no. 9 (May 1984): 46-49. Accessed January 3, 2011. http://www.jstor.org/
stable/3400741.
This article discusses different women who have been successful as conductors. It discusses obstacles these women overcame to become as successful as they are. Lawson does a great job in defining what these women went through throughout their careers and things that stood in their way. For example, Margaret Hillis was told that would "sink" in she tried to enter the world of orchestral conducting, so she was told by her teacher to start conducting choirs instead. She did just that, and now conducts the Chicago Symphony Chorus, which gives her a chance to conduct choral music that combines with the instrumental music she grew up loving.
Throughout the article she also goes through and highlights specific images women must face as obstacles of conductors. Margaret Harris says women are looked at as “daddy’s little girl,” meaning they cannot do anything without daddy to support them. This gives an idea that women cannot be independent strong women, which is imperative to standing in front of a large ensemble. This point is very true to how women are portrayed as authority figures, which a conductor is. Lawson brings up many other good points like this.
She also discusses ways in which women have overcome these obstacles. She gives examples of the opportunities available to women, but does not give many examples of how women can get to the positions they want. Overall, this article brings up the issues women face in a way that is accessible to anyone, not just women. Lawson also explains different ways in which specific women have broken barriers and overcome obstacles, but there are much more obstacles out there women face.
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