Article 4e: Sexual harassment in the creative industries: Tolerance, culture and the need for change (Hennekam & Bennett, 2017)

Question 1

Background of the study

Answer 1

There is growing evidence within the creative industries that precarity (onzekerheid), competition for work and lack of regulation within these industries exacerbates both privilege and inequality, which can increase the prevalence of sexual harassment.

Question 2

Design of the study

Answer 2

This study used 32 in-depth interviews with women working in the creative industry in the Netherlands.

Question 3

Main findings

Answer 3

• Sexual harassment is prevalent in the creative industries.
• Many women consider it to be part of their work-culture and career advancement.

Question 4

4 factors that influence the prevalence of sexual harassment in the creative industries

Answer 4

1. Competition for work
2. Industry culture
3. Gendered power relations
4. Importance of informal networks

Question 5

(1) Competition for work

Answer 5

Jobs are often contingent (subjective to change) and irregular, causing a competition for work and feeling of complying to sexualised demands to advance their careers, which normalised harassment.

Question 6

(2) Industry culture

Answer 6

Often a male-dominated environment. The industry socialisation causes employees to adapt to informal norms, often shaped by stereotypes, sexism and racism. Appearance often outweighs talent, and sexual harassment becomes a normalised part of professional life.

Question 7

(3) Gendered power relations

Answer 7

Often men have all the power and the employees dempend on their boss for opportunities.

Question 8

(4) Informal networks

Answer 8

Networking, often conducted in the informal and social settings, is vital for career progression but creates blurred boundaries.

Question 9

Other factors that influence the prevalence of sexual harassment in the creative indrustries

Answer 9

• Aesthetic labor: some sectors, like modelling, depend on aesthetic labour, where physical appearance and bodily presentation are commercialised. This can blur the boundaries between professional work and harassment.
• Underreporting of harassment: due to fear of retaliation (wraak), career damage etc.

Question 10

Implications

Answer 10

• The need for a climate of non-tolerance.
• Sector-specific research and guidelines
• Sensitivity training and further work with unions and professional associations to provide worker protection strategies.

Question 11

Conclusion

Answer 11

Effective sexual harassment prevention requires action at the individual, educational, sectoral and governmental levels, beginning with public conversation to convey the message that sexual harassment is never acceptable.