Harassment in the Performing Arts: A Benchmark

Benchmarking the New England Performing Arts Community re Harassment

StageSource, the Arts & Business Council of Greater Boston, Impact Boston and other partners are working on initiatives to address issues around harassment in the performing arts community. In order to move forward, and to inform the training and programs we are developing, we are asking members of the community to answer a brief survey. The purpose of this survey is to mobilize the strength of the community in order to develop practices and standards which will help to make us all safer. The goal is not to litigate the past, but rather to help drive a culture shift for the future.

Note that this survey is COMPLETELY CONFIDENTIAL. Your name and contact information will not be captured or used in any way. We ask that you be as candid as you can.

Thank you in advance, and please feel free to forward it to other folks.

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* 1. How long have you been active in the NE performing arts community?

Under 5 years

5-10 years

11-15 years

16-20 years

21-30 years

31-40 years

41+ years

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* 2. How old are you?

Under 18

18-24

25-34

35-44

45-54

55-64

65+

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* 3. How do you identify?

Male

Female

Nonbinary

Trans

Prefer not to answer

Other (please specify)

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* 4. What is your role in the community? Check all that apply

Artistic Director

Managing Director

Actor

Producer

Singer

Dancer

Director

Music Director

Choreographer

Playwright

Dramaturg

Stage Manager

Technical Director

Company Manager

Box Office

Front of House

Run Crew

Technician

Designer

Wardrobe

Administrative Staff

Board Member

Volunteer

Critic

Other (please specify)

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* 5. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) describes sexual harassment this way: 'Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature constitute sexual harassment when this conduct explicitly or implicitly affects an individual's employment, unreasonably interferes with an individual's work performance, or creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work environment.' Examples include:

frequent comments or behaviors of a sexual or suggestive nature

expectations someone may set up that they will give you something you want in exchange for your giving them sexual favors (or that they will NOT give you something if you do NOT give them sexual favors)

sexual/suggestive conduct, conversation, artifacts, etc. that create an uncomfortable or offensive work environment

unwanted touching

These are only examples, and not a definitive list.

Have you had any of these situations happen to you while auditioning, working on a production, or on staff at a theater? Check all that apply.

Had a coworker make sexualized or suggestive comments, verbally or nonverbally.

Had a coworker make repeated unwanted advances

Had a person in a position of authority (director, tech director, choreographer, etc.) make sexualized or suggestive comments -- verbally or nonverbally -- about your body

Had an experience in which a sexual, physical, or intimate scene was not sufficiently choreographed or rehearsed

Had an experience in which a sexual, physical, or intimate scene was choreographed or rehearsed in a way that made you feel uncomfortable

Had an experience in which a scene partner made you feel uncomfortable by changing a sexual, physical, or intimate scene from the way it was choreographed or rehearsed

Had other people involved with the production walk into your dressing room while you or others were changing without first requesting and being granted permission to enter

Been made to change costumes in an insufficiently private area

Been advised to use flirtation as a way of advancing professional goals

Had an experience where a co-worker unnecessarily removed clothing in a public area (for example, someone purposefully does not wear undergarments to a costume fitting, or does not use a private space to change even though one is available)

Had someone directly or indirectly communicate that you were unfit to perform work duties because of your gender, sexuality, or appearance.

Had an experience where you had to work alongside co-workers who were engaging in excessive (though consensual) displays of physical affection and/or sexually charged conversation while in the work environment

Have somebody directly or indirectly communicate that your employment on a production or with a company was contingent upon engaging in sexual activity

Had and experience where you were promised career advancement in exchange for sex

Had an experience where you were forced to engage in sexual activity without your consent

Other (please describe)

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* 6. Considering the examples above, do you feel that you have ever engaged in action which you believe was inappropriate? REMINDER: this survey is COMPLETELY CONFIDENTIAL. Candid responses to this and other questions will be used for the sole purpose of informing future work on this initiative.

Yes (please describe)

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* 7. Have you been a witness to sexual harassment in the New England performing arts community?

Yes

Unsure

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* 8. Were you aware that it was sexual harassment at the time, or in hindsight?

At the time

In hindsight

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* 9. Did you report the sexual harassment?

Yes

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* 10. If you reported harassment either against you or another person, to whom did you report? Check all that apply.

Director

Managing Director

Artistic Director

Board Member

Stage Manager

Law Enforcement

Other (please specify)

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* 11. What is the best description of what happened as a result of your report?

The person was understanding but didn’t know how to handle the situation. As a result the situation was not resolved and nothing changed

The person minimized or explained away the incident

The harassment stopped

The person who harassed me was removed from the company or production

The report was ignored

My career was harmed in some way

I experienced retaliation

I don't know, I left the situation

Other (please describe briefly)

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* 12. Have you ever witnessed an incident of sexual harassment, misconduct or abuse that you did not report? We hope you will answer this question honestly. We are looking to identify systemic barriers to reporting. This is not a reflection on you or anyone else as a person.

Yes

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* 13. If so, what made it difficult to report? Check all that apply.

I wasn't sure it was sexual harassment

I didn't know who to tell

I felt embarrassed or ashamed

It was too hard to talk about

I didn't want to get anyone in trouble

I didn't want to interfere with the production

I was worried that people might be upset with me

I didn't think anything would be done about it

I was worried about my reputation or career

I was worried that I might be blamed for the situation

The victim asked or told me not to tell

The perpetrator asked or told me not to tell

Other (please describe briefly)

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* 14. StageSource is collaborating with other organizations to create community standards for addressing situations of sexual misconduct, harassment, and abuse. What ideas do you have for what these standards should involve?

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* 15. What do you see as the biggest barriers to preventing sexual harassment, misconduct, or abuse in the New England performing arts community?

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* 16. Most artists and technicians work with multiple companies throughout their careers. Thinking about the varied experiences you have had, do any companies stand out for you as being especially effective at creating a safe work environment that is free of sexual harassment, misconduct or abuse?

Yes

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* 1. How long have you been active in the NE performing arts community?

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* 2. How old are you?

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* 3. How do you identify?

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* 4. What is your role in the community? Check all that apply

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* 6. Considering the examples above, do you feel that you have ever engaged in action which you believe was inappropriate? REMINDER: this survey is COMPLETELY CONFIDENTIAL. Candid responses to this and other questions will be used for the sole purpose of informing future work on this initiative.

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* 7. Have you been a witness to sexual harassment in the New England performing arts community?

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* 8. Were you aware that it was sexual harassment at the time, or in hindsight?

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* 9. Did you report the sexual harassment?

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* 10. If you reported harassment either against you or another person, to whom did you report? Check all that apply.

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* 11. What is the best description of what happened as a result of your report?

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* 12. Have you ever witnessed an incident of sexual harassment, misconduct or abuse that you did not report? We hope you will answer this question honestly. We are looking to identify systemic barriers to reporting. This is not a reflection on you or anyone else as a person.

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* 13. If so, what made it difficult to report? Check all that apply.

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* 14. StageSource is collaborating with other organizations to create community standards for addressing situations of sexual misconduct, harassment, and abuse. What ideas do you have for what these standards should involve?

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* 15. What do you see as the biggest barriers to preventing sexual harassment, misconduct, or abuse in the New England performing arts community?﻿

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* 16. Most artists and technicians work with multiple companies throughout their careers. Thinking about the varied experiences you have had, do any companies stand out for you as being especially effective at creating a safe work environment that is free of sexual harassment, misconduct or abuse?

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* 17. If yes, what do you think makes those companies so effective?

* 15. What do you see as the biggest barriers to preventing sexual harassment, misconduct, or abuse in the New England performing arts community?