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Finding the Beat: How Young Girls Create Self Through Music

This Master's thesis examines girls' self-esteem through a qualitative research project held in the summer of 2010 at Portland, Oregon's Rock 'n' Roll Camp for Girls. I interviewed ten white, middle class girls between the ages of ten and thirteen on various subjects including demographics, self-esteem, music, Rock 'n' Roll Camp for Girls and finally, experiences and pressures associated with being a girl. One key finding was the unique set of circumstances and experiences present which may foster higher self-esteem: 1) freedom from gender normative behavior; 2) skill mastery associated with learning an instrument; 3) support for a wider range of self-expression; 4) removal of the male gaze and male approval [in a female only space]; and 5) access to female role models. This thesis suggests that through their involvement with the Rock 'n' Roll Camp for Girls, these ten girls experience greater self-esteem.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:pdx.edu/oai:pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu:open_access_etds-2667
Date07 February 2011
CreatorsMoore, Jen Lynne
PublisherPDXScholar
Source SetsPortland State University
Detected LanguageEnglish
Typetext
Formatapplication/pdf
SourceDissertations and Theses

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