“Because they are too busy buying shoes”
Gender inequality and the role of women within graphic design.
Abstract
There are 28 students doing the BA (Honours) Design for Graphic Communication Top Up, 22 of these students are female, but will being a woman hold them back? Will they be paid an equal rate to their male colleagues? Will they get the recognition within the graphic design industry they deserve? And will they be working in top design jobs in 20 years time?
The issue of gender equality in the workplace has been a long running debate and while the gap has improved over recent years it is still a big issue with “Women in full-time work in the UK are paid, on average, 17.2 per cent less than men.” Guardian (2008)
Whilst education seems to be teaching women the skills to go on to top jobs, with 69% of women now going through higher education compared to 50% of men, this does not seem to be corresponding into the workplace or equal pay for women.
“On education, the UK has closed the gender gap completely but that is still not being translated into equal pay or a more proportionate number of women in senior business and political roles” Guardian (2008)
Triggered by a questioned posed to Milton Glaser, Chip Kidd, and Dave Eggers at a design lecture “Why do you — all three of you — suppose there are so few female graphic designers — or at least so few female ‘superstar’ graphic designers? Is there a glass ceiling in graphic design?” Design Observer (2006) This report aims to explore the imbalance women face in the workplace. This report will be exploring if women are being treated equally to men within the graphic design industry, in terms of recognition from the industry, job positions and awareness of female designers.
From this initial starting point, this project will be aiming to investigate the following questions:
Is there actually a lack of female graphic designers or is this an out of date perception?
Is there a lack of recognition of female graphic designers and if so is this trend changing?
Is there a graphic design glass ceiling for women?
Is there a lack of women in top graphic design jobs? What influences women in graphic designers to choose their jobs?
Do women designers tend to work in certain branches of graphic design than others? If so, why? Is this a conscious decision?
Chapters
Women and the Pay Gap
Initially this report will explore the pay gap between men and women, focusing on the quantitative data about women in education, job roles and pay. Looking into the reasons why inequality exists and what is being done to counterbalance this. Interviews from women in various careers will back up quantitative date found.
The History of Women as Graphic Designers
Graphic Design is a relatively new industry and has only really developed after the printing press was developed. Women graphic designers seem to be overshadowed by the achievements of male graphic designers, so this part of the report intends to focus on case studies and key female figures within graphic design. Picking up on if students are aware of these figures and the role they have played in the shaping of graphic design over the past 100 years. This information could be displayed in the format of a timeline or a visual resource documenting key graphic design pieces created by women.
Is there a graphic design glass ceiling for women?
This section will focus on investigating facts and opinions from existing reports and primary research; looking in depth to see if there is an inequality within the graphic design industry, and if so why. Investigation if there is a lack of women within graphic design, if men outnumber female colleagues or if these are just an out of date perception of the industry. Depending on the results of the data collected on this area, the report will then explore if there is a lack of women with the top design jobs.
Women Now
Conducting primary research within the school of graphics at LCC and speaking to graphic designers working within London to gain an understanding of the current role women are undertaking within the industry. Also investigating where female graduates end up working and why, and if there is a shift happening with in graphic design as more and more graphic design students tend to be women
The future of Women as Graphic Designers
The aim of this chapter is to be a conclusion and look into the future, to gain an insight into what the next generation think about women in graphic design and if they feel there are enough female role models. Also exploring how graphic design schools can ensure they are making their students aware of female graphic designers and how having 60% of current graphic design graduate female, will affect the graphic design industry.
Quotes
These quotes are some examples found so far, that could be used in the report to back up and support findings.
“Women scored better than men in terms of educational attainment and health, with 69% of women having gone through further or higher education compared with 50% of men.” (2008) Guardian Website
“My answer would be that the design world reflects the larger world, a place where men hold the majority of positions of power, leadership, and celebrity” (2006) Design Observer Website
“I do find that when I am able to attend a conference there are few female choices for panelists and presenters specific to design, and when there are, few males attend. Are we not interesting enough? Maybe our experiences and points are not valid, or is it that they are not validated?” (2006) Design Observer Website
“Unless something very dramatic happens to the nature of the human experience then it’s never going to change.” About day care and nannies, he said, “None of them are good solutions.” (2006) Design Observer Website
“A second difference, she said, is that most women aren’t as driven as men to climb the corporate ladder--and, consequently, less fearful to point out ethical wrongdoings--because they know they’ll soon be jumping off of it to start a family.” (2003) Women’s enews Website
Action Plan
In order to research this subject to the best of my ability I intent to read all the journals, reports, books and websites I have in the bibliography over the summer, pulling out key sections of information. Once I have started my first term of the third year I intent to take a more pro active approach by conducting interviews with students and staff within the Graphic Design Block at LCC. I also intent to interview graphic designers working within London, both freelancers and those working within design agencies.
Possible interview questions
To get a real sense of students, tutors and graphic designers opinions on the role of women within graphic design I would want to conduct an interview. These questions work in progress and are the first draft of question ideas.
When someone says, graphic designer to you, what image comes to your mind? What does that person look like?
Who are you favourite female graphic designers?
What are the main reasons you think women are paid less than men?
Do you think graphic design is a male dominated industry?
Do you think graphic design is a job that women can do along side having a family?
Do you think women are choosing not to take top design jobs so they can balance their work and family life?
How do you think graphic design will be affected by this influx of female design graduates?
Do you think graphic design is developing into a more female orientated industry?
