Sorry for the Silence: A Contribution From Feminist Theory to the Discourse(s) Within Music Therapy

Feminism and music therapy have been little considered in the development of a theoretical framework or approach to our professional practice. This is curious given the impact of feminist approaches on a wide variety of disciplines. This paper presents some of the issues that arise when considering feminist theory/feminist approaches to music therapy and outlines some of the considerations that will appear in a forthcoming book edited by Dr. Susan Hadley and published by Barcelona Publishers. The authors take a broad approach to this topic recognising that feminism, as indeed music therapy, is not a monolithic enterprise with one key idea stamping out its territory. Rather, consideration of feminism(s) requires critical and reflective capacities in theorists and practitioners in making helpful aspects of this approach 'real' and 'meaningful' for students, practitioners and ultimately clients and patients.