9:51 pm - 05/15/2012
Females were “dramatically under-represented” in the United States’ top 100 grossing films last year, accounting for 33% of all characters at a time when they made up nearly 51% of the U.S. population, according to a study being released Tuesday.
The 33% figure represented an increase over the findings of a similar study in 2002, when females comprised 28% of the movie characters, said the report from the Center for the Study of Women in Television and Film at San Diego State University.
But while there were more female characters overall, fewer of them were “clearly identifiable protagonists,” the study found -- 11% in 2011 versus 16% in 2002. “Thus, while there are more female characters on screen today, fewer stories are told from a female character’s perspective,” according to Martha Lauzen, executive director of the center.
Her title for the report: "It's a Man's (Celluloid) World."
The report mirrored a study of women's behind-the-scenes participation that the center released in January, which found that women made up 18% of all directors, producers, writers, cinematographers and editors working on the 250 highest-grossing movies last year. That was only one percentage point higher than when the center began studying employment figures in 1998.
Lauzen’s latest report said that, on average, female characters in last year’s films were younger than the male characters, less likely to be portrayed as leaders and more likely to be identified by their marital status. It said that 73% of the female characters were Caucasian, 8% African American, 5% Latina and 5% Asian (with the rest in smaller categories, including aliens and animals).
Source, and the original study (thanks to
sunoftheskye @ 
ontd_political!)
Honestly, this doesn't surprise me. The fact that the Bechdel test even exists - and is frequently failed - is depressing enough, imo.
ONTD, what are some of your favorite movies with strong (not necessarily action hero!) female characters? Hell, might as well throw in some book recommendations, too.
Study: females dramatically underrepresented in top 2011 films (and the Pope is Catholic, too!)
Females were “dramatically under-represented” in the United States’ top 100 grossing films last year, accounting for 33% of all characters at a time when they made up nearly 51% of the U.S. population, according to a study being released Tuesday.
The 33% figure represented an increase over the findings of a similar study in 2002, when females comprised 28% of the movie characters, said the report from the Center for the Study of Women in Television and Film at San Diego State University.
But while there were more female characters overall, fewer of them were “clearly identifiable protagonists,” the study found -- 11% in 2011 versus 16% in 2002. “Thus, while there are more female characters on screen today, fewer stories are told from a female character’s perspective,” according to Martha Lauzen, executive director of the center.
Her title for the report: "It's a Man's (Celluloid) World."
The report mirrored a study of women's behind-the-scenes participation that the center released in January, which found that women made up 18% of all directors, producers, writers, cinematographers and editors working on the 250 highest-grossing movies last year. That was only one percentage point higher than when the center began studying employment figures in 1998.
Lauzen’s latest report said that, on average, female characters in last year’s films were younger than the male characters, less likely to be portrayed as leaders and more likely to be identified by their marital status. It said that 73% of the female characters were Caucasian, 8% African American, 5% Latina and 5% Asian (with the rest in smaller categories, including aliens and animals).
Source, and the original study (thanks to
sunoftheskye @ ontd_political!)Honestly, this doesn't surprise me. The fact that the Bechdel test even exists - and is frequently failed - is depressing enough, imo.
ONTD, what are some of your favorite movies with strong (not necessarily action hero!) female characters? Hell, might as well throw in some book recommendations, too.
Edited at 2012-05-16 02:04 am (UTC)
And maybe I'm just desensitized but I didn't think it was too male-gazey besides maybe a few pany shot scenes in the first ~dream sequence.
LBR here, most of those films that have female protagonists aren't quality either.
Hollywood is failing at both quality and quantity.
But imo I just want to see more women doing stuff. None of the male characters in the Avengers where deep or incredibly complex, but you got to see a wide variety that just does not exist for female roles.
I feel that I will never break into this business because everything I write has a female protagonist and I won't apologize for that.
So far, I enjoyed the hell out of Battlestar Galactica and Nikita... however, it was still not up to my standards due to racial inequality and slight gender inequality... but, miles above most television.
All snark aside, I've only gone to the theater twice this year - do any more moviegoing ONTDers think that more women are in prominent roles this year?
Sadly, I think that wipes out Rise of The Guardians, but oh well.
to answer your question, i really like death proof. i would love it a lot more if it weren't for the part where they leave their friend with the creepy dude.
also, kill bill. o-ren and beatrice own my heart.
i also really liked the female characters in dead like me, though i never warmed up to daisy.
People keep saying they didn't talk like women, but that is so me and my girlfriends!
wth is that supposed to mean?
Women and men talk in a very similar manner.
Smh @ stereotypes
Edited at 2012-05-16 02:15 am (UTC)
lololol I was so insulted. Especially because periods aren't mentioned a single. fucking. time.
About Daisy, I absolutely fucking despised her when she first showed up, but after we found out what her last thought was I completely understood her and started to really enjoy her character.
In recent years the hbic in my icon has been my favorite book and movie female character. Historically, I also loved Scarlett O'Hara and the wild success of Gone with the Wind (book and movie).
I have issues with Nolan and his women.
lol
But then Nolan's dumb ass keeps killing off the women in his other films. If he does this in the TDKR I will be pissed and I will be loud about it.