Gender Inequality In The Film Industry
Alex Williams
Growing up in the United States, we are taught that in order to fix a problem, we must first recognize that there is one. This installment that society embeds upon us has not paid off as countless issues go unrecognized due to lack of awareness and the desire and courage to speak out. We as a nation have become silent on issues that are vital to confront, due to the fear of going against societal norms and being viewed as different. The entertainment world can be seen as one of the main reasons for the lack of recognition of issues and also the silence behind females in the film industry. Clint Smith, a professor from Harvard University stated, “We spend so much time listening to the things people are saying that we rarely pay attention to the things they don’t. Silence is the residue of fear. There is no time to pick your battles when your battles have already picked you,” (Smith, Ted).
Each year, networks and studios seek new ways to come up with shows and films that will generate big bucks, create social buzz, and keep viewers entertained. Although the film industry is expanding vastly, it does not expand proportionality for all audience demographics, specifically for women. These studios and networks do a great job of keeping us in the dark about lack of equal representation that is right in front of us, but there are people such as myself that do notice them. One of—and if not the biggest— issues within the film industry that has been ongoing since the beginning of film is gender inequality. It is undeniable that gender inequality exists in all aspects of film such as women’s prevalence and portrayal on screen, objectification to undergoing exposing and sexual acts, and even as far as directing, writing, and creating shows. Just because A-list actresses such as Sandra Bullock, Rachel McAdams, Meryl Streep, Jennifer Lawrence, and Kate Winslet star in box office hits and have numerous awards doesn’t mean that the issue of gender inequality doesn’t exist. It seems that some of these women are almost used as a veil to hide the truth behind the lower pay women are making in contrast to males. However, some of these women are beginning to speak out to shed light on these issues.
During her acceptance speech at last years Oscar’s, Cate Blanchett did just that. In her speech Blanchett made her opinion on the film industry clear: to those “who are still foolishly clinging to the idea that female films with women at the center are niche experiences - they are not. Audiences want to see them and, in fact, they earn money. The world is round, people" (Jannese 2014). Blanchett was not afraid to speak out against Hollywood in return to provoke other women to be courageous enough to do the same. The silence was broken again by actress Patricia Arquette during her Oscar winning speech when she touched upon wage equality without fearing the controversy and backlash she would end up receiving: “I knew that pay inequality was a risky thing to bring up at the Oscars. There is an unspoken understanding that you shouldn't be political on that stage. But the truth is, I don't think women can wait anymore. We have to be political. I don't think we can continue to be left out of the conversation ” (Arquette 2015). Arquette exemplifies a courageous woman who risked her career by speaking out on a very controversial issue to encourage other women in the industry to not remain silent.
Gender inequality within the film industry doesn’t just exist in front of the camera, but also behind it. Female writers and directors are not given the same freedom, opportunities, or benefits as their male counters. If someone were to ask you to name five female writers or directors, would you be able too? According to a study done at USC’s Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism through their Media, Diversity & Social Change Initiative, findings showed that: “Across 6,421 writers, a full 71.1% were male and 28.9% were female. This means that for every one female screenwriter there were 2.5 male screenwriters” (Smith et al. 4).
The silence on gender inequality within the film industry needs to be broken as this issue is becoming more prevalent as each year passes by and not enough people are recognizing this problem or taking action. We all need to be more like Cate Blanchett and Patricia Arquette and not fear being viewed as different, rebellious, or as someone breaking societal norms. We must not fear to stand up for what is right, and call for action.
Article Links:
Works Cited:
“New Study Reveals Shocking Statistics About Women in Hollywood.” Babble. Suzanne Jannese, 12 Mar. 2014. Web. 21 Mar. 2016
“Patricia Arquette: What Happened After My Oscar Speech on Pay Inequality (Guest Column).” The Hollywood Reporter. Patricia Arquette, 9 Dec. 2015. Web 21 Mar. 2016
“Transcript of “The Danger of Silence” Clint Smith: The Danger of Silence. TED, Aug. 2014. Web. 21 Mar. 2016
Smith, Stacy L. Media, Diversity, & Social Change Initiative. Rep. USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, 22 Feb. 2016 Web. 21 Mar. 2016.
