Gender Issues in Theatre Management: The Cross-River State Cultural Centre in Focus

Abstract

This study examined gender issues in the management of the Cross-River State Cultural Centre. Three research questions were formulated for the study and eighty-three respondents were used for the study. The researcher made use of questionnaires, interviews and group discussions for collecting data for the study. Descriptive tools in statistics such as tables and simple percentages were used to present the data in a clear manner for empirical analysis to answer the research questions. The study found amongst others that, although women in the Cross-River State Cultural Centre have the requisite academic qualifications and experience, appointment to the position of Director of the centre often eludes them as more men have been favoured in the appointments. It was also discovered that appointment to higher Management positions in the centre have been politicized and women in the centre lack the political power necessary for appointment to such positions. The study also found that gender perspectives and the attainment of gender equality were not central to the provisions of the edict establishing the Cross-River State Cultural Centre. The study recommended amongst others that: The Edict establishing the Cross-River State Cultural Centre should be reviewed in order to make gender perspectives and attention to the goal of gender equality central to the activities of the centre and the setting up of a Board to handle issues of recruitment, promotions and appointments in order to do away with the over politicized methods of appointing staff of the council to management positions in the council.