Molly

And everyone else, we want to know what a good definition of a gender-equal society is. So, the email is momstuff@howstuffworks.com. To finish up, let’s read one email from that email address.

Cristen

All right.

Molly

Since we’ve been pretty international this podcast, Cristen, why don’t we stay over in Europe. I’m going to read an email from Richard in Northern Ireland.

Cristen

Great idea.

Molly

Richard writes, “In Northern Ireland, we don’t consider an instrument like the flute in any way a female-oriented instrument. I would almost say more men play the flute, to a certain extent, than women, due to our tradition of flute bands. Most flute bands will have a male majority depending on it being a truly loyalist or nationalist or just a marching band, which is usually mixed both in community and gender, in contrast to the Lambeg drum, which would be considered a male instrument played by many women, though rarely on marches due to the distance and weight involved.

When considering instruments like the harp, its social class is more considered, unfortunately stopping many working-class people from ever being introduced to them. If you haven’t heard what type of music is being played by marching bands, I would suggest looking up Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band.”

So, thank you, Richard, and it sounds like there are a lot of male flautists in Ireland.

Cristen

Yes. So, to all the male flautists out there, send us a line or email us at momstuff@howstuffworks.com. You can find us on Facebook and share your thoughts with other listeners out there, as well. You can hit us up on Twitter. Finally, you can read our blog where Molly will be posting all of these statistics and links to lots of information about Scandinavia very soon. And you can find that on our blog at Stuff Mom Never Told You, and it’s at HowStuffWorks.com.

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