Symbolic Capital and Gender: Evidence from Two Cultural Fields

What is it about?

This paper outlines gender differences in how musicians build reputation and recognition in two local, grassroots fields of music. In the metal field, fans and peers often don't take women musicians seriously as competent performers, and focus instead on their appearance and personal characteristics which negatively impacts their reputations. In the folk field, however, many women musicians are able to establish and maintain positive reputations. I explain this difference by looking at organizational differences in these two fields of music.

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