As Elle Beau ❇︎ often points out, a lot of our biases are unconscious. Band mates selecting one another by gender, even when they don’t intend to, could be a really good example of that.

A man could feel uncomfortable performing with several women, for example, for the unconscious reason that he feels dominated by them in a way that violates his internalized gender norms.

Male fans could unconsciously gravitate away from situations like that for similar reasons.

“What’s that dude doing in a chick band?” might not be what they’re actively thinking, but the idea could still influence them negatively.

Changing social norms normally takes some level of pioneering courage and intentional norm breaking.

Who knows, maybe the sensational band that’s going to change everything is practicing in a garage somewhere right now.