"Feminism is grounded on the belief that women are oppressed or disadvantaged by comparison with men, and that their oppression is in some way illegitimate or unjustified. Under the umbrella of this general characterization there are, however, many interpretations of women and their oppression, so that it is a mistake to think of feminism as a single philosophical doctrine, or as implying an agreed political program." Susan James
The purpose of this study is to explore modern trends in feminism in musical theatre and how female characters are treated by creators in this field. This study examines the ten most produced full length musicals for the 2021-2022 school year for their inclusion of feminist themes and concepts. Data is collected through a series of questions inspired by The Bechdel Test.
It’s widely acknowledged that women outnumber men in theatre programs across the country, although not much official research is recorded. In my own programing I've found that 73.6% of students that have auditioned for the musicals I have produced have been female in the last five years.
This led me to several questions that I constantly grapple with as an educator:
What are we doing to provide opportunities for these young women at such a pivotal age?
What material are they interacting with, and how does it depict members of their gender?
If art is to reflect and imitate life, then what does the opportunity for women, or lack thereof, communicate about their value in society?