Gender Representation in Circus Arts; A Case Study (2019)
[Available online] https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/19443927.2018.1504114?journalCode=rtdp20
Abstract
Using a well-known London-based newsletter for circus artists, this research uses discourse analysis to interrogate how gender is represented in contemporary circus and seeks to answer three questions posed at the Roundhouse Gender Salon in London 2016: ‘is circus too heteronormative?’, why are there ‘so many all-male circus companies?’ and can ‘a woman ever enjoy the same privileges and opportunities in the industry as a man?’ The article reveals that heteronormativity is demonstrated within the selected newsletters as evidenced by the description of men as strong and women as ‘mothers’ and by the mainly heterosexual characterisations of women. The final Roundhouse Salon question posits that men are more privileged than women in the circus industry; however, by interrogating the data it becomes clear that this oversimplifies notions of gender, privilege and opportunity. Ultimately the paper calls for further research into gender representation in the sector. In recent years, many questions have been raised about the roles of women in the circus industry. Whilst this is important, it is not possible to conduct an informed debate about the portrayal and position of women, or men, without data, to help substantiate or contradict prevailing views on these subjects. The article concludes with the point that continuing to rely solely on anecdotal evidence risks creating a biased understanding of gender in circus, whereby subjective views are confused with objective reality.
Academic Presentations:
Circus and Its Others 2, 2018
Presenting ‘Gender Representation in Circus Arts; A Case Study’, Disk Theatre, Prague
NCCA Degree Presentation 2018/2020
Presenting ‘Gender Representation in Circus Arts; A Case Study’, NCCA, London
Circus- Past, Present and Future, 2018
Panel ‘Women in Circus’, Victoria and Albert Museum, London
NYCE conference, 2018
Presenting ‘Gender Representation in Circus Arts; A Case Study’, NCCA, London