Select committee: Women and Equalities Committee
Conclusion 3
2nd Report - Misogyny in music
Published 30 Jan 2024
Addressed to Government Equalities Office
Women and Equalities Committee Misogyny in music All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Conclusion (the committee's words)
Women have significant additional barriers to pass to get a foothold in the music industry and must navigate acts of passive aggression, ridicule, and misogyny to have a sustainable career. Female artists are routinely undervalued and undermined, endure a focus on their physical appearance in a way that men are not subjected to, and have to work far harder to get the recognition their ability merits. Despite increases in representation, discrimination and misogyny remain endemic. These concerns are intensified for women faced with intersectional barriers, particularly racial discrimination. (Conclusion, Paragraph 34)
From: Women and Equalities Committee, 2nd Report - Misogyny in music (HC 129), 30 January 2024
Government response
The government responded to the whole report on 19 April 2024 (deadline 10 April 2024).
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The government welcomes the report and says everyone should be able to work in the music industry without misogyny and discrimination, but it declines several recommendations on legislation, licensing and parental leave.
- On Section 14 of the Equality Act 2010, the government "has no plans to implement the dual discrimination provision" "at this time", considering Section 14 "unnecessary". On parental leave, there are "currently no plans" to introduce entitlements for self-employed fathers or partners.
- On recording studio licensing, the government "agrees that recording studios should provide a safe environment" but has "no plans at the present time" to introduce new licensing requirements.
- The government "continues to look closely at extending" the time limit for Equality Act claims to an employment tribunal from three to six months, and will "take account of the Committee's report". It also notes a duty on employers to take "reasonable steps" to prevent sexual harassment from October 2024.
- On non-disclosure agreements, the government "has also committed to bringing forward legislation" so they cannot be enforced if they prevent victims reporting a crime. On a retrospective moratorium, it says there "could be unintended consequences".