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Problems Preventing Women's Full Participation in Rock Bands
A recent thesis by Karen McGough entitled Values and Achievement
Motivation· as Barriers to Upward Mobility of Women 7 examines
women in the marketplace in South Africa and the problems faced
by women who seek promotion. Many of the problems pointed out by
Ms McGough apply most aptly to women's advancement in the rock
music world as well. McGough points out the 'Fear of Success'
theory advocated by K. Haynes in 1989 could well be a factor in
the lack of advancement of women to managerial positions. I feel
that this theory could as easily be applied to the role of women
in rock music in Durban:
The fear of success theory states that 'women actually
avoid success because they are afraid it will make
them less feminine, or make others perceive them as
less feminine'. 8
Furthermore,
In terms of socialisation, Fenn (1978) states that
there are psychological barriers to women's
advancement such as a lack of self-confidence or a
negative self-image which are a reflection of their
socialisation to be nurturant, passive, dependent,
other-directed and sacrificing. Thus women are taught
to value themselves in terms of others and not by an
inner standard. 9
It also is pointed out by McGough that most men experienced women
in the roles of homemaker, sexual being and rival and 'tend to
rely on these role categories in their relationship to women
7 K. McGough, Thesis written in partial fulfillment of Masters degree
in Industrial psychology, for the University of Natal, Durban, June 1995.
8 K. Haynes, Women Managers in Human Services: New York: Springer
Publishing Company, Inc, 1989 quoted in K. McGough, Values and Achievement
Motivation as Barriers to Upward Mobility of Women,p. 23.
9 M. Fenn, Making it in Management. A Behavioural Approach for Women
Executives, USA: Prentice-Hall International, Inc, 1978 quoted in K. McGough,
Values and Achievement Motivation as Barriers to Upward Mobility of Women, p.
22.