. I’m dedicated to remaining within the world of piping and to keep advocating and striving for inclusivity, diversity, accountability and safety in our professional, amateur and social spaces.
“I’m grateful to be empowered to do so by the people around me and the company I am employed by.”
The survey was carried out by the National Piping Centre in collaboration with the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Titled Women in Piping and Drumming: Equality, Inclusivity and Diversity, over 300 responses to their questionnaire were received and analyzed.
Themes reported across the board include a lack of representation of women in the field, a lack of accountability for sexism, and the contribution of alcohol in the creation of uncomfortable environments.
However, respondents did report that progress has been made – including two initiatives launched by the National Piping Centre that aim to promote “more equality, diversity and inclusion and take meaningful steps to help create a safer and more inclusive piping and drumming community for all.”
Helen Urquhart, Head of Events at The National Piping Centre: “This survey has given women in piping and drumming an opportunity to be heard. We want to thank all those who took part in the survey and say – we hear you. The stark findings and statistics show clear areas where it is critical that improvements are made right across piping and drumming in Scotland with immediate effect.
“We know there is much to be done to help rebuild trust and confidence among women in piping and drumming and would encourage everyone across the community to reflect on, and contribute towards that effort, so we can ensure that it is a safe, welcoming and inclusive place for all. Our research shows some positive change has already happened, but there is more to be done in raising awareness of these vital issues.
“With these findings we can really start to make changes and in launching and implementing two meaningful initiatives, The National Piping Centre wants to be at the forefront of guiding change in this area. This is just the beginning of a long-term action plan to help ensure true equality, diversity and inclusion within piping and drumming in Scotland.”
Finlay MacDonald, Director of Piping at The National Piping Centre, said: “No matter who you are, piping and drumming should be accessible and inclusive to all.
“These survey findings show that there is more work to be done to make that a reality and, armed with the important findings from key voices across our community, we aim to make short and long-term positive changes for everyone in piping and drumming.
“I would encourage the entire piping and drumming world to get behind these new initiatives and support us in our mission to enrich lives through piping.”
The Board of The National Piping Centre said: “The National Piping Centre, as the center of excellence for our national instrument, places equality, diversity and inclusion at the heart of its strategy.
“We are proud to have commissioned this valuable piece of research.”
