Campaign launched to protect women from sex abuse in Scots trad music scene
● Calls for strict code of zero tolerance ethics
Female musicians and singers are campaigning for an end to a culture of misogyny, harassmentandsexualassaultwhich is said to be blighting Scotland’s traditional music scene.
The industry is facing calls to establish a strict code of ethics to ensure protection of female performers and “send a zero tolerance message to male perpetrators”.
A collective set up three years ago to debate and tackle gender issues in Scotland’s thriving trad scene wants a “fundamental culture change that ensures women’s safety, equality and dignity.”
It is urging festivals, industry organisations, educational organisations, artists and fans to throw their weight behind the campaign, which has been launched on social media with the #Tradstandswithher hashtag.
Rona Wilkie, a former BBC Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year, said the scene was having its #Metoo moment by seeking to tackle “endemic sexual abuse patterns”.
Members of The Bit Collective are joining forces with musicians from across the UK and the Republic of Ireland to try to bring about change.
Its statement said: “A growing number of young female musicians are risking their livelihoods and forfeiting their anonymity in order to speak out about their personal experiences of sexual abuse, assault, harassment and coercion by men on the folk and traditional music scene.
“As a diverse musical community,
and industry, we must not respond with silence or complicity. We need a code of ethics, which protects women in folk and traditional music from sexual harassment and assault, and sends a clear zero tolerance message to male perpetrators.”
Glasgow musician and singerjennbutterworth,alecturer in traditional music at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in the city, said: “The department strongly supports the voices which have emerged recently to call out the sexual harmight
assment of female musicians in folk and traditional music, from coercion and assault to casual belittlement.
“We will work with colleagues, students and organisational partners to promote and destigmatise dialogue within our institution and in the wider folk community.
“As the campaign #tradstandswithher states, we support the promotion of a culture of respect, trust and equality for all folk and traditional musicians, and the creation of safe, collaborative environments
where we can all share the music that we love.”
Writing about her experiences on the Bella Caledonia website, Ms Wilkie said: “Women contemplate leaving the scene regularly due to the disgraceful habits of men. In doing so they risk the loss of a prospective career, an artistic practice, a social circle and part of their identity as traditional musicians. The burden of leaving should be passed onto the men who should know a lot better.
“I wonder whether the prospect of losing everything
help them to behave a little better.”
Singer and harpist Rachel Newton, one of the founders of The Bit Collective, told her Twitter followers: “Please share this message, have conversations and help us to make a positive change. Don’t normalise or excuse inappropriate behaviour, call out your peers.
“We can all do better to make women feel safe and respected in music.”
“Women contemplate leaving the scene regularly due to the disgraceful habits of men. The burden of leaving should be passed onto the men”
RONA WILKIE