ABSTRACT
Women in nonperformance and nontraditional areas of work in theatre believe their achievements are due to hard work, tenacity and determined effort. This study of 80 women in Sydney theatre reveals deliberate enterprise in their work although as women, they receive only minimal support and recognition for their abilities. While they are often initially attracted to working in theatre by a belief in its social and political significance, the women who maintain positive attitudes to their work are more likely to have experienced a childhood attraction to theatre. Women will put up with inequities based on gender divisions, difficult working conditions, inadequate pay and low status in their field of work because they love theatre.
