Introducing the WIRED Toolkit

As part of Yorkshire Sound Women Network's WIRED project, we’re launching the WIRED Toolkit, a collection of research-based resources that address gender inequality in music technology education.

Since 2019, WIRED has offered girls, women and minority gender young people a chance to gain skills and be creative with audio, through our free music technology clubs and online tools.

But we wanted to hear more from them about what it’s really like learning music technology today. We especially wanted to know why so many step away from the subject, missing out on the chance to make audio part of their future. Working with researchers Anni Raw & Associates, we asked both learners and educators about their experiences of music technology classrooms. They told us about settings that harm confidence, about the burden of being in the minority and about facing misogyny and harassment wherever they turned.

We also asked what would make things better. The recommendations we received include ways to build confidence and promote inclusion through settings, teaching and greater visibility; and strategies to tackle misogyny and bad behaviour.

Our new WIRED Toolkit presents the full findings of the research. Packed with practical, evidence-based advice for supporting girls, women and minority gender young people, it’s essential reading for anyone in the audio education sector, from teachers and lecturers to music hubs and workshop leaders.

Download the WIRED Toolkit here.

You can also join a webinar to find out more about the WIRED Toolkit, running on 16 and 17 July. Find out more and sign up for free here.