How to tackle gender balance in Creative and Cultural Sectors?
Justyna contributed as expert, representing Economía Creativa, to the Voices of Culture Structured Dialogue Between the EU Commission and the Culture Sector, together with 35 experts from across Europe to Brainstorm policies and practices for gender equality.
I want to see in the world women and men sharing power equally, free from damaging stereotypes, where women are empowered, independent and creative
Justyna Molednowska-Ruiz, Economía Creativa
Justyna had the pleasure to contribute as expert representing Economía Creativa at the Voices of Culture Structured Dialogue Meetings between the European Commission and the Cultural Sector on the topic Gender Equality: Gender balance in the Culture and Creative Sectors (CCS), joining a wonderful panel of experts composed by 35 representatives of public institutions, cultural organizations, businesses, academia, networks and NGOs from across Europe.
Women, despite the economically and technologically developed times we’re living, are still underrepresented in the workforce, leadership and decision-making positions in CCS; they are also paid less than their male colleagues, and facing many challenges they should not be existing by now. The consequences of women inequality are negative not just for women themselves but for the whole society. The need to address these facts and come up with clear policy recommendations and actions proved that VoC focus this year on Gender Balance is necessary and timely.
The Structured Dialogue Meetings between the European Commission and the Cultural Sector on the topic Gender Equality: Gender balance in the CCs’ took the form in two sessions. First in Prague (Czech Republic), and later in Brussels (Belgium).
The first meeting of VoC –brainstorming session– took place in Goethe Institute in Prague on 4th-5th September 2019. During the first meeting, experts worked in four groups on different aspects and topics such as: role of public authorities, legislation, role of sectoral initiatives, measures to promote equality, education and training, gender stereotypes, representation and role models to provide recommendations for the Brainstorming report.
The second VoC Dialogue Meeting took place at the Flagey in Brussels on the 6th November. It brought together again representatives from the 35 selected organizations for the VoC from several EU Member States, representatives from the European Commission and members of the Gender Equality group representing the EU Member States (OMC group). After very fruitful and constructive discussions, members of the writers and editorial team presented the Brainstorming report ‘Gender equality: gender balance in the CCS.’ Expanding on the narrative of discussions during the brainstorming meeting and giving context to the four topical groups:
- Education and Training: Gender Stereotypes, Representation, and Role Models (in which Economía Creativa provided input drawing on our expertise on women empowerment and capacity building for entrepreneurship).
- Systemic Discrimination Demands Systemic Change
- End Sexual Violence
- Equal Access for Women to the Labour Market and Leadership Positions
Followed by discussions and recommendations on gender equality from EU representatives, members of the OMC groups, and the experts, the meeting came to an end; however it was continued as a less formal networking chat over the topic at a reception at the Flagey.
Economia Creativa contributed to VoC Meeting on Gender Balance sharing our expertise on training and capacity building on key areas for women empowerment such as creative confidence, entrepreneurial skills and business modelling, communication and storytelling, innovative funding and leadership; we also disseminate the outputs of the meeting as well as tools and resources for women empowerment.
We summarized Economía Creativa‘s takeaways from the VoC Daialogue Meeting with the European Commission and the Cultural Sector, on Gender Equality, in 10 points:
- Gender requires a global approach and concrete actions for and by women.
- Awareness raising stereotype-free about women leadership
- Fund mentorship and capacity building for women on Culture and Creative Sectors, including training the trainers.
- Enable structures for protecting people against sexual violence. Create points of contact for confidential reporting.
- Make a binding obligation for all recipients of EU funding to have an anti-harassment policy.
- Bring overall legislation on gender equality to the highest level existing in the EU.
- More comprehensive gender statistics is needed, including making data on pay scales available, transparent and comparable.
- Enforce 50-50 rule in the distribution of public resources.
- 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.
Economia Creativa strongly believes that the time is NOW to take action on Gender Equality to shaping an inclusive and creative society.
We would like to thank to Voices of Culture for this great opportunity to participate and contribute to such wonderful and important meeting.
Resources
Client:
Voices of Culture, European Commission.
Delivered
Meetings in Prague, Czech Republic, and Brussels, Belgium
+ Digitally
Services
Sharing our expertise on
→ capacity building, training and mentoring women entrepreneurs
→ research and best practices of policies and business practices for women empowerment.
Credits
Justyna Molendowska-Ruiz contributing expert representing Economía Creativa
+ Antonio Carlos Ruiz Soria, Economía Creativa (internal coordination).
+ 35 representatives of public institutions, cultural organizations, businesses, academia, networks and NGOs from across Europe
+ EU Commission.
Economía Creativa 