New collaboration to monitor gender disparities in literature

Pune, Sep 26 (IANS) PEN International and VIDA: Women in Literary Arts, a non-profit feminist organisation, announced a new collaboration on Wednesday to monitor gender disparities in literature through PEN Centres across the globe.

The "PEN/VIDA count", officials told IANS, will attempt to highlight imbalances in publishing by collecting data across genre, book reviews and journalistic by-lines, offering a gender-based assessment of the publishing world.

"This is a very special moment for furthering women's representation in literature, in a way that can bring about real change and equality. When we do not hear the voices and stories of women, it is not only women who suffer, but society. I am proud of this collaboration and hope that very soon we will see the impact of this work in every page we turn," said Jennifer Clement, President of PEN International.

The VIDA count was so far being carried out annually in the United States since 2010 and according to the non-profit's officials, it has already affected change in the publishing industry by using "concrete data to demonstrate the huge gap in representation between men and women" in the literary world.

The PEN/VIDA count will build on PEN's own advocacy work through its Women Writers Committee, which was established in 1991, as well as the recently launched Women's Manifesto that aims to protect free expression for women by "combating and eliminating the silencing of women" worldwide, they said in a joint statement.

"VIDA is very proud to partner with PEN International to support women writers worldwide through this initiative. While we recognise there is no singular formula for affecting change, as the barriers to access that women writers face worldwide vary greatly, we believe this work will initiate and foster important conversations and, over time, pave the way for opportunities for women writers in many countries," said Sara Iacovelli, VIDA Count Director.

PEN Centres now will start to provide a global perspective on gender disparity in the literary arts; including the way it can affect the life of a writer through review and exposure, access to publishing circles and contracts, the size of advances, and other ways that women writers are set apart.

Founded in London in 1921, PEN International connects an international community of writers. It is a forum where writers meet freely to discuss their work; it is also a voice speaking out for writers silenced in their own countries.

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