Women in the Circle of Political Modesty: Nobodies in Music Research among Chinese Scholars

Abstract

One might think of knowing it all: In Chinese research institutions, people base their admiration on positioning within a professional realm. Is the position powerful and the admiration growing? Might it come with even bigger power in the context of music research, where topics and experiences are still strongly connected to a biologist approach? Is the name of an author or contributor important in this circle? This short study gives some explanations about dealing with gender perspectives in a self-adopted circle of political modesty among Chinese scholars in music research. How do names play a role in addressing research outcomes and their applications? The direct observation span is 2015-2022 in major Chinese cities with larger tertiary educational institutions. Some insights may help understand current issues in the field of music research, used terminology, and priorities in referencing techniques. The gender perspective includes issues that are highly sensitive among those scholars and cannot be simply broken down into straightforward categories. The author is fully aware of the long journey ahead in order to change certain male-centered or -dominated conventions and thinking patterns.