Gender, Participation and Inequality in the UK's film & TV costume workforce
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Leicester
Department Name: Media and Communication
Abstract
Responding to industry need for innovative insight into gender equality in the UK screen sector, this PhD project will study costume labour in film and television production. With a novel empirical focus it will respond to calls for understanding gender inequality beyond workforce statistics, and for taking into account individual work and career experiences as well as the organisational and sectoral contexts that shape these experiences (e.g. Eikhof, 2017; Wing Fai et al. 2015)
This PhD aims to produce new knowledge that can inform innovative approaches to gender equality in screen work. This aim will be achieved by turning existing research approaches on their head. Current research focuses on the under-representation of women in film and television production (e.g. Cobb et al., 2018; Grugulis & Stoyanova, 2012; Wing Fai et al., 2015; Wreyford 2015). Instead, this project will research women-dominated screen work. The UK's costume departments comprise approximately 70% women and 30% men workers (Creative Skillset, 2012). With an unequal gender balance in favour of women, costume departments are a promising and novel site for pursuing two research questions:
RQ1: Which work and employment practices and perceptions facilitate women's workforce participation in costume work?
RQ2: What is the relationship between increased workforce participation and gender equality? Does this lead to equal career opportunities, and the absence of gendered bullying and harassment?
The project's overarching objective is to improve the knowledge base for effective policy and practice, and to thereby contribute to the reduction of gender inequalities in screen work. To achieve this objective, the project will be undertaken in collaboration with key sector organisations (ScreenSkills and BECTU, plus CAMEo's screen sector partners). Research findings will be disseminated to sector organisations, including via joint events and publications, and are expected to influence gender equality practice in the film and television industries.
This PhD aims to produce new knowledge that can inform innovative approaches to gender equality in screen work. This aim will be achieved by turning existing research approaches on their head. Current research focuses on the under-representation of women in film and television production (e.g. Cobb et al., 2018; Grugulis & Stoyanova, 2012; Wing Fai et al., 2015; Wreyford 2015). Instead, this project will research women-dominated screen work. The UK's costume departments comprise approximately 70% women and 30% men workers (Creative Skillset, 2012). With an unequal gender balance in favour of women, costume departments are a promising and novel site for pursuing two research questions:
RQ1: Which work and employment practices and perceptions facilitate women's workforce participation in costume work?
RQ2: What is the relationship between increased workforce participation and gender equality? Does this lead to equal career opportunities, and the absence of gendered bullying and harassment?
The project's overarching objective is to improve the knowledge base for effective policy and practice, and to thereby contribute to the reduction of gender inequalities in screen work. To achieve this objective, the project will be undertaken in collaboration with key sector organisations (ScreenSkills and BECTU, plus CAMEo's screen sector partners). Research findings will be disseminated to sector organisations, including via joint events and publications, and are expected to influence gender equality practice in the film and television industries.
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
| Jilly Kay (Primary Supervisor) | |
| Tiffany Bale (Student) |