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ReplyDeleteTaylor Hoblitzell
ReplyDeleteGender inequality is an extreme issue in the film industry. I didn’t always realize it. When I finally saw the inequality I was shocked at how naïve I could be to not have realized this. “There’s an epidemic of invisibility…It strikes us as odd given that it’s 2016 and so many other institutions are making progress. It’s time for the entertainment business to move forward, as well.” (Lang) But it is 2016, so why do we still have such problems? Well, it starts at a corporate level and works its way down to the screen. “Women made up less than 20% of entertainment companies’ corporate boards, chief executives and executive management teams.” (Lang) Without women in power positions, changes will most likely not be made very quickly. Simply, because this is an issue on women. Women are infuriated about this, there’s just not enough of them in power roles to make the immediate changes.
When you think to a woman in a film, who do you think of? Is she a mother? Is she a daughter? Is she promiscuous? Is she a bitch? These are common categories that women get roped into in films. In movies such as the Devil Wears Prada and The Proposal, we see strong independent women. They are focused on their careers and that’s why we should love them right? Wrong, actually. These female characters are hyped up to be the bitchiest and coldest they can be. The Proposal is almost worse. The bitchy boss is saved from her cold heart by falling for her attractive assistant. Meanwhile in Mad Men, Don Draper is seen as “the man”. While he becomes seduced by women it does not cross your mind that love could ever save his character. I’ve never encountered someone who did not love this Mad Men main character. You would never think his character needs to be saved. He is viewed as driven, while a female in his role may be called pushy. The more you break down your favorite movies, the more norms you find female characters trapped under. You can almost always relate a female character’s worth directly back to her male counterpart. She’s always looking for love, playing the mother, or playing the slut. While there are real women who fall into all of these roles in the real world, there are so many more types of women who are not represented on the big screen. It skews our perception of women in real life in a dramatic way. “Something has to change. And as great as it was to have Ellen presenting the Oscars®, that's just a start. We need equality in film - in front of and behind the camera. We are every bit as talented as our male counterparts. What is seen in a man as drive, is often seen in a woman as cold ambition. Men are leaders. Women are “bossy”.” (Babble) I do believe that the film industry can and will make a change. I have faith because it is not something we are just sweeping under the rug anymore. Meryl Streep noted that the wage gap needs to change in her Oscars acceptance speech in 2015. Jennifer Lawrence is known for speaking out about these issues with celebrity feminists like Lena Dunham. The question is not is it an issue? The question is not can it be solved? It is an issue that can most certainly be solved. The question is who is going to step up to bat to begin making changes in corporate Hollywood?
Works Cited
Lang, Brent. "Hollywood Is a ‘Straight, White, Boys’ Club,’ Blistering Study Finds." Variety. N.p., 22 Feb. 2016. Web. 22 Mar. 2016.
“New Study Reveals Shocking Statistics About Women in Hollywood.” Babble. Suzanne Jannese, 12 Mar. 2014. Web. 22 Mar. 2016
Inequality of women in the film industry means much more than having a lack of female lead roles in movies. This inequality is just as prominent on screen as it is behind the camera, and on the paychecks.
ReplyDeleteWomen in the film industry have been flying under the radar for much too long. Females are an essential part of the entertainment industry, but mainly for that reason only; entertainment. Women are commonly portrayed as secondary characters, promoted as less important than men and usually in a sexual manner. With an exception to the rule, there are many famous actresses who prevail in the industry and showcase that females can make it to the top and star in/produce top grossing films. However, these core women are unfortunately severely outnumbered by the amount of male dominated roles and positions in the industry. So what do we do about it?
