“Behind the scenes, the gender balance in Hollywood is still dramatically skewed in favor of men”: This is the conclusion of a new study that, despite Greta Gerwig’s success with “Barbie,” shows how women are still underrepresented in key positions in the film industry.
Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie” became the most successful film of 2023, a colorful fun with a feminist touch. Moreover, never before has a film directed by a woman earned so much money at the box office. However, the hype surrounding Margot Robbie’s portrayal of “Barbie” cannot disguise the fact that Hollywood is lagging behind in terms of gender equality – in fact, it is reported to be taking a step back, according to the industry publication “Variety.”
Gerwig belongs to an absolute minority: According to a study by the Center for the Study of Women in Television and Film at San Diego State University, in 2023, only 16 percent of directors of the top 250 highest-grossing films were women. The previous year, the percentage of female filmmakers was at least 18 percent. And the more the study focuses on the top positions, the clearer the results become: Only 14 percent of the top 100 highest-grossing films had women in the director’s chair, though there is a slight upward trend here: in 2022, it was only eleven percent.
“The numbers speak volumes” These findings come at a time when Gerwig represents just the tip of successful female directors. Others like Emerald Fennell with “Salburn,” Celine Song with “Past Lives,” and Sofia Coppola with “Priscilla” have also celebrated successes and received praise from critics. Additionally, concert films by pop icons Taylor Swift and Beyoncé have drawn audiences to theaters.
However, this hasn’t positively impacted the employment situation for women. Overall, only 22 percent of all individuals involved in the key roles in the top 250 highest-grossing films were women. This includes not only directors but also writers, producers, executive producers, editors, and cinematographers. Furthermore, in 75 percent of the highest-grossing films, ten or more men worked in key behind-the-scenes positions, while only four percent employed ten or more women. The study also found that more women take on responsible roles when a female director is in charge compared to when a man directs.
“It’s the ultimate illusion: Greta Gerwig’s well-deserved triumph masks the inequality that permeates the mainstream film industry,” explained Dr. Martha Lauzen, the report’s author and founder and executive director of the Center, in a statement. “The numbers speak volumes. Behind the scenes, the gender balance in Hollywood is still dramatically skewed in favor of men.”
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