The design of the report will need to relate to the content and I intend to do this by possibly playing with imagery of gender stereotypes. Possibly carrying on with the illustrations accompanying this proposal.
Bibliography
This bibliography is work in progress and will be added to as the research for this report continues. Once the reading of all the references in the bibliography has been done, this list of quotations will be added to and adjusted accordingly.
Lecture Notes
Role of Women in Graphic Design, Lecture at LCC, 24/10/08
Books
Gromez-Palacio, B (2008) Women Of Design: Influence And Inspiration From The Original Trailblazers To The New Groundbreakers, London, How Ltd.
Magazines
Graphic Design heroines, Grafik, July 2008, pp.52-67
Journals
Piscopo, M, (2002) Women in Design: Revisited Communication Arts, vol. 44, pt. 6, Nov. 2002, pp. 240-2
Bennett, O, (2003) The Feminine Touch, Vol. 18. No.4 pp. 40
Thomas et al, (2008)Are there enough women in Design? Discuss…,Computer Arts, no. 147, pp 56-59
Pelta, R, (2006) The Era of Women, tipoGratfica, vol 19, pt. 5 no. 69 pp. 16-23, 6-9
Nikitas, K, (1996) And she told two friends: An exhibition of graphic design by women, Women Made Gallery, p. 44
Shaw, P, (2009) Whipcord Whigmaleery, Vol. 63 Issue 3, p103
(2002) Creative Futures 2002: Women Only, Creative Review, vol 22, pt 4, April 2002, pp 31, 33-36,
38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 60
Grassi, M B, (1990) Women, design, tomorrow,Interni, no.404, pp.162-188 & 216
Smith, B J, (1991) Bitter, but hopeful, AIGA Journal of Graphic Design vol. 9, no 1, pp. 12-13
Jacobs, LK (1992) In search of the lost women, Metropolos, vol. 11, no 8, pp. 78
Cullen, M (1993) Beyond politics and gender: The Hilary factor, Communications Arts, (U.S.A.), vol 35, no.2, pp.24, 26-30
Websites
What do women have to do with sustainability? Look here or at Lewis & Clark College next week - PDX Green
Women’s Role within Urban Space
designhistorylab.com/?p=815=1
The Future of Design Education
education.agda.com.au/articles/view/story/the-future-of-design-education
Interview on Women, Games and Design
bbrathwaite.wordpress.com/2009/01/07/interview-on-women-games-and-design/
Typotheque: Women Graphic Designers by Ellen Lupton
www.typotheque.com/articles/women_graphic_designers
Women’s Network for a Sustainable Future - DESIGN 21: Social Design Network
www.design21sdn.com/organizations/288
Women in Business Ask: Are Women More Ethical?
www.womensenews.org/article.cfm/dyn/aid/1279/context/archive
Women in Ethical Business - The Triodos Awards
www.ethicalsuperstore.com/blog/friends/women-in-ethical-business-the-triodos-awa...
Women in Ethical Business Awards in association with The Times
www.triodos.co.uk/uk/whats_new/events/WEBA
Women and men, morality and ethics - sexual differences in moral reasoning
findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1038/is_n4_v38/ai_17105361/
Women in Advertising study 10 years on
www.ipa.co.uk/Content/Women-in-Advertising-study-10-years-on
Creative women in advertising agencies: why so few “babes in boyland”?
www.emeraldinsight.com/Insight/viewContentItem.do;jsessionid=5131A3621A3EC508C98...
Women miss out on top advertising jobs
www.guardian.co.uk/media/2006/jan/25/marketingandpr.advertising
Focus: Sexism in the advertising industry
www.guardian.co.uk/media/2005/oct/23/advertising.genderissues
The 4 c’s - the johnson banks thought for the week
www.johnsonbanks.co.uk/thoughtfortheweek/index.php?thoughtid=213
Mentioned, but Denied Significance: Women Designers and the `Professionalisation’ of Design in Britain c. 1920-1951
www.ingentaconnect.com/content/bpl/gend/2000/00000012/00000002/art00006?crawler=...
The New Journal Magazine at Yale
www.yale.edu/tnj/content/feb09/posterchild.html
Where are the Women? Where are the Links?
www.zeldman.com/2007/04/18/cant-link-with-em/
Speak Up Archive: International Women’s Day
www.underconsideration.com/speakup/archives/001388.html
Non-existent Design: Women and the Creation of Type
www.aiga.org/content.cfm/non-existent-design-women-and-the-creation-of-type
Graphic Design Blog » Why So Few Women Web Designers?2
www.graphicdesignblog.co.uk/why-so-few-women-web-designers/
Designing Women -- Presented by the Graphic Design Network
www.graphic-design.net/women/
Ellen Lupton: Design Writing Research: Women Graphic Designers
www.elupton.com/index.php?id=6
Graphic Feminism: 7 | The Graphic Glass Ceiling | “Women Graphic Designers”
graphicfeminism.blogspot.com/2009/04/7-graphic-glass-ceiling-women-graphic.html
Where Are The Female Designers?
fadtastic.net/2007/11/19/where-are-the-female-designers/
Gender Pay Differences
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/career_and_jobs/graduate_management/article4981006.ece
Motherhood ‘devastates’ women’s pay, research finds
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2009/jul/10/mothers-wages-fawcett-society
UK slips further down global gender equality league
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2008/nov/13/gener-equality-pay-gap-europe
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