UNTOLD IMPACT
UNTOLD IMPACT
Why is gender equity in the arts and cultural sector important?
The
Cycle
The Culture Action Europe report and a UNESCO large-scale study found that the barriers for women in the creative sectors reflect those found in other sectors.
Cycle of Discrimination
(Click each image to enlarge)
Changing the Cycle
The Why
All cultures have told stories since the beginning of humanity. In western culture, stories and art that are published, recorded, or represented at galleries and public sites become classified as an important component of our history and education. These stories tell us about who we are and what is important in our society.
Whose Story is History?
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However, history that is represented in galleries, museums, literature and text books is not the whole story. History has left out stories of indigenous and marginalised people. Even though women are 50% of the population, state-run galleries and museums in Australia continue to significantly under-represent women in their collections and exhibitions. Less than 4% of Australia’s statues represent historical female figures and only 1% of Melbourne’s statues are of historical women, standing alone.
In early 2019, the National Gallery of Australia in collaboration with the Countess Report researched their own collection data. They found that only 25% of our Australian art collection and only 33% of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art collection is work by women artists.
Our
Narrative
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“The lack of equitable representation in the National Gallery’s collection is one indicator of how the National Gallery has unconsciously upheld exclusionary systems and structures. This has made it difficult for the cultural contributions of women and gender diverse artists to be reflected in national narratives.”
Source: Gender equity in the arts and culture context - National Gallery of Australia (nga.gov.au)
You Can’t Be What You Can’t See
Lack of female stories and representation in the arts not only excludes women from our national narrative and history, but can lead to stereotypical views of women, gender bias societal roles, discrimination and violence. The arts, as a proven mechanism for social change can shift perspectives, shape community culture, promote gender equity and a society free of discrimination and violence against women.
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“Women and their achievements are largely underrepresented in historical records. Research identifies that Australian and international art projects and organisations that tell the stories of remarkable but relatively unknown women, can make sure their lives, perspectives and concerns are considered and remembered. Modern women are also often underrepresented and ‘silent’ members of society. Research finds that arts projects can give women the skills and opportunities to tell their own and other women’s stories, and help amplify their voices, and increase their visibility.”
Source: K MacNeill 2018 “Promoting gender equality through the arts and creative industries”, VicHealth Promoting-gender-equality-through-the-arts-and-creative-industries-report.pdf (vichealth.vic.gov.au)
Are Women Worthless?
The art world devalues women in more ways than one. Historically, women’s art and stories are underrepresented, whilst the physical identity of women has been objectified. The art world also has one of the largest pay gaps of any industry. A study of 5,000 paintings from BBC documentary Recalculating Art, found that for every one dollar a male artist earns for his work, a woman earns ten cents. When male artists sign their work, it increases in value compared to artwork that isn't signed. However, when a female artist signs her work, it decreases in value.
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Are women, their stories, contributions and opinions worth less? How does the devaluation of women’s identity accumulate over their lifetime?How does the lack of representation in art, culture and history perpetuate a silent code of systemic discrimination that infiltrates every facet of a woman’s life and every sector in the workforce?
The Power of Visibility?
Why does gender equity matter in the arts and cultural sector? The Culture Action Europe report and a UNESCO large-scale study found that the barriers for women in the creative sectors reflect those found in other sectors.
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Such barriers as;
The motherhood penalty: a wage gap that is driven by parenthood. Australian mothers earnings are reduced by an average of 55% for the first 5 years of parenthood and this persists for a decade after the first child. Mothers face discrimination based on a stereotypical view that women are primary caregivers and have a duty to stay at home and fulfill the majority of unpaid care work and domestic labour. Mothers who choose to work may be seen as less competent or committed to their jobs, resulting in not being hired, less potential for promotion and lower wages.
Feminised roles: Female dominated industries such as early education, social work and health care that are lower paid due to societal bias against the work typically carried out by women.
Part-time work due to caring responsibilities
Promotion to leadership positions
The gender pay gap
Source: Microsoft Word - Gender Inequalities in the Cultural Sector.docx (cultureactioneurope.org
Source: Gender equality, heritage and creativity - UNESCO Digital Library)
Motherhood Penalty
Did you know? Australian women pay a larger “Motherhood Penalty” than women in other developed countries.
