North America

Negative Representation

• The level of media exposure is dictated by gender. The body language of girls is usually passive, vulnerable, and very different from the body languages of boys and men. • Women are treated by the media as products through discrimination, objectification, and dehumanisation. • A study conducted by the Geena Davis Institute found that in Hollywood movies, male characters received twice as much screen time and spoke twice as often compared to female characters. Lack of a voice on the screen can lead to a lack of a voice (or at least the perception of a lack of voice) in real life.

Positive Representation

• Women are becoming more involved in creative roles in the Hollywood TV and film industry. In 2021-2022, 47% of producers in the US TV and film industry were women, and the amount of female writers rose from 17.4% in 2019 to 33.5% in 2021. • A survey of 4,300 women found that 58% of respondents related that female role models inspired them to be more ambitious or assertive with one-in-nine indicating that positive female role models had given them the courage to leave an abusive relationship.

Recent Positive Changes

• In North America, post the Me-Too Movement there has been much positive change relating to the film industry and women holding more power and many being less afraid to speak up than before. The feminization of the film industry, with more women in positions of authority, has created a greater awareness of these issues. • The #MeToo movement has energised efforts to achieve gender parity at film festivals. All the major North American film festivals have now signed gender parity pledges to push for an equal balance among festival staff, their executive boards, and in the directors chosen for official selection.

Barriers To Change

• Sexism and traditional gender roles are still prevalent in North American culture. • Many North American people might not feel the need to campaign against negative media representation as most people would like to believe that they are not affected by media and advertising.

What More Needs To Be Done?

• Powerful media companies and the government need to raise awareness and encourage people to campaign for positive and accurate portrayal of women in the media. • Women should be encouraged to follow their ambitions in media, through training and qualification being offered to more women.

TV & Film Recommendations

• Nomadland – directed by Chloe Zhao and produced by Chloe Zhao and Frances McDormand. The film follows Fern as she starts her life on the road as a nomad, learning important survival skills on the way. • The Matrix – written and directed by Lana and Lilly Wachowski. The film follows a computer programmer who fights a war against powerful computers who have constructed his reality with the Matrix system. • American Psycho – directed by Mary Harron. The film follows a wealthy investment banker as he hides his psychopathic ego from his friends. • Selma – directed by Ava DuVernay. The film follows Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his followers on their epic march from Selma to Montgomery, culminating in the signing of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. • Lady Bird – written and directed by Greta Gerwig. The film follows Lady Bird as she navigates the ups and downs in her relationships, whilst trying to get into college and become popular.

Click on the posters below to learn more about these films and TV shows