I didn't even know if I was going to post anything about this deliberately leading Washington Post piece. It's designed to push your buttons if your a female guitarist, but I think there's an opportunity to debate. What I understand the author is trying to say here is that women were not actively involved in the development of the guitar. Therefore, they weren't "at the table" during the innovations of the 50's, 60's and early 70's. I'm not entirely sure I would count Eddie Van Halen as being as influential as the author considers, but the message I'm getting is that we need *someone* to do something new and innovative with this instrument -- it's been too long since Jimi took the device to the next level. And if the person who takes things forward happens to be female, all the better!