Dones Visuals and the Faculty of Information and Audiovisual Media (FIMA) of the University of Barcelona today published the study Violències i desigualtats a l'audiovisual català. Diagnòstic des d'una perspectiva de gènere interseccional (Violence and Inequality in Catalan Audiovisual Media. Diagnosis from an intersectional gender perspective.). One of the main conclusions is that most of the people interviewed claim to have experienced some form of violence throughout their career in the audiovisual industry. This is a worrying data that shows that the industry creates environments that are violent and exclusionary for professionals who do not fit the 'norm'.
This is the first study in Catalonia to analyse different types of violence in the audiovisual industry, who perpetrates them, where they occur, and what consequences they have, and it does so from an intersectional perspective. The study, based on 52 interviews with female professionals and those with dissident gender identities, racialized identities, LGTBIQA+ identities and/or disabilities, delves into the structural dynamics that cause the underrepresentation and exclusion of these groups in the sector.
Structural violence impacts and excludes
The interviewees highlight a normalization and trivialization of sexual violence in the sector, especially on film sets with male crews. Some interviewees have been forced to change professional areas within the sector to protect themselves from violence.
"I ended up specializing in post-production and editing because I found myself in violent spaces that had to do with cis white men, and that has influenced my desire to work alone." Teresa
In addition, the study reveals a structural lack of accessibility in the Catalan audiovisual sector, which is full of architectural and communication barriers that make it impossible for professionals with disabilities to participate. There are also several cases of explicit denial of opportunities in the sector for reasons linked to racism and lesbophobia. There are many cases of racialized actresses being denied access to castings and roles solely because of their race. All these contexts encourage expulsion from the sector.
"After the interview, they told me they really liked me because of my profile, and the boss said: 'No, she's too much of a lesbian and the client won't like her.'" Paula
Invisibilised violence
The practices and forms of violence covered in the study range from the most obvious, such as physical, verbal and sexual assault, to the most subtle or invisible, such as lack of accessibility, pigeonholing, bureaucratic violence, psychological harassment (mobbing) or hepeating - which occurs when a man repeats, as if it were his own, an idea previously expressed by a woman - among others.
"I had a conversation with my representatives... and I spoke to them to say: 'Are you having trouble presenting me as a Black woman?' And they said: 'Look, in all honesty, it's not easy and we're running into people who react badly.'" Jenny
The study points out that some of these experiences, which could often be perceived as minor, have a real and profound impact on the career paths and well-being of those who suffer them. One of the main contributions of this report is that it gives these practices and forms of violence the same analytical relevance as others that are traditionally more visible, such as sexual or physical violence.
The main causes of violence include sexism, racism, LGTBIQA+phobia, ableism, xenophobia, religious intolerance and classism, among others. The study also highlights that this violence is often perpetrated by various agents within the audiovisual industry, whether they are superiors, work teams, private companies or colleagues.
This cross-cutting nature highlights collective and individual responsibilities in perpetuating these practices and forms of violence, as well as the direct impact on the career paths, mental health and sense of belonging of those affected.
