Sing Like a Man: An analysis of gendered attitudes to singing

Prior research in music education and choral pedagogy suggests that singing is often culturally coded as a feminine activity, leading to reduced participation and more negative attitudes among male-identifying individuals. The present study examined gender differences in attitudes toward singing among university students (N = 73; 17 males, 53 females, 3 non-binary) through a two-part online survey. Participants completed a custom “Attitudes to Singing” questionnaire, rated their past, present, and future singing ability relative to a self-selected vocal idol, and completed the Goldsmiths Musical Sophistication Index (Gold-MSI).Results showed that males scored significantly lower on key singing-related items (e.g., singing enjoyment, singing alone), and self-assessed their current singing ability as marginally lower than females. An exploratory trait analysis revealed that male artists were rated less favorably on appearance-related traits (e.g., attractiveness, youthfulness, and “cuteness”), suggesting the persistence of gendered perceptions of vocal performance. Thematic analysis of qualitative responses highlighted music’s role in emotional regulation and identity formation across genders, but also uncovered persistent male discomfort with public singing.These findings provide empirical evidence that gendered attitudes toward singing remain prevalent even in diverse, educated young adult populations, and that male underrepresentation in singing may be rooted not only in cultural norms but also in internalized self-concept and aesthetic valuation of vocal identity. Implications for music pedagogy, gender studies, and sociocultural psychology are discussed.