Female representation in the film industry is a major issue right now (as it has been for quite a few years) and women have been getting more and more vocal about it. As you will see in the other pages of this website, the number of female characters in movies is significantly less than the number of male characters, and the female characters that do exist are often very one-dimensional, stereotypical, sexually objectified, and/or subordinate to the male characters. This is problematic because it perpetuates the hegemonic masculinity that rules our society. Media is one of the main tools of socialization, which is the process through which members of society learn the culture, norms, and values of the society they live in. This includes gender norms, roles, stereotypes, and expectations. Lack of positive (or any) female representation in film reinforces harmful stereotypes, teaching boys and girls that women are less valuable than men. In addition, it silences womens' perspective and limits the number of storylines and characters that women and girls feel they can identify with or look up to.
Part of the reason for this problem is that the film industry itself is one big patriarchy. As you work up the hierarchy of film occupations, the closer you get to the top, the more men you will find. Most directors, cinematographers, producers, and main positions of power over the production of a film are held by men. This again limits the number of films that incorporate the female perspective. However, this points to a separate, but equally important, problem. The lack of female representation in the film industry is also an issue of equal opportunity employment. With that, I leave you to peruse the rest of the pages on this website. My hope is that you will emerge with a greater understanding of the details surrounding the complex issue of the inadequate representation of women in the film industry. Thank you for your attention, Holly (Site Creator) |
"Media is one of the main tools of socialization"
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