Results of Study: “Analysis of cultural programming in 2022-2023 in Luxembourg from a gender-sensitive perspective”
The unequal representation of gender in the cultural sector is a structural challenge that has a profound impact on equal participation in society. Despite significant progress in the area of gender equality, a wide gap remains between the career opportunities and representation of men versus women. These inequalities can be attributed to various factors, including historical norms, stereotypical role models and structural barriers. In order to promote equal gender representation in the cultural sector, it is important to identify the root causes of the inequalities and take targeted measures.
In 2022, the Ministry of Culture published an Ethics Charter for cultural institutions to create an inclusive and equal cultural landscape. Among other things, the signatory institutions commit to taking gender equality into account at both decision-making levels and in their programming. At the end of 2023, four public institutions, 91 cultural institutions and four communes had signed the Charter.
As part of our convention with the Ministry of Culture and with the financial support of the town of Dudelange, the CID commissioned a survey from the Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research (LISER) to review the status of gender representation in the programmes of selected cultural institutions and the distribution of women and men in various professional fields in the Luxembourgish cultural sector.
The study focused on the 2022/2023 season in the following areas: theatre, dance, classical and contemporary music, as well as non-classical concerts and festivals.
Some of the results were sobering: overall, women occupied only a quarter of all the professional positions studied, with inequality being particularly visible in the field of music, where women were strongly underrepresented in all the related professions.
Another interesting observation was that the gender of those in decision-making positions had an influence on programming and venues for events. In concrete terms, this means that male choreographers favour male colleagues, while the proportion of female actors increases when female directors are involved. Male musicians perform for larger audiences, while female singers sing in comparably smaller venues.
This project forms part of our study of structural sexism, providing figures that prove that structural sexism in Luxembourg’s cultural landscape is a reality, a revelation that must serve as a basis for targeted measures in the future. On social media, we plan to delve into specific aspects of the study and hold a public discussion.
We are delighted to be able to share the results of this study with you and invite you to consult the full report here:
FINAL_Rapport_Analyse du secteur culturel luxembourgeois dans une perspective sensible au genre_final
