Talent vs. Box Tick: The struggle for women in the arts

Exploring the mistreatment of different women in the creative industry, with the help of LGBTQ+ theatre director Beth Parker.

Talent vs. Box Tick: The struggle for women in the arts

It is well-established that the creative arts industry is still a male-dominated place. Research carried out by Luminate found that only 37.1% of the creative industry is made up of women. This sparked my interest in exploring how intersectionality can impact different women’s chances of opportunity in this male-dominated scene. 

Intersectionality in basic terms investigates how people from all different backgrounds, religions or disabilities have harder disadvantages they have to overcome to be successful. For example, a Black, disabled, queer woman has more barriers and disadvantages compared to a white, able-bodied, heterosexual man. 

I also wanted to explore how organisations can capitalise on this issue by ‘giving’ opportunities to some types of women only to make them ‘look good’ by having different box ticks in their group/workforce. For example, giving a disabled woman a spot on a course simply because she’s disabled and having her on the course could increase their funding opportunities. Is there such a thing as equal opportunities without someone gaining from another’s disadvantage?

I use this as an example as, in May 2024, I was diagnosed with an invisible disability. I am an emerging writer and actor. Since then, I have noticed a difference in how I have been more successful in my auditions/applications when applying for opportunities in the creative world. Nothing has changed, except my diagnosis. This has led to the question: am I being accepted for my talent or for the fact I have ticked an extra box? There is of course a positive to this as, according to Arts Professional, only 7% of disabled creatives are in full-time employment. But ethically, it doesn’t seem right to me that I am being given more opportunities because on paper I fulfil one of their criteria. I would rather be given a role or a job because of my talent, and I don’t think this is unreasonable. 

We Might Regret This is a great example of a major TV show featuring disabled creativesWe Might Regret This is a great example of a major TV show featuring disabled creatives
(Credit: BBC)

This ideology is then creating more unhealthy competition between the people who stereotypically have more opportunities than those who don't. It becomes a battle between intersectionality. Which person can fulfil a box tick?

It is necessary that all people have access to a way into the industry, and some places champion all different people. For instance, The Big House gives a place for actors who have backgrounds in the care system or have had issues with crime, to grow and find a place within the industry. But they are not just for people like that. They accept all who show an interest in what they do. Can’t things just be like that, and not a competition based on the woman’s race or age?

I was discussing this matter with an emerging queer director, Beth Parker. Throughout our chat, she described her experiences of being the only Black person on her theatre-making foundation course, which she said “did raise my suspicion on why I was ever accepted in the first place”. She adds: “It’s not something I ever really considered until I started the course and I saw on their website they had changed bits and were now using the words ‘inclusive’ and ‘equality’. That was a ‘subtle’ hint.”

Beth has recently been part of directing a play called Trojan Barbie at the Actor’s Theatre and she has also been part of the Lambeth Fringe directing a new play called Speak Soon?. She says there’s still a lot of work to do for equality in the arts, and box-ticking won’t fix it. “There is something that is ethically dirty about only giving people things based on race or sexuality, or anything really that isn’t based on the fact you're good for the role or job. Two wrongs never make a right, I think, and there is something ‘wrong’ about this matter.”

A recent example of the "limitations of representation of all women" cited by Beth was the Now You See Us exhibition at the Tate BritainIt focused on the years between 1520 and 1920, with a particular eye on how female painters had seen their work suppressed by men around them. "This only explored how middle class white women were suppressed by their husbands. There were so many opportunities where they could have discussed other women," says Beth.

She adds: "For instance, they had a bit all about flowers and the importance of flowers in the Victorian era that would have been a great chance to highlight the message behind the Lavender flower and how significant that was and still is in the lesbian community. They didn’t talk about all women. I think if the industry explored intersectionality in a more truthful way they could honour all different people better."

What are your thoughts on this issue? Are different sections of women getting opportunities due to talent or for being a box tick in the 2010 Equality Act? 

Header Image Credit: Tero/Pixabay

Author

Rebecca Douglass

Rebecca Douglass Voice Contributor

Rebecca is a playwright and a TV writer based in North London. She is interested in Journalism as a way to educate people on social issues in modern society. She loves researching and writing about women, queerness and gender, social inequality, revenge, and justice. Her debut play called 'I'm Allergic to People' covers these themes. She is an actor primarily and loves theatre and film. I currently review theatre as a hobby.

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1 Comments

  • Naomi Johnson

    On 7 January 2025, 22:54 Naomi Johnson Local Reviewer commented:

    Very interesting article, thank you! I definitely agree that especially in entertainment and arts industries such as Theatre and TV people often get given their jobs as a result of 'ticking a box' to make the organisation or channel appear diverse and inclusive. This is leading to people that are better qualified not getting the jobs they maybe deserve, due to companies wanting to maintain their appearances. I am 100% here for equality and casting people based on talent - if that means you end up with five black people and one white, okay; if it means you end up with five white people and one black, also okay. Humans are defined by so much more than their appearances, and it would be so lovely to see organisations taking real equality into their hands, and giving the jobs to those that are best suited to them, regardless of their race/beliefs. Thank you for taking the time to share this article! :)

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