A STUDY is taking place into the under-representation of women in Scotland’s piping and drumming scene.
Entitled Women in Piping and Drumming: Equality, Inclusivity, and Diversity, the six-month study is launching an online survey designed to gain a better understanding of women’s perspectives and experience.
It has been launched by The National Piping Centre, in collaboration with the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
The centre is calling on anyone who identifies or has identified as a woman and is or has been involved in any aspect of piping or pipe band drumming within Scotland to take part. Participants will remain anonymous, with their answers stored securely and accessed only by the research team.
It says the gender barrier to taking up and continuing with piping and drumming within Scottish communities, particularly in high-profile areas of participation, has long been acknowledged by those working and performing in the field.
This new study aims to identify the reasons behind the under-representation of women. Data gathered from the survey will be analysed and compiled into a publicly available report, which will help the centre to develop future strategies to promote equality, diversity and inclusion.
The chair of The National Piping Centre Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Group, Lady Oona Ivory, said: “As part of EDI development, a dedicated team of women began discussions regarding women in piping and drumming. This survey is the result of these talks. It will be enormously helpful to have this data to inform our inclusion strategy for women going forward. We also hope it will be useful to the piping community and other relevant organisations.”
Helen Urquhart, marketing and piping events manager at the centre added: “There have always been trailblazing women in the piping and drumming community.
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“However, looking at the make-up of who is currently participating, it is clear there is still a huge disparity in gender representation.
“This research aims to understand the lived experience of women who have taken part, and currently take part, in piping and drumming activities, to learn more about the barriers to entry and to continuation and participation.
“The NPC will use the outcomes from this publicly available research, to develop new pathways and support systems to bring more women and girls into participating in the piping and drumming world.”
The survey will accept responses until Friday, June 2. It can be accessed at www.thepipingcentre.co.uk/news-events/852-women-in-piping-and-drumming-equality-inclusivity-and-diversity-research-2023
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