Even when there is formal equality, women in key positions in culture are often not free to act at their own discretion, assesses in an interview for "Vijesti" a UNDP consultant for gender equality and an expert in culture. Milica Nikolić.
This was shown by the author's research Maje Bogojević conducted for the needs of the "Study on gender aspects of content in the culture of Montenegro" supported by UNDP, which also shows that 81 percent of women believe that they are insufficiently represented in culture and that greater mutual solidarity is needed.
"Persons in leading positions in the field of culture must have integrity in the performance of their functions, and when we talk about women who hold important positions in culture, I must emphasize the data of the mentioned research, which indicates that 69 percent of female professionals believe that culture is 'owned' by men. Thus, two-thirds of women believe that culture is dominated by the male gender, while parallel to their attitudes in society there is a stereotype that culture is a 'female domain'. The research emphasizes that out of 12 cultural institutions, 6 were headed by women, which would indicate that the distribution is equal. But this indicates the situation that even when there is formal equality, women in key positions in culture are often not free to act at their own discretion," says Nikolić.
Women in cultural institutions
The information provided to "Vijesta" in early March by the Minister of Culture and Media Tamara Vujović show that seven of the 17 cultural institutions in Montenegro are led by women, namely: the "Đurđe Crnojević" National Library, the Film Center, the Maritime and Natural History Museum, the artistic directors of the Montenegrin National and Royal Theater Zetski dom, as well as the business director of the Music Center ( MCCG).
Vujović said that women make up a large part of employees in Montenegrin cultural institutions, and that a significant number of them are in management positions. She is only the fourth woman to head the Ministry of Culture and Media (MKM) for 44 Montenegrin governments. In addition to her, the secretary of the Ministry of Interior and the head of the cabinet, two of the four directorates are headed by women, and one position is vacant, stated Vujović...
However, the fact that women managed the department of culture during the last three Montenegrin governments, Nikolić, who was previously engaged in the Ministry, believes that it does not play an important role in improving the gender equality of women in cultural and political processes.
"I look at their appointments in the light of the processes that generally refer to the position of culture during the so-called 'division of functions', but also to the aforementioned stereotype that 'culture suits women'. The Ministry of Culture was managed by both women and men, but the results in terms of gender equality did not significantly differ depending on the gender identity of the responsible person. For this reason, it is extremely important to recognize every step in that direction and to reward the willingness to position the issue of gender equality highly in the policies of the Ministry, cultural institutions, creating a broad partnership with civil society, international organizations and local administrations, because local cultural institutions are strong drivers social changes", emphasizes Nikolić.
When it comes to the official ratio of men and women in management positions in cultural institutions in local administrations, it is mostly equal, according to data obtained by "Vijesti". Out of 48 public cultural institutions that operate under Montenegrin municipalities, 23 of them are run by men, and 25 are run by women. According to "Vijesti" information, there are a total of 17 cultural centers run by 11 men and six women.
In some institutions, the ratio is in favor of women. For example, out of 12 galleries, museums and museums and galleries, three are headed by men and nine by women, out of seven public libraries, two are headed by men and five by women (there are a few more libraries and museums that operate as part of cultural centers) , while the ratio is equal when it comes to the city's cultural centers, cultural and information centers and Nikšić's "Zahumlje", three - three.
In addition to the above, other public cultural institutions operate in Montenegrin municipalities: City Theater Budva, "Ratković's Evenings of Poetry" Bijelo Polje, Art Colony Danilovgrad, JUK Herceg Fest, Nikšićko and City Theater Podgorica, and they are run by two women and five men (two are theater director - business and artistic).
Nikolić emphasizes that the fact that a woman is chosen for a certain position in culture does not necessarily mean that she is gender-aware and that her actions will help reduce inequality.
Business director of MCCG Isidora Damjanović says that the culture sector does not look at gender relations.
"Just as every man does not naturally have the capacity to be in a leadership position, so not all women are gifted to lead and deal with different challenges. I would never look at management in the context of gender. I am sure that if someone does not have perseverance, courage to take risks, creativity, negotiation skills, principles, work ethic, whether a woman or a man, the management function becomes a burden for her/him. "Trouble begins when ambition and appetites ignore personal capacities, so we have people whose leadership left a wasteland behind, without ever bearing personal responsibility," Damjanović points out.
Politics, culture and women
Nikolić emphasizes that "the presence of women in decision-making positions in culture is an important precondition for emancipation and achieving gender equality, but not the only one".
"More important than the question of whether there are enough of them (and there aren't), is how they use their positions. Are they independent or instruments of the party? Are they gender sensitive? Are they working to support and empower other women? One such woman in a position in culture would be more important to us than a satisfied quota of equality, which hides the essentially present gender stereotypes," says Nikolić.
She reminds of the fact that candidates for positions in culture are not chosen based on public competitions, but by appointment, which, Nikolić believes, "puts the position of women in further jeopardy since we know that even in the party framework, men have primacy".
