ABSTRACT
Gender imbalance in music derives from an interplay of factors, including representation, sexist behaviors, sexual misconduct and power relationships. This study frames the struggles and contributions of women and non-binary activists who have been advocating for gender minorities in jazz. We developed a historical overview of jazz organizations for gender balance since the 1970s, their outputs and strategies, along with the presentation of three European movements for gender balance in jazz created after 2010. The study documents the contributions of three contemporary feminist organizations in jazz, ‘Jazzwomen and Girls Advocates’ (JAGA), ‘We Have Voice’ (WHV) and the ‘Women in Jazz Organization’ (WIJO), as well as the experiences of their co-founders as musicians and activists. Data collection includes a literature review and two written interviews with Ellen Seeling, co-founder of JAGA, Roxy Coss, co-founder of WIJO and a semistructured interview with Sara Serpa, co-founder of the WHV collective. By investigating these organizations’ policies, achievements and struggles, we document their contributions to gender inclusivity in jazz.
