CMSA Hosts Women in Music Event with Sound Studies Professor Suzanne Thorpe

Jilleen Barrett Senior Writer

A 2019 study by the Berklee Institute for Creative Entrepreneurship found that 84 percent of women in the music industry “had been treated differently due to their gender.” The study, which is titled “Women in the Music Industry: Obstacles and Opportunities” inspired Michaela Scully ’25 to host a “Slice of Social Justice” event based on the study with the Campus Ministry & Social Action suite.

Scully invited Suzanne Thorpe, Ph.D., a visiting assistant professor in the music and theater department and the director of the music department to be the guest speaker.

Thorpe has an array of professional experience in the music industry. She is a founding member of the band Mercury Rev, a trained flutist since she was nine years old and has done research on feminism and inclusion in sound.

During her time in Mercury Rev, Thorpe decided that she would contribute to the band’s electric sound by experimenting with her flute and distorting its sounds using electronics. The band became successful, and eventually she was touring with them.

Thorpe recalled her expe- riences within the industry as the only woman in Mercury Rev.

“I was the only woman in the band, and I was very frequently the only woman-identifying person in the festivals or on tours,” Thorpe said. “You know we would tour with multiple bands every once in a while … it was a really intense environment.”

The study also found that women reported increased success as a result of a healthy, supportive environment where they worked. Opportunities to network with others in the workplace were positively reviewed as well. Thorpe said she experienced this when Mercury Rev toured with other bands and spent time together outside the studio.

“It was nice to have more of a family setting by with them, you know, we would tour and we would just be together and go to each other’s parents house for parties,” she said.

In the studio, she said it was more about “having to really hold your own [weight] in a dynamic where there were a lot of personal dynamics at play.”

According to the study that inspired the event, many women reported that they felt they were treated differently because of their gender. However, younger women between the ages of 18 and 24 said they felt comfortable in their work environment, which might be because of the hard work and push for fair treatment done by the previous generations.

When Thorpe went to Mills College — which used to be a women’s college — to get her MFA in electronic music & media, she noticed more differences between male and female involvement in the field.

“There were three women, and I think 12 men … so that disparity was just ongoing, right?” Thorpe said. “Especially since I was in electronics …

The technology aspect of this also very much shaped my experience and I want to do something … I really would like to see more equity and diversity at the table.”

So, Thorpe co-founded TECHNE with Bonnie Jones in 2010. Through this organization, they help young girls interested in creative technology get hands-on experience in the field at a young age. She said the purpose of the program was to increase the number of women and non-binary people working in jobs in the technology industry.

Sophie Mendoza attended the event for her introduction to sociology class and said she was happy an event like this existed so she could learn more about the music industry.

“It was fruitful because I don’t usually learn about music, so seeing this was eye opening,” Mendoza said.

Slice of Social Justice events are hosted through the Campus Ministry and Social Action suite. More information about future events can be found on their Instagram page, @mc_cmsa.