Gender and Creativity: Progress on the Precipice

Despite recent progress in promoting gender equality in the cultural and creative industries, as well as the renewed attention generated by the both the pandemic and the #MeToo movement, much work remains if we are to achieve gender equality in this sector. Impediments to gender equality in the cultural and creative sectors are numerous, and include unequal access to decent employment, fair remuneration, and leadership positions, as well as barriers to seniority. Opportunities for women to participate fully in the cultural sectors and benefit from the creative economy, notably in the digital environment, require increased support. Gender equality is fundamental to ensuring a genuine diversity of cultural content and equal opportunities in artistic work and cultural employment. It is high time that the culture sector grasps the extent of these inequalities and the structural issues that remain to be addressed. Culture and creativity are unfortunately not immune to gender inequality. This report comes at an opportune moment, as we celebrate the International Year of Creative Economy for Sustainable Development. For a truly inclusive and prosperous creative economy to take shape, we must step up our efforts to promote gender equality in this sector. The UNESCO 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions and the 1980 Recommendation concerning the Status of the Artist both call for such a commitment and can serve as inspiration for States to embark on this path.