A new study is out, tracking representation of women (and women of color) in mainstream moviemaking, and if you had a glimmer of hope that recent successes like Wonder Woman and Girls Trip were going to finally start tipping the scales towards more equality onscreen, um, you should probably take a seat.
The thesis of the new study from San Diego State University’s Center for the Study of Women in Television & Film tips its hand a bit: “It’s a Man’s (Celluloid) World.” The report finds a mere 24% of the protagonists in the top 100 highest-grossing (domestic) titles of 2017 were women – a decline (A DECLINE) of five percent from 2016’s already measly 29%. They only comprised 34% of speaking characters, and 37% of major characters. And while only 32% of film featured at least ten more women in speaking roles, 79% had that many speaking roles for men. Or more! Probably more.
Well, hey, maybe at least that small percentage was diverse, you might say hopefully, and haha no, no such luck. 68% of those women were white, compared to only 16% black, 7% Latinx, 7% Asian, and 2% other. Those number represent increases from the previous years – but seriously, come on.
You can read the full report, with all its sad stats and depressing charts and graphs, here.