Krista Henry, Staff Reporter

( L - R ) Lady Saw and Macka Diamond - file photos

"To be considered half as good as a man, a woman has to work twice as hard and mi work hundred times as hard and dem still gimme half hearted regards."

_{- Tanya Stephens' Intro to Gangsta Blues.}

Female entertainers are fighting for respect in the dancehall. Often accused of being too raw and stifled creatively, females have it hard in the male-dominated enter-tainment industry. Despite performing as vigorously as their male counterparts, the females are earning less money for their work.

Despite mashing up an arena, having the same length of performance and many forwards on a show, according to female entertainers, it is obvious that for years they make less money than men. DJ Macka Diamond admits "nothing has changed in dancehall it's been going on forever. From ever since dem have been complaining, I've complained. Dem no rate wi. Mi know men are highly paid." While not being able to quote figures, Macka testifies that it's a known fact among the females.

It has got so bad that at least one of the women have come out in protest. Veteran DJ Lady Saw, who is arguably the most-popular female deejay of all time, has taken a stand this year. The deejay is boycotting 'Sting 2006' because they have refused to meet her asking fee. "Everyone is asking me if I going Sting. Dem seh I too expensive - why should they pay less for us? I don't like dat. I can ram a place and rock a crowd too," Saw said.

DJ Spice agrees that females are paid less than men. She adds that she has to go with a settled rate. She explains that if a man gets $100,000 for a show, then a woman will get $80,000 for the same show. "I think its because it's a male dominated business dem waan pay dem more. Cause dem tink di man dem can mash up a show more, but none of dem no bad like we. Why dem shoulda get more money? Women nah get enough justice, not because is male dominated we mustn't get enough" Spice said.

Unfair policy

According to Macka Diamond, its an unfair policy as women have to worry and plan more for their performances. Spice testifies that a woman has to put more vigour into her performance to get a response, while a man can just stand up and deejay. Also if a woman wears the same outfit twice, people would scandalise the artiste. Macka confirms "male artistes no haffi worry bout much. Dem nuh haffi worry bout buying clothes or re-wearing clothes and yet is we get underpay." While she has complained to promoters, she testified that one person can't make the difference, there is not enough teamwork.

While the number of female artistes has increased over recent years, they are still few and far a part. The females who are in the business are not a cohesive unit. Macka states, "The problem is it's so male-dominated, women are fighting instead of working together. Dem a follow di man and go gainst each other." Sticking together and protesting as a unified fore might get more reaction from the promotions to female concerns. According to Spice she is willing to work with other females and not perform at stage shows for a small price. "Only ting we can do, for us to basically stick together, and seh we not doing di show. Di whole of we haffi mek up our mind."