Sexing the Groove: Popular Music and Gender - Scholarly

In this review of Sexing the Groove: Popular Music and Gender, the book is recommended for readers who want a rigorous, scholarly exploration of how popular music shapes and is shaped by gender and sexuality. The collection brings together respected cultural theorists and case studies ranging from Mick Jagger to Riot Grrrls, and its single biggest reason to buy is the depth of interdisciplinary analysis that challenges assumptions about fixed gender identities in music culture. This review highlights the book's usefulness as a research resource and classroom text for those studying music, gender or cultural studies.

Key Features

• Interdisciplinary essays: Contributions from music and cultural theorists provide varied theoretical perspectives that deepen understanding of gender in popular music.
• Wide-ranging case studies: Examples from performers and subcultures such as Mick Jagger and Riot Grrrls illustrate how masculine and feminine identities are constructed and challenged in practice.
• Scholarly contributors: Essays by established writers including Mavis Beayton, Stella Bruzzi and Keith Negus add authoritative voices useful for citation and further study.
• Critical framework: The book frames gender and sexuality as cultural, not natural, helping readers question received ideas about sexual difference in music scenes.
• Annotated bibliography: A comprehensive bibliography supports further reading and research, making the volume a practical starting point for academic projects.

Who It's For

Sexing the Groove is best suited to undergraduate and postgraduate students, academics, and serious readers interested in the intersection of popular music and gender theory. Its essay format and dense critical arguments work well for classroom discussion, seminar reading lists, and literature reviews in theses on music, media or cultural studies.

Those seeking a casual history of popular music or a lightly illustrated coffee-table book should look elsewhere; this collection prioritizes theoretical analysis over broad narrative or visual presentation. Readers new to gender theory may find some chapters challenging without prior exposure to cultural studies vocabulary.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Thought-provoking essays that reframe how performers and fans participate in gendered identity formation.
• Authoritative contributors whose work supports academic research and classroom use.
• Useful annotated bibliography that directs readers to further scholarship on gender and popular music.

Cons

• Theoretical density in places may be demanding for casual readers or those new to cultural studies.

Specifications

Title	Sexing the Groove: Popular Music and Gender
Editor / Author	Sheila Whiteley
Contributors	Includes Mavis Beayton, Stella Bruzzi, Sara Cohen, Sean Cubitt, Keith Negus, Will Straw
Subjects	Popular music, gender, sexuality, cultural theory
Content	Essay collection with case studies and analysis
Extras	Comprehensive annotated bibliography for further reading

Our Verdict

Sexing the Groove stands out as a thoughtful, well-sourced anthology for anyone studying the cultural politics of popular music and gender. Its essays challenge assumptions about fixed sexual difference and provide a strong research foundation, making it good value for students and academics who need rigorous analysis and curated bibliographic direction.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this book include case studies?
Yes, the collection uses case studies from figures and scenes such as Mick Jagger and Riot Grrrls to illustrate its arguments.

Is this suitable for undergraduate courses?
Yes, it is appropriate as a seminar or assigned reading for undergraduate and postgraduate courses in music and cultural studies.

Does it provide further reading resources?
Yes, the book includes a comprehensive annotated bibliography to support further research.