Research reveals continuing gender bias

Three major reports, on gender representation in the arts, the pay gap, and treatment of women in the workforce make sobering reading for International Women's Day 2016.
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Reports on gender representation and equality bring sobering news. Image: Reading from Goethe’s Werther by Wilhelm Amberg 1870 via Wikipedia

The Australian arts sector is filled with women: artists, managers, advocates and the majority of audiences too. ​But although the arts industry’s workforce are predominately women, systematic gender inequality remains a continuing problem, new research has revealed.

The CoUNTess Report by artist and researcher Elvis Richardson draws on statistical data from education institutions, art prizes, exhibitions, funding bodies and media coverage to expose areas of imbalance both in senior leadership roles as well as exhibition programs. 

One of the biggest disparities observed in the report is the number of female visual arts graduates compared to the proportion exhibited and acquired in museums and galleries.

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Madeleine Dore
About the Author
Madeleine Dore is a freelance writer and founder of Extraordinary Routines, an interview project exploring the intersection between creativity and imperfection. She is the previous Deputy Editor at ArtsHub. Follow her on Twitter at @RoutineCurator