Thomas Borchert, Copenhagen

#metoo-Aufruf von 6000 Frauen in der schwedischen PR-Branche

Posted on December 13, 2017

Im Krautreporter-Artikel “Schwedische Frauen zeigen gerade, wie #metoo ein ganzes Land verändern kann” hab ich aus dem #metoo-Aufruf der schwedischen PR-Frauen zitiert. Jenny Burman, schickte mir jetzt auch die englische Übersetzung und schrieb: “Das ist eine unglaubliche Bewegung, Thomas! Früher hat es sicher Rivalität zwischen den Frauen gegeben. Jetzt sind wir alle Schwestern. Der helle Wahnsinn.” 

Hier der Aufruf in Englisch mit Forderungen an Arbeitgeber, männliche Kollegen und auch die PR-Kunden:

#SISTABRIEFEN
Current state
Last year, Swedish companies, government agencies and organizations bought communications services for billions of SEK. The culture and view on women in our workplaces affect us who work here, but also have an impact on all of society. The norms and values which are formed and maintained here are reproduced in the communication we sell and which society consumes. For us who work in the industry, this can mean a toxic and harmful work environment
where we are sexualized, marginalized, undervalued and exploited. At worst, we are also exposed to criminal acts.
Over the past few days, more than 6,000 female and non-binary professionals in advertising, public relations and communication have gathered. We have signed an appeal and shared 322 testimonies of harassment, gender discrimination and abuse in our workplaces. It’s heartbreaking reading.

Target state
The objective of this appeal is an immediate end to the sexualizing, marginalizing, downsizing and exploiting of women in our industry. We want workplaces free from discrimination, oppression, sexualizing jargon, harassment and abuse – both at the agencies and on the client side. Equality benefits all of society.

Mission
To agency leaders, managers and owners: You have the responsibility to create workplaces free from discrimination,
oppression and abuse, and to create communication free of harmful norms and sexism. How will work actively to create safe workplaces that take gender issues seriously? How will you organize and jointly ensure that there is an end to discrimination, harassment and abuse in our industry? We will require an answer to this brief, specifying what concrete actions will be taken. We leave this responsibility in your hands.

#SISTABRIEFEN

To the industry organizations Komm, Medieföretagen, Precis, Svenska PRföretagen, Sveriges Annonsörer och Sveriges Kommunikatörer:
You have the responsibility to help your members and to coordinate, organize and share knowledge and guidelines.
How will you as organizations convey values, policies and practical knowledge to your members and help them with their work on gender issues and to create safe workplaces? We will require an answer to this brief, specifying what concrete actions will be taken. We leave this responsibility in your hands.

To the advertising and communication schools around the country: You have the responsibility to educate future communicators and advertisers and to prepare them adequately for their professional lives. How will you take responsibility for the cultures you create, the preparations  you provide your students with, and how will you ensure they complete their internships in safe workplaces that take gender issues seriously? We will require an answer to this brief, specifying what concrete actions will be taken. We leave this responsibility in your hands.

To our clients, buyers of communication services: You buy our services and have the opportunity and responsibility to make demands on our industry. How will you require your suppliers to actively work to create safe workplaces
that take gender issues seriously? We ask you to reflect on our brief and on what concrete measures can be taken by you. We leave this responsibility in your hands.

To our colleagues:
Dear colleague. We ask you to look at yourself. How will you back us in the fight for creating safe workplaces that take gender issues seriously?

#SISTABRIEFEN
We ask you to reflect on our letter and what you can do to create a healthy culture in our workplaces. We know you are many out there who have our backs.

Timetable
We are tired of waiting for change. We expect you to prioritize this letter and get started with your solution-oriented work immediately. It’s time for you to act! We will follow-up on your assignments in January 2018.

Finally
This is the most important assignment you will ever get. It is not the first time you have bee made aware that something is wrong. Make sure it’s the last one.
This is the last brief, #sistabriefen.