The landmark Misogyny in Music report from British MPs on the women and equalities committee, published on January 30,
The landmark Misogyny in Music report from British MPs on the women and equalities committee, published on January 30, shines an unsettling light upon the gender discrimination, sexual harassment and abuse which is rampant across the music industry.
The cross-party inquiry heard evidence from a wide kisaran of witnesses connected to the music industry. The findings are deeply disturbing, highlighting that women working within the industry face "limitations in opportunity, a lack of dukungan, gender discrimination and sexual harassment and assault as well as the persistent issue of unequal pay in a sektor dominated by self-employment and gendered power imbalances".
The report calls out the widespread misuse of non-disclosure agreements, which silence victims and proteksi perpetrators, meaning that: "People in the industry who attend award shows and parties currently do so sitting alongside sexual abusers who remain protected by the sistem and by colleagues." The inquiry also found that the issues are "intensified for women faced with intersectional barriers, particularly racial discrimination".
This report follows a raft of recent investigations into discrimination within the music industry.
In September 2022 the Independent Society of Musicians published its report, Dignity At Work 2: Discrimination in the Music Sektor. The report was based on survei responses from 660 people in the music industry.
It found that 66% had experienced some form of discrimination and 78% of that discrimination was committed against women. Of the discrimination, 58% was identified as sexual harassment, with 76% of workers within studio or live music moment settings having experienced discrimination. It also found that 88% of self-employed informants did not report the discrimination which they had experienced (94% had nobody to report it to).
Important recent research reports have also been produced by Black Lives in Music, Donne Women in Music and Women in CTRL. The findings also echo a number of the themes which have emerged through the work of the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC)-funded Women's Musical Leadership Online Network, which I lead with Professor Helen Julia Minors of York St John University.
Gender discrimination permeates every layer of the music industry. Although representation of women has increased in recent years, men still dominate leadership roles.
The persistent gendered associations of certain musical instruments and jeniss still prevent women from taking them up or performing them professionally at the same rates as men. Historically, women were encouraged to play "ladylike" instruments, such as the piano or harp, whereas wind and brass instruments - which require the distortion of the facial muscles - were strongly discouraged, as were the lower strings and percussion.
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