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From: kleinj@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu
Newsgroups: soc.feminism
Subject: Women in University Theatre
Message-ID: <26560.2735a19d@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu>
Date: 16 Nov 90 02:42:03 GMT
Sender: ambar@ora.com (Jean Marie Diaz)
Organization: University of Kansas Academic Computing Services
Lines: 41
Approved: ambar@ora.com

As a woman up for promo/tenure in a mostly male theatre department, I
concur with others about the stress of resolving feminism, humanism,
and equality when the guys just don't get it--when you try to play by
their rules.

A case in point in our situation: Recently, my only other female
colleague raised the issue that all three tech courses (scenery,
costumes, lights) should be required for the major, because scene shop
tends to be male based and costumeshop tends to be female.  Our male
tech director disagreed by stating that the scene shop was the only
"shared experience" of all theatre majors.  She and I continued to
argue that ALL tech classes were "shared experiences."  I then went on
to share student reports that women were not getting the same "shared
experiences" as men in the scene shop.  They were relegated to
painting and sweeping the stage, while men ran saws and constructed
scenery.  Later, this tech director approached me in the stairwell and
threatened me by accusing me of slandering him personally.  (He's been
known to do this before to my female colleague as well.)  He
intimidates female students (and faculty), while female students don't
complain about scene shop strategies and merely take what they're
given.  Things have got to change!  So, the debate is on hold, while
we encourage female students to share their scene shop stories with
our director--a male who at least appears to listen.

Even though I "shouldn't" "cause controversy" during my tenure year,
I'm fed up with men who don't understand feminism, discrimination,
etc.!  So, I speak my voice because I have a feminist colleague with
whom I can agree and add our minority vote on dept. issues.  Most
notably, we're trying to get more roles for women in the productions
we choose, but we have a long battle ahead of us when the literature
is so dominantly male-based.  It helps to have another colleague to
fight battles together.

For illumination on women's roles in universities, read Hazel Carby's
article on the "Politics of Difference" in this month's MS.

In the meantime, if anyone has any suggestions for female strategies
in academe I'd love to hear more about it!

Jeanne Klein
Kansas University Theatre