Over half of women in İstanbul's culture and arts sector experience gender-based discrimination

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A new report by the İstanbul Foundation For Culture & Arts (İKSV) titled "Gender in the World of Culture and Arts: Controversial Issues, Structural Problems, Solutions" explores how creative sectors in Turkey can become more equal, fair and inclusive

The report was prepared on theater, cinema and music, the three disciplines with the most employment within the culture and arts sector in Istanbul.

The report written by Prof. Itır Erhart of İstanbul Bilgi University includes recommendations for many constitutents, such as public institutions, trade unions and professional organizations, art schools, production companies and non-governmental organizations to contribute to the solution of the problems.

157 women from on and behind the stage

As part of the study, an online survey was conducted among 157 women employed in the culture and arts sector. Also, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 18 professional women in the sector and a focus group interview was conducted with LGBTI+ artists.

"We aimed to hear about the aspects and causes of the issue from industry professionals who have experienced all these inequalities, to analyze the results in the light of different findings, and to make recommendations for a more equal and inclusive culture-arts ecosystem by blending them with the best examples and practices we have heard," said Erhart.

Some highlights of the report:

● Only 62 percent of the participants are insured employees.

● 15 percent of the participants believe that there is equal opportunity in the sector they work in, and 13 percent think that the principle of equal pay for equal work is implemented.

● 63 percent of the women who participated in the study think that they experience disadvantages because they are not men.

● 52 percent of the women working in the sector say they experience gender-based discrimination.

● Six out of 10 participants state that they have experienced harassment/mobbing in the sector. 62 percent of the participants state that they know what to do in such situations.

● 81 percent of the respondents think that gender equality is not achieved in work life.

● 81 percent of the women say that there are no support mechanisms for their professional development in their sector.

● 40 percent of the participants state that the pandemic has had a negative impact on gender equality in the sectors they work in. (AÖ/VK)