The music industry has made significant strides in promoting diversity on stage, but behind the scenes, women continue to face significant barriers in audio engineering. According to a recent study, just 5% of audio engineers in the UK are women, with many facing discriminatory stereotypes and bias in their careers.
Two female sound engineers, who wish to remain anonymous, shared their experiences with UKPulse Media. They explained why they chose a career in audio engineering, despite the challenges they knew they would face. 'I love the technical side of music,' one engineer said. 'I'm fascinated by how sound is created and manipulated.'
However, the women also spoke about the difficulties they have faced in their careers. 'I've been told that I can't hack tour because I'm a woman,' one engineer said. 'People assume that I'm too fragile or too emotional to handle the physical and emotional demands of working on live tours.'
The engineers explained that they have to work harder than their male counterparts to prove themselves and earn respect in the industry. 'I've had to deal with men who question my abilities and doubt my competence,' one engineer said. 'It's frustrating and demotivating, but I try to focus on my work and let my skills speak for themselves.'
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has highlighted the importance of promoting diversity and inclusion in the creative industries. 'Women's participation in the creative labour market is essential for driving innovation and entrepreneurship,' the OECD said in a recent report. 'Policies and programmes that promote women's participation in the creative industries can have a positive impact on economic growth and social development.'