SoundGirls Roundtable: Diversity in Audio

A roundtable hosted by SoundGirls

Register here - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSckmkvrT6nJ5WYnwR0W11OmP8zSj1Zg6_I-0YPWV1SxzGg_aA/viewform

Professional Audio is sorely deficient in gender, racial and ethnic diversity. While there are not accurate statistics available, it is a commonly accepted that only 5% of audio engineers are women. Eric Deggans of NPR commenting on a 2015 study from USC’s Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, said that “the #OscarsSoWhite should probably be to changed to #HollywoodSoWhite.”

What can we do to change the face of the industry and how do we handle sexism and bias in the industry. Join us for a roundtable to help create a blueprint for change. We will have best practice information for dealing with sexual harassment. Stay tuned for updates on speakers.

Diversity Issues in the workplace

Creating diversity in the workplace is not the same as setting quotas. Diversity in the work environment promotes acceptance, respect, and teamwork. Companies that overcome diversity issues often achieve greater productivity, profit, and company morale. How can we create diversity in an industry that runs on freelance workers?

The following issues affect women, people of color, and LGBTQ people in the industry. Women may also face further obstacles, due to their overlapping identities. Race, class, ethnicity, religion and sexual orientation impact the way they experience discrimination.

And while we understand that addressing these issues is an upward battle, we realize that these issues affect us before even getting hired. Many employers simply do not consider women for employment because of these issues or due to unconscious bias. We also must realize and accept that women can hold biases whether conscious or unconscious.

Gender

In, 2017, women are still viewed as incapable, too emotional, not dedicated enough to do the job, because of gender biases – conscious and unconscious. The problem becomes intensified when people do not fit neatly into the binary spectrum.

Harassment

In 2017, women are still told they need to be one of the boys and tune out locker room talk. How do we learn to deal with harassment and make sure we are not working in a hostile workplace. Harassment should never be tolerated. Even the slightest comment made in jest is considered harassment if any — even remotely vague — any racial, sexual or discriminatory connotation is made. For example, “I love Asian women” or “We should have hired a man.” Sadly even, when women are in leadership roles, the problems are not always dealt appropriately.

Sexual Harassment

What are the outlets to address sexual harassment on the job? Often there is not a human resource department to handle sexual harassment complaints or claims are not handled effectively. Often the victim is blamed or threatened with being blacklisted.

Lifestyle Acceptance

One’s personal life should not affect their job performance or bar them from employment. Unfortunately, LGBTQ workers experience disrespect and discrimination from coworkers and can lead to an uncomfortable and hostile work environment.

Ethnic And Cultural Differences

In 2017, people are still holding bias (whether conscious or unconscious) and prejudices against people of color, cultures, ethnicity, and religion. Such prejudice should not be tolerated in the workplace — much less anywhere.

Respect In The Workplace

Mutual respect and acceptance are critical – Acceptance of individual differences is essential in creating a diverse and productive work environment. Acceptance leads to respect, and ultimately opportunity.

Conflict

When prejudice, racism, discrimination and a lack of respect creep into a work environment, conflict among employees becomes inevitable. If not distinguished, such animosity can turn explosive or even violent. Businesses who provide a diversified work environment and provide sufficient diversity training often reduce or eliminate such occurrences.

Other issues: Ageism, Generation Gaps, Disabilities

What is unconscious bias?

Bias is a prejudice in favor of or against one thing, person, or group compared with another usually in a way that’s considered to be unfair. Biases may be held by an individual, group, or institution and can have negative or positive consequences.

There are types of biases

Conscious bias (also know as explicit bias) and

Unconscious bias (also know as implicit bias)

It is important to note that biases, conscious or unconscious, are not limited to ethnicity and race. Though racial bias and discrimination are well documented, biases may exist toward from any social group. One’s age, gender, gender identity physical abilities, religion, sexual orientation, weight, and many other characteristics are subject to bias.

Unconscious biases are social stereotypes about certain groups of people that individuals form outside their own conscious awareness. Everyone holds unconscious beliefs about various social and identity groups, and these biases stem from one’s tendency to organize social worlds by categorizing.

Unconscious bias is far more prevalent than conscious prejudice and often incompatible with one’s conscious values. Certain scenarios can activate unconscious attitudes and beliefs. For example, biases may be more prevalent when multi-tasking or working under time pressure.