Orchestrating Impartiality: The Impact of "Blind" Auditions on Female Musicians

[redqueen]

Abstract

Discrimination against women has been alleged in hiring practices for many occupations, but it is extremely difficult to demonstrate sex-biased hiring. A change in the way symphony orchestras recruit musicians provides an unusual way to test for sex-biased hiring. To overcome possible biases in hiring, most orchestras revised their audition policies in the 1970s and 1980s. A major change involved the use of blind' auditions with a screen' to conceal the identity of the candidate from the jury. Female musicians in the top five symphony orchestras in the United States were less than 5% of all players in 1970 but are 25% today. We ask whether women were more likely to be advanced and/or hired with the use of blind' auditions. Using data from actual auditions in an individual fixed-effects framework, we find that the screen increases by 50% the probability a woman will be advanced out of certain preliminary rounds. The screen also enhances, by severalfold, the likelihood a female contestant will be the winner in the final round. Using data on orchestra personnel, the switch to blind' auditions can explain between 30% and 55% of the increase in the proportion female among new hires and between 25% and 46% of the increase in the percentage female in the orchestras since 1970.

http://m.nber.org//papers/w5903

[sufrommich]

1. It's nice to see an occupation attempt to "right" the

wrongs of the past.Maybe blind auditions should be required for most jobs.

[redqueen]

3. It would go a long way toward diversifying the workplace.

People really don't realize how significant a role unconscious bias plays in our decisions. I'm sure hardly any of the judges would describe themselves as a sexist or misogynist or claim that men were better than women. But the bias was there, regardless. It's the same with racism, ageism, etc.

[theHandpuppet]

2. Wow -- those are amazing stats

I only wish I could say I'm surprised. Hopefully this study was a wake-up call.

[progressoid]

4. Forwarding this to my daughter.

Thanks!

[Leme]

5. Bear with me ,please. : )

A week or two ago there was a thread where it was claimed, music peaked in 1974, or similar. They were not talking orchestral type music.
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This "blind" testing for orchestral music endeavors, got me thinking.
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The MTV/ video aspect of the music business became a major part of the industry in the 1980s and since. It does not necessarily follow that the music suffered. But one could se why it might.

----Thanks for some info that may/will be useful elsewhere., I know this goes beyond music....but this was my first stop.

[daligirl519]

6. I'm a professional violinist. . .

And started playing orchestral auditions in the early 90's. I have never experienced anything but blind auditions. One of my female teachers used to talk about the bad old days. She also instructed me to never wear heels to an audition. It's a sure giveaway, even behind the screen.

[niyad]

7. k and r-knew this a long time ago, but it is very good to bring it to everyone's attention.

[eridani]

8. Blind submissions to scientific symposia have also increased the number of femaie authors n/t