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The motherhood penalty: a wage gap that is driven by parenthood. Australian mothers' earnings are reduced by an average of 55% for the first 5 years of parenthood and this persists for a decade after the first child. Mothers face discrimination based on a stereotypical view that women are primary caregivers and have a duty to stay at home and fulfill the majority of unpaid care work and domestic labour. Mothers who choose to work may be seen as less competent or committed to their jobs, resulting in not being hired, less potential for promotion and lower wages.
Who Holds The Power
According to the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) women are underrepresented in key decision-making roles across almost all industries in the Australian workforce, reflecting that of the creative arts and cultural industries.
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Men hold:
82.4% of Chair positions
68.8% of Directorships
80.6% of CEOs
65.5% of key management personnel
Unpaid work such as childcare and domestic labour, contribute to the barriers women face because women undertake what is called ‘the second shift’; additional work hours of unpaid labour. This forces women into part-time or casual work, that is less likely to be in positions of leadership or power, increasing the subjugation of women.
Unpaid labour perpetuates the systemic structure in society that defines work by women as less valuable.
Unpaid care and domestic work by women supports families and the economy, often substituting for the lack of social services. This includes caring for children and elderly. Without women undertaking this unpaid work, the economy can’t function.
Risky Business
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WGEA states the monetary value of unpaid care work in Australia is estimated to be $650 billion; equivalent to almost half of the GDP. However because unpaid care work is not included in the calculation of the GDP, the economic value of women's unpaid contributions remains unaccounted for.
This failure to account for women’s labour means they often have less superannuation, decreasing their protection against potential disability or unemployment. This financial insecurity puts women at risk of financial abuse, domestic violence and homelessness.
Source: australian-unpaid-care-work-and-the-labour-market.pdf (wgea.gov.au)
Outdated structures in society keep men at work with no options for flexibility. Stories, art and workplaces that model all genders in caring roles, taking up parental leave, flexible work options and responsibility for domestic labour can change stereotypes around gendered roles in our society and break down the barriers that women face.
MENtal Health
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“International evidence demonstrates that policies that encourage fathers to be more involved in the early years of a child’s life results in them continuing to be more involved for years to come.
Evidence also suggests that increasing fathers’ parental leave entitlements not only has benefits for their relationships, and for child development, but for mens overall life satisfaction”.
Source: Breaking the norm - Unleashing Australia’s Economic Potential | Deloitte Australia | Economics
Who Cares?
Due to outdated structures that keep men as breadwinners and women as homemakers, access to childcare is highly significant in determining mother’s participation in the labour force. Mothers are more likely to work part-time, in lower paid professions that offer flexibility around caring responsibilities. Part-time employment is less likely to be available in senior management and women are more likely to work in casual occupations, which don’t offer parental leave packages.
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Children’s wellbeing is economically and psychologically vital for the wellbeing of our society. Research confirms that a child's experience in the first three years of life, shapes their future more than any other developmental stage throughout childhood, and by five, 90% of a child's brain is developed.
How can we value the significance of this childhood development without valuing the primary caregivers (generally mothers) and skilled workers (early childhood educators) of that development?
Source: australian-unpaid-care-work-and-the-labour-market.pdf (wgea.gov.au)
Source: Brain development in children I StartingBlocks.gov.au
Source: InBrief: The Science of Early Childhood Development (harvard.edu)
A High Price To Pay
At the 2022 Jobs & Skills Summit the National Skills Commission revealed that the early childhood sector, like most female-dominated industries, is lower paid than comparable or even less skilled, less valuable work.
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The average take home pay for a qualified early educator in Australia is $1,059 per week, compared with an entry level Building Labourer who, on average, takes home $1,550 per week. Across all occupations, community, care and personal service workers earn nearly $500 less each week, than the average worker ($907 vs $1394).
This devaluation happens at an early age. Research from the Australian Gender Equality Council revealed that the pay gap is even seen in children's pocket money. Boys earnt up to 27% more than girls as they worked outside of the house and on more labour intensive chores, while the girls typically had indoor chores and were paid less.
How does the devaluation of girl’s identity accumulate over their lifetime?
Before they are even striving for success, girls have learned that they are worth less.
Source: actu-job-summit-report-delivering-equity-for-women-at-work.pdf