It is becoming increasingly popular to speak out about an issue during an acceptance speech, as you mentioned two examples in your article Alex. Even though it is done time and time again, it is the perfect opportunity to showcase the elephants in the room. Patricia Arquette raising her trophy to touch upon the wage gap between men and women in the film industry during her acceptance speech at the 2016 Oscars wasn’t some absurd idea that caught everyone off guard, it just reminded the audience of this underlying issue that America pushes under the rug. If this isn’t some new tactic for celebrities to use as a platform to push reform, why has nothing changed?
Martha Lauzen’s study of the top 250 grossing films in 2012 revealed that the percentage of females that make up the directors, editors, etc. was 18%, which is only a 1% increase from 1998 (Babble.com). That means that in 14 long years, female roles in the film industry only increased by 1%... that is beyond inacceptable. If the industry takes another 14 years to increase another 1%, I sure hope the females go on strike.
The argument that male dominated movies are just what we are used to and that they are the social norm is no longer an excuse. With the incorporation of women both on and off the screen, women protagonists in movies can become a social norm too, but this can never happen if the chance is never given. To think that living in a world where we have recently changed laws allowing gay marriage and other minority groups to gain rights, why is it that we cannot even distinguish equal opportunities between genders? Race and ethnicity are a whole other topic to bring fourth, but the fact of race aside, it is astounding that we live in the land of the free, home of the brave, and a country known for its equal rights movements throughout history, but here we are in 2016 with huge gender gaps. As Smith says in the article, “There’s an epidemic of invisibility. It strikes us as odd given that it’s 2016 and so many other institutions are making progress. It’s time for the entertainment business to move forward, as well,” and I couldn’t agree more (Lang).
Works Cited:
“New Study Reveals Shocking Statistics About Women in Hollywood.” Babble. Suzanne Jannese, 12 Mar. 2014. Web. 21 Mar. 2016
Lang, Brent. “Hollywood Is a ‘Straight, White, Boys’ Club,’ Blistering Study Finds.” Variety. 22 Feb. 2016. Web. 21 Mar. 2016
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ReplyDeleteThere is undoubtedly a major gender inequality issue in the film industry. I can’t believe more people don’t notice. Whenever yet another film with a white male lead comes out I almost roll my eyes. Movies led by, say, females, or african-americans are always put under the microscope; their success directly relating to Hollywood’s aptness to “take the risk” of putting out another film like it in the future. If a female-lead film flops, studio executives are more wary about the next one. If a male-lead film flops, it is just another flop. The past has proven that white male lead characters work, but I feel as if industry execs don’t realize how powerful a change in that shift can be.
ReplyDeleteLook at television. Sure, I understand that the financial stakes are lower on the small screen, but let’s use it as a model anyway. TV is doing extremely well with diverse casts and crews. TV and digital channels like Hulu, Amazon, Disney, and the CW’s “percentage of female, minority, and LGBT characters, as well as female writers, directors, and showrunners… all exceed 65%” (Lang 1). That is well over half! That means that female-driven shows written and directed by women are succeeding with flying colors. The film industry is much different, as the highest studio ranks 45% lower than the aforementioned TV channels in the same category. Why can’t the film industry put the same faith in women as TV has?
In a study of the top 250 grossing films in 2012, women only comprised “18% of all directors, executive producers, producers, writers, cinematographers, and editors” (New Study 1). To make that statistic sound even worse I give you this -- the number has only grown 1% in 14 years! Hollywood needs to do a better job of hiring women behind the camera so we can see women in front of the camera. I truly believe that the problem lies there. Men are dominating the film industry, representing a staggering 70% of it. These men are going to hire men. We need more women in the industry so that they can hire more women. It is unfortunate it has to be that way, but for where we are now I believe it is the only solution.
The report that came out about Jennifer Lawrence and other female-leads making less than their male counterparts really shook me. Personally, I figured, acting-wise, Hollywood would be pretty fair and equal. Apparently not. I’m glad that came out and I hope that it has helped even out the salaries between male and female leads.