"The fact that the field of culture in itself is marginal in the priorities of political parties during the 'division of portfolios', classifies culture in those fields that are always at risk of 'disappearing' during political agreements and being attached to another portfolio. Such a position additionally marginalizes the role of culture, which is reflected in the perceptions of citizens, which negatively affects the entire society in a chain. And then, when a gender perspective is introduced into it, it becomes clear that such a weakened position of culture corresponds to patriarchal stereotypes that indicate that it is a 'suitable field for a woman,'" states the cultural expert.
Damjanović believes that the key role is played by the Ministry.
"The real participation of women in the creation of cultural policies is immanent to the systemic representation of women in the external/institutional infrastructure of cultural factors. Today, culture is perceived not only through the concrete consumption of something considered a product, but also through different styles of communication and everyday access to reality. Everyone makes their contribution in accordance with the position from which they act, with the set goals and achieved results. Of course, the Ministry of Culture plays a key role, which generates other factors in the implementation of the development agenda," she points out.
Nikolić assesses that the participation of women in the creation of cultural policies is not at an enviable level, referring to the National Cultural Development Program as a key strategy in this area.
"Because the process was designed as a system of consultations in which opinions are expressed about the current state, needs, priorities in the field of culture. As such, this process is devoid of a gender perspective, because it usually implies consultations with institutions, the civil sector or individuals who are recognized in certain activities, and in which the gender perspective is not recognized. It seems that so far no organization or initiative has appeared that would put the position of women in culture as a priority of its activities, although there were attempts to establish and concretize such networks, but they did not last," she says.
Women's contribution and participation
Minister Vujović pointed out that the participation of women in culture, whether as artists, managers or leaders, is crucial for the development of a rich, diverse and inclusive cultural scene, in her response to "Vijesta" on this topic.
Nikolić agrees that the possibilities of positive influence of women on the culture sector, management and decision-making processes, like all others, are multiple.
"The role of women in culture is immeasurable because culture is that fluid area full of possibilities that can reach everyone individually and, if nothing else, at least imagine them over the traditional patterns that we reproduce to exhaustion, and they only give one result: pervasive and increasing violence over women", she believes.
On the other hand, Damjanović claims that "there is no female or male contribution to the development of the cultural sector".
"Either you know or not, how a certain area in the cultural sector develops. The key capital in the development of culture and cultural economy is not money, but innovation, that is, ideas and creativity. "That individual who has the idea and vision to realize cultural content as a social value, certainly deserves public attention and systemic support", says the director of MCCG.
The minister said that the continuation of the fight for equality, the recognition of women's contribution to culture, and the promotion and support of their work and careers, remain imperative for building a fairer and more open social and cultural space.
Labels, but also struggle
All three "Vijesti" interlocutors agree that women in political, cultural, artistic, management and other public affairs are more exposed and susceptible to different pressures, condemnation, criticism, compared to their male colleagues.
"They are, and by a lot. Women in politics, including these politicians at the head of the Ministry of Culture and other positions, are expected not to undermine patriarchal patterns, but as soon as that happens, the public is inclined to very easily degrade them on a human level," emphasizes Nikolić and cites examples, among which are the earlier offensive caricature depictions of two female ministers of culture.
"While every day we witness all kinds of outbursts by their male colleagues, who are often greeted with sympathy, women in politics are going through a calvary. You will not find analyzes or comments about any man in politics about how he dresses, what his hair style is, how he looks, but you will find analyzes about all their female colleagues. "Caricatures are just one mechanism of misogyny, there are many of them, and their intention is to reduce women in politics only to their appearance, physical form, which promotes stereotypes, and deprives society of the possibility of justified criticism of their work," Nikolić points out.
Vujović said that she was exposed to certain attacks when she was appointed to the post of minister and explains that she does not consider that she was attacked because she is a woman, but it was easier to discredit her precisely because she is a woman.
"It was easier to accept that narrative... Women have less right to make mistakes, it's easier for labels to be attached to them, they are exposed to online violence, hate speech," said Vujović.
And Damjanović told "Vijesta" that for many years, during her involvement in the Center of Contemporary Art and the University of Montenegro, she "suffered psychological abuse, harassment, denial of the right to work, degradation in every sense of the word", and there are also court processes which, to her detriment, have lasted for almost a decade.
Nikolić, a longtime cultural worker, also states that the climate is not favorable to women.
"Completely personal: a woman in culture in Montenegro will always have to prove herself, unlike her colleagues. If she achieves good results, she will be asked to do even better, even faster. It will be assumed to multitask. Her mistake will be expected, and when she makes a mistake, it will be assumed that the reason for the mistake is her private life, hormonal imbalance, or something else. Her style of dressing, appearance, mood, upbringing will be analyzed. It will be constantly in the crosshairs of various assessments. During all that time, her male colleagues will be completely off the radar," she says.
While Damjanović believes that the position of women in culture cannot be improved beyond the progress of the system itself and the status of culture, Nikolić says that women will not surrender.
"But women in the culture, self-aware and principled, will not surrender so easily to social constraints. On the contrary, they will destroy them first".
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