Gender biases against women in the development of popular music in Ghana

Abstract

This is a descriptive survey aimed at evaluating independently, the contribution of women as regards the development of popular music in Ghana. The purpose is to highlight the fact that women cannot be sidelined in our socio-economic advancement. It seeks to disabuse the minds of people about gender stereotyping and disparities and rather encourage women to come out of their shells and move into prominence in all facets of life. The study makes use of the administration of questionnaire to eighty respondents and interviews with five selected women musicians to address the issue. The questionnaires were the Likert scale type of ratings and the statistics used for the analysis were the frequency, mean and percentages to address the research questions. It is envisaged that the findings of the study will beef up the efforts of many concerned people in the campaign towards the emancipation of women in Ghana. It will create the awareness that women, indeed, need to be considered when national issues are raised and heroes and heroines are honoured. This desire for women to come out of their shells should not be seen as a casual request but treated as a persistent demand. It is still incumbent on society to alter its philosophy, assumptions and practices about women and their roles in life.