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Gender Balance in the Cultural and Creative Sectors report

Alexia Muiños Ruiz
Alexia Muiños Ruiz

Brainstorming report after the Structured Dialogue between the European Comission and the Cultural sector

We welcome the new Gender Balance in the Cultural and creative sector report after the Brainstorming Session which took place in Prague as part of the Voices of Culture event focusing on Gender Equality.

The brainstorming session was followed by another working  session in Brussels, were the group of pre-selected stakeholders came together to discuss the relevant issues and jointly brainstorm about gender inequality and discrimination as well as specific means of addressing existing gaps, barriers and issues.

The report, written by a broad range of cultural sector representatives, among which EWA Network, reflects the diversity and the range of expertise of the participants. Thematically, it is structured following four focus groups created to identify priority issues such as:

• Equal access for women to the labour market and leadership positions
• Gender stereotypes, representation and role models
• An end to sexual violence
• Systemic gender discrimination

The four chapters of the report provide a greater insight into problems identified and actions proposed. The aim of the exercise is to highlight that gender equality, being a pillar of cultural diversity, has to be addressed at all levels of cultural policy making. There is already sufficient data to prove that discrimination and inequality exists and to inform clear-cut conclusions and build new policy frameworks in order to take cross-sectoral action, as well as to make financial resources available for funding specific types of gender empowerment programmes.

After the discussions, Voices of Culture Structured Dialogue with EU Commission can share the following recommendations:

1️⃣ Gender requires a global approach and concrete actions for and by women.
2️⃣ Awareness raising stereotype-free about women leadership
3️⃣ Fund mentorship and capacity building for women on Culture and Creative Sectors, including trainibg the trainers.
4️⃣ Enable structures for protecting people against sexual violence. Create points of contact for confidential reporting.
5️⃣ Make a binding obligation for all recipients of EU funding to have an anti-harassment policy.
6️⃣ Bring overall legislation on gender equality to the highest level existing in the EU.
7️⃣ Ore comprehensive gender statistics is needed, including to make data on pay scales available, transparent and comparable.
8️⃣ Enforce 50-50 rule in the distribution of public resources.
9️⃣ In education, introduce a 50/50 rule on role models.
🔟 From STEM to STEAM, harness creativity (including creative hubs) so everyone can reach their full potential and feel fulfilled.

 

VoC Brainstorming Report Gender Balance in the Cultural and Creative Sec...