The perception among many women is that their female counterparts who are in the performing arts are vultures who are competition for the attention of their men. The notion is that they purposefully set out to attract and seduce male audiences for their own benefit. An upcoming discussion seeks to explore this line of thought and reveal if it has any merit.

Left: Doing her job.
A female dancer at work.

Female artists, Roxanne Xapa Mathazia, uZanele Manhenga, Carmen Hwarari and Nonku Blackbird Vundla, along with one male artist, Larry Kwirirai, will make up the discussion panel. Chairperson will be Sally Dura.

According to a number of practising female artists such beliefs are often misconceptions, which are damaging both to the reputations and careers of women artists, and to good relations between the two groups of women. 

The damage may include boycotting of shows, gossip which destroys the image of the artist, and can even extend to refusal to spend money on CDs of women artists who are seen as a threat, and banning of the music in the family home. 

The image can be extremely damaging to the careers of female artists and holds them back from developing to their full potential.

The art of performance and stagecraft skills demand that a performing artist on stage be attractive, endearing, welcoming, appear to be friendly and accessible in the course of delivering a song, for example.  She has to be beautifully dressed and deliver a great performance in order for people to continue to pay money to watch her or buy her CD.  That is her profession.  She is doing her job.  Off stage, she must balance her performance with reality, and in so doing there are many struggles she faces.

On the other hand, there are women who cannot stand the attention that women of the arts get from menfolk. They see the demeanour and friendliness of some female artists as a ruse to get favours from men.

The Gender Forum discussion, to be held on Tuesday 15 December, will hear from women artists who are single, single mothers and married women, who will share some of their experiences to bring light to the situation and see if there is any credence to the vulture theory.

_____________________
More Info:
Gender Forum Discussion:
"WOMAN to WOMAN: for better understanding"
The Book Café, Fife Ave Mall (upstairs)
Tuesday 15 Dec 2009 – 5.30-7.00pm
FREE, ALL WELCOME

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Gertrude   |2009-12-14 07:19:23 I think female artists are nothing when compared to their male counterparts. Male artists have girls throwing themselves at them and many do little to resist. Reply 0   0

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