As you inquired, if someone were to ask you to name five female writers or directors, would you be able too? No, I would not. That is pathetic. I can only name three -- Sofia Coppola, Elizabeth Merriweather, and Shonda Rhimes, and the second two primarily work in television. On the contrary, I could name a couple dozen males. There is certainly a problem with inclusion and diversity in the current day landscape of film and I hope it changes soon. Unfortunately, I do not know the answer to the problem.
Works Cited
“New Study Reveals Shocking Statistics About Women in Hollywood.” Babble. Suzanne Jannese, 12 Mar. 2014. Web. 21 Mar. 2016
Lang, Brent. “Hollywood Is a ‘Straight, White, Boys’ Club,’ Blistering Study Finds.” Variety. 22 Feb. 2016. Web. 21 Mar. 2016
Response: Gender Inequality in Film Industry
ReplyDeleteAmanda Garay
I agree with Alex that there is an unequal representation of women in the film industry both on the screen and behind the camera. It’s certainly a topic that is “hush-hush” because there hasn’t been much improvement. As a young woman in the 21st century, I have seen and witnessed the ways in which media portray women. The media exemplifies respect for women through objectifying them. I have found the age in which girls begin to use makeup to continuously become younger. The film industry plays a big part in this. There are very few women in the film industry that are actually praised purely because of their talent and success. Instead it’s about how sexy is Sandra Bullock or Jennifer Lawrence. I, personally, would like to see a woman in the film industry that is purely acclaimed for her capabilities and success and not her physical attractiveness. I think it’s good that Cate Blanchett and Patricia Arquette have made statements to finally bring forth the conversation of inclusion of women in the film industry. However, there is still a long way ahead.
For some, it’s not only a diversity problem but also an inclusion problem (USC Annenberg School…, 2016). The lack of representation of women in the film industry is unreasonable. The ratio of male to female directors is 5.6 to 1 which means women only make15.2% in total (USC Annenberg School…, 2016). Across the board, the largest group of female directors was in broadcast, which was 17.1%. However, compare this to the 82.9% of male directors in broadcast. These statistics illustrate the current representation of female directors today. How can we set a powerful example for young girls if the perspective of the film industry is heavily influenced by male decisions?
In terms of on screen, women are usually portrayed in an attractive light. Statistics show that females (34.3%) are more likely than males (7.6%) to be shown in sexy attire (USC Annenberg School…, 2016). Films are influential and when there is a female protagonist it’s quite a big deal. This is because there is so few of them compared to male protagonists. When a female protagonist is revealed as sexually alluring and attractive, it is establishing an example for other young women and girls. Currently, of the “top 100 domestic US grossing films, females were only 15% of the main protagonists (in other words, the heroine, the main character we root for), 29% of the major characters, and 30% of all speaking characters. So over two thirds of all speaking roles were spoken by men. This figure remains virtually the same as the 1940s” (Jannese, 2014). This is an unfortunate statistic because it conveys the lack of improvement that has been made in the last 75 years.
In order to improve the inclusion of women in the film industry, it first must be recognized. I think it’s a two-part problem though. There needs to be more attention to women who are working behind the camera and exemplifying their talent. Then the representation of women on camera needs to become more diversified. Focus more on intelligence and confidence rather than sexual and physical qualities. I look forward to the day that women are seen as equals in the film industry.
References
From C-Suite to Characters on Screen: How Inclusive is the entertainment industry? (2016, Feb. 22). USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. Retrieved from http://annenberg.usc.edu/news/research/c-suite-characters-screen-how-inclusive-entertainment-industry
Jannese, S. (2014, March 14). New Study Reveals Shocking Statistics About Women in Hollywood. Retrieved from http://www.babble.com/entertainment/why-arent-more-women-on-screen-a-new-study-reveals-shocking-statistics/