Gender Equality and portrayal
For performers, the question of gender equality in their working lives has a very particular resonance: on the one hand, cultural production has a specific role in promoting equality among men and women, as well as plurality of thought and opinion. These values are fundamental in democratic society and culture is a vital medium for upholding them and exploring them and may also, at times, offer an important critical eye and voice. The work of performers is at the heart of this sector. It is often they who hold up a mirror to our societies. On the other hand, performers are also affected by stark inequalities in their working lives: women performers tend to have shorter careers and earn less than men; their choice of work is likely to be narrower and decrease significantly around the age of 40; they face a significant struggle in balancing work and caring responsibilities.
FIA has sought to better document and understand the challenges that performers face and to call for change. It continues to be a voice advocating for equal opportunities in the arts, as well as for a balanced representation of men and women on stage and screen, free of stereotyping and sexualisation. FIA affirms that all performers must have full and equal access to all the professional and social advantages obtained by the workers in the sectors in which they are active.
Key pieces of work in this area include the publications included below from FIA’s 2008 and 2010 projects on these topics; the European Framework of Action on Gender Equality and the Federation’s Gender Equality and Equal Opportunities Charter. In 2017, FIA also contributed to the Council of Europe Recommendation on Gender Equality in the Audiovisual Sector.
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08.03.2018
#IWD2018: FIA champions equality every day
Statement from FIA President Ferne Downey[more]
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17.01.2018
FIA-LA and UNI MEI-Panartes joint Steering Meeting and...
A small delegation of FIA-LA and UNI MEI Panartes delegates met in Buenos Aires from 8 to 10 of November 2017 to prepare a...[more]
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10.10.2017
FIA Warmly Welcomes the new Council of Europe...
An inter-governmental organisation set up in 1949, the Council of Europe works to promote democracy and human rights...[more]
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20.07.2017
Ending violence and harassment against women and men in the...
Violence and harassment in the workplace has an impact not only on workers and employers, but also on their families,...[more]
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06.09.2016
Acting for Diversity: a common goal for FIA members
Talent, and only talent, must be the paramount reason for a performer’s engagement. And yet, too many performers today are...[more]
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03.09.2015
Council of Europe: A Renewed Commitment to Improving...
At the high-level conference “Women in today’s film industry: gender issues. Can we do better?" held in Sarajevo on August...[more]
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13.10.2014
Gender Bias without Borders: New Research into Female Roles...
The Geena Davis Institute, a research-based organization focused on Gender in Media recently released a new research study...[more]
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15.05.2014
EuroFIA 2014 joint Survey on the Situation of Work Life...
Sharing experience, identifying difficulties and drawing on good practices in the field of Work-Life balance in the audiovisual...[more]
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20.01.2014
Work-Life Balance: joint seminar in Brussels
FIA, FIM, Uni-MEI and IFJ held a joint seminar on “Promoting Work-Life Balance in the Live Performance and Audiovisual Sectors”...[more]
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13.10.2011
The FIA Charter for Gender Equality and Equal Opportunities
Following the completion of its two projects on gender equality, the European group of FIA has decided to update a gender...[more]
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12.10.2011
Gender Equality in the EU Audiovisual Sector Leaflet
Gender Equality is a fundamental right and key principle of the European Union; and one which improves employment opportunities...[more]
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11.10.2011
EU Framework of Actions by FIA and other European...
FIA and other social partners from the EU Audiovisual Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee have created a tool to promote Gender...[more]
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08.07.2010
Handbook of Good Practices to Combat Gender Stereotypes and...
The FIA “handbook of Good Practices to Combat Gender Stereotypes and Promote Equal Opportunities in Film, Television and Theatre...[more]
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15.01.2010
EuroFIA Project 2010-2011
Transition Schemes for Dancers: Developing Career Transition and Life-long Learning Schemes to Offer Long-Term Career...[more]
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10.01.2010
Gender Checklist for Theatre – An initiative of the Swedish...
FIA’s recently published "Handbook of Good Practices to Combat Gender Stereotypes and PromoteEqual Opportunities in Film,...[more]
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15.01.2009
EuroFIA Project 2009-2010
Engendering Change: Strategies to Combat Gender Stereotypes and Promote Equal Opportunities for Performers in Theater, Film and...[more]
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10.10.2008
2008 Report on Gender Portrayal and Employment...
This report is the outcome of FIA's year-long project "Changing Gender Portrayal: Promoting Employment Opportunities for...[more]
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15.09.2008
Gender Portrayal Project Conference in London
This conference took place in the Drill Hall in London on the 15-16 September 2008. This page is intended as a follow-up page...[more]
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04.04.2008
Changing Gender Portrayal Conference in Riga
Changing gender portrayal: Promoting employment opportunities for women in the performing arts This conference took place in...[more]
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15.01.2007
EuroFIA Project 2007-2008
Changing gender portrayal: Promoting employment opportunities for women in the performing arts[more]