A simple curtain helped orchestras hire more women

In the early 1970s, the world's most prestigious orchestras were almost exclusively male, with women making up less than 6 percent of their ranks. To combat the suspicion that judges were being swayed by gender rather than sound, ensembles like the New York Philharmonic began installing heavy fabric screens between the stage and the committee. This simple barrier forced experts to rely entirely on their ears, stripping away the influence of a candidate's appearance, clothing, or even the way they walked across the stage.