What If…? Composer Speaks Out On Being Overlooked By #MeToo Movement

What If…? composer, Laura Karpman, speaks out on being overlooked by #MeToo as female composers continue to face harassment and discrimination.

What If…? composer, Laura Karpman, is speaking out about how she and her fellow female composers have been overlooked by the #MeToo movement. Karpman is a five-time Emmy award winning composer and has composed for such works as Disney+’s animated series What If…? and HBO’s Lovecraft Country. Karpman is also a strong advocate for women’s equality in the workplace. She is the co-founder of Alliance for Women Composers, which strives to create greater visibility and opportunities for female composers in the industry. Karpman aims to open doors for women in the industry, but believes that these women need further support.

The #MeToo movement is the name given to a social movement against sexual abuse and harassment. #MeToo has become a phrase that symbolizes support and solidarity for victims of sexual abuse. In Hollywood, the #MeToo movement took off and was heavily tied to the downfall of former film producer and convicted sex offender, Harvey Weinstein. The #MeToo movement has provided support and a voice to hundreds of women in the film industry who have faced sexual harassment from those in positions of power. However, some groups don’t feel as touched by the movement.

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As reported by THR, Karpman spoke out about how the #MeToo movement has overlooked female composers. The What If…? composer detailed how the field of composing is rampant with harassment and exploitation. Karpman recalled being fired from projects for her music not being “masculine enough.” She detailed how such actions are made possible through the flawed structure of composing, which often has no HR department, code of conduct, or clear pathway into entry. Work is completed in intimate small spaces such as the home or studio and most only have prospects of a job if they have a relationship or connection to an employer. There is little room to separate work and personal life, which makes women particularly vulnerable. Check out Karpman’s statement below:

I’ve been told, ‘Your music is not masculine enough.’ What are you supposed to say to that? ‘Oh my God, did I use a flute?’ When you get old enough and have enough of a career, you can challenge them or choose to work elsewhere. But the younger people just have to smile. You’re in studios, often in the home… it’s very hard to separate the personal from the professional. Lines get crossed. It’s a navigation even if you’re not dealing with harassment. We have no workplace rules and no organized way to create codes of conduct. It’s a flawed ecosystem. For me, that’s the next horizon of advocacy. It’s got to open the floodgates, not be a trickle through a rusty old pipe.

Karpman’s statements were corroborated by several others female composers who told similar stories of barriers to entry, lack of workplace structure, and general harassment and discrimination. Unlike the filmmaking industry, which had the high-profile Weinstein case, the field of composing hasn’t had such a case. Cases and allegations against well-known composers have been swept under the rug and led to no consequences, leaving the composers waiting for the “wave” of #MeToo support and change. However, no such wave, chagrin, or support has come their way. Karpman continues to struggle to simply open the door for female composers, but the entire field is in dire need of reform.

Karpman’s statement is troubling to hear, but a necessary statement for those who offer high praise to the #MeToo movement. Many liken the movement to a revolutionary change in society, but the truth is that this movement is only the tip of the iceberg. There are still numerous fields where women face intense harassment and discrimination. The #MeToo movement is flawed in that support is more vocal to those who have more influence and presence in society. However, those who need #MeToo’s support the most are often those who work quietly behind the scenes in fields that don’t get as much attention as they should. An Emmy-winner and composer for MCU series What If…?, should not face the prospect of termination because her music isn’t “masculine” enough. Karpman’s statement sheds a light on the areas that #MeToo has missed and illustrates the dire need for equal opportunity, protection, and structure for female composers.

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Source: THR

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