On Wednesday, April 15, 2020, and on Thursday, October 15, Actors’ Equity Association’s Equal Employment Opportunity presented two online seminars on gender, facilitated by Josephine Kearns, a theatre artist, educator and gender consultant specializing in transgender, queer and intersex issues. The two-hour Zoom webinar identified resources and actions that each member can take to ensure their workplaces are safe and inclusive for people of marginalized genders and gender backgrounds. The event was moderated by Bliss Griffin, Equity’s Diversity & Inclusion Strategist. ASL translation was provided by Jamie Hays and Frenchetta Perez Kilpatrick via Sign Language Resources, Inc.
Kearns began with an overview of key concepts around gender, including terminology, definitions and language, as well as why it is important to support gender diversity in the workplace and society. Through questions to the attendees, Kearns first demonstrated the concept of gender as a binary structure as social construct, consisting of the division of male and female. She then offered a global and historical context around thinking of gender as complex, nonbinary, and diverse. “In a lot of cultures around the world,” said Kearns, “Gender hasn't been perceived as being as simple as a binary. Actually, that's a very white western European colonialist tradition that has been imposed on us.” Kearns then asserted that uplifting people who do not fit into a binary construction of gender will, “ultimately benefit everyone.”
Next Kearns discussed a list of key terms. She added, however, a caveat that the guidelines are not concrete. “These are presented as rough guidelines,” and that it is important to, “let people self-identify with the words that feel right to them.” Kearns discussed the historical context of concepts such as sex assigned at birth, gender identity, and gender expression, and how they can be seen along spectrums of gender diversity. Within those spectrums, Kearns also shared definitions of intersex, cisgender (“cis”), transgender (“trans”), nonbinary, and transition.
Kearns then turned the discussion toward the use of pronouns and their importance in creating a gender inclusive workplace. Kearns also provided strategies on what to do when you or someone else makes a mistake and misgenders another person. “Be respectful and thoughtful,” she urged, “without making it a big deal. Apologize, correct yourself, move on, and then just as important as any other step, practice.” This section was highlighted by a practice session with participants on incorporating gender inclusive pronouns in their own language, including the use of the pronouns “they/them,” “ze/hir,” and “xe/xir”.
In the arts sector, the societal inequity faced by trans people is reflected in a lack of representation. “One of the fundamental challenges...is that trans actors aren't given access to cis roles and aren’t being given opportunities even to play themselves.”
The webinar proceeded to current issues faced by trans, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming people in society, particularly discrimination against these communities in the workplace. Kearns cited a 2016 survey of trans people in the workplace which reported that 30% reported being mistreated or fired for being trans; that 15% have reported being assaulted at work; and, where the average woman earns $.79 for every dollar a man makes for equal work, trans women make only 55 cents on the dollar. Kearns also noted that these issues are intersectional, and that workplace and societal discrimination is compounded against trans women who are Black or are of other marginalized identities.
In the arts sector, the societal inequity faced by trans people is reflected in a lack of representation. “One of the fundamental challenges...is that trans actors aren't given access to cis roles and aren’t being given opportunities even to play themselves.”
Finally, Kearns walked through some strategies for cisgender allies to support gender diversity and inclusion in the theatre workplace, including creating gender inclusive dressing rooms and bathrooms; avoiding gender segregation in audition rooms and casting breakdowns; incorporating gender inclusive language; privacy and workplace safety issues for trans and nonbinary theatre workers, and how Equity can help with supporting all these issues. Griffin and Kearns concluded the webinar with a robust Q & A with participants.
Interested Equity members may view the videos of both EEOC Dialogues on gender in the member portal.
