2. Article Summary
➔ The Article I chose to read was found on theguardian.com, it began by
discussing the statistical evidence of how men and women compare in the
film industry, and ultimately explaining that men are more dominant.
➔ The next point the article makes is that segments of the industry are
dominated by women, but the segments that are, are the ones that are
deemed of lesser value or importance.
➔ Next the author admits that whilst partaking in the research to formulate
this article he had hoped the evidence found would promote a change in the
industry and make the problem known.
3. Article Summary Continued
➔ The author then admits that while conducting his research instead of finding
an increase in women working in the film industry he found a decrease as
the years progressed.
➔ There is then an interview in the article with Beryl Richards (female director
and producer) that discusses why the industry is the way it is. She ultimately
blames it on people not wanting to realize there's a problem.
➔ We then got into the different genres of film and what genres include and
portray women in the best light.
➔ The article ends restating the importance of equal representation in the
industry and how we (the film industry) need to strive to achieve it.
4. The Feminist
Approaches in
Communication
The Feminist Approach states that
men and women have different
ways of getting work done, and
doing that work with a purpose.
Much of any organization is
predominantly based off that of its
male employees (ie. organization
life). Due to all of this some
organizations are patriarchal
meaning men hold the power over
the women.
5. To Help Paint the Picture
This side of the
chart shows
from years 1998
to 2012 the
fluctuations of
women working
behind the
scenes in the
film industry.
This side of the chart
shows the most recent
data for women
compared to that of men
working behind the
scenes. The amount of
men working behind the
scenes is more than
double that of women.
6. Gender Disparity in the Film Industry
➔ By reading the previous slide I am
hoping it has became clear the true
problem that the film industry possess.
In the industry “more than three-
quarters of the crew involved in making
2,000 of the biggest grossing films over
the past 20 years have been men, while
only 22% were women” (theguardian.
com). This number shows that while
women were apart of big blockbuster
films, men ultimately were in control.
7. Hegemony in the Film Industry
➔ Hegemony is when power and control are held by one group or
individual that dominates the rest of the people in the
organization, they hold the power.
➔ Hegemony is a common and well stated idea when it comes to
women in this industry. Men (the dominant group) hold the power
over the women in most cases by out numbering them, causing the
women of the industry to feel subordinate to the men.
8. Hegemony Continued
➔ In the article it discusses what jobs men and
women are likely to have in the film industry.
The writer states “Women made up a majority
only in costume and wardrobe departments
and casting, all of which, traditionally, have
been perceived as feminine workplaces. Visual
effects, usually the largest department for big
feature films, had an average of only 17.5% of
women, while music had just 16%, and camera
and electricals were, on average, 95% male”
(theguardian.com). Jobs that are considered of
a higher education level or of more
importance are the jobs men are deemed
dominant in, only making the subordinate role
go to women even more so by giving them jobs
that aren’t thought to hold as much
importance as male dominated departments.
9. Ideology and the Film Industry
➔ Ideology is assumptions of reality that we rarely question or judge. In a
nutshell ideology refers to the idea that if you are exposed to the same
reaction to a situation enough times you’ll just accept that as normal even if
in the great scheme of things it isn’t.
➔ For Example: In many organizations we view a hierarchy structure as
normal because many workplaces are commonly run as such. If you think
about it though those whom are subordinate are just accepting there
subordinance where in other instances in there lives they may not do that.
10. Ideology Cont.
➔ The idea of ideology plays
into the film industry, if you
take a look at the structure
of almost all blockbuster
film crews you’ll see it is
hierarchical. The chart to
the right shows who holds
power and is need during
the development of a film
and then once the film is
underway.
11. Emancipation in the Film Industry
➔ Emancipation is the function of creating awareness and recognition while
providing communicative action to those suppressed in an organization.
➔ In the film industry speaking strictly toward the feminist approach women
are the one suppressed. According to the article the film industry has yet to
see a positive shift for women in their workforces. In an interview with Beryl
Richards (female director and producer) she states “On so many sets women
are seen as lesser beings in terms of status and many women still find it
hard to be taken seriously” (theguardian.com). The major problem here is
that communicative action isn’t being taken allowing the rationality of the
issue to be pushed aside.
12. How Can We Fix the Lack of
Emancipation? Aka -- Resistance
➔ The main solution to this problem is
creating a force of people that are on
the feminist side, and those willing to
represent the repressed side of the
industry. A few women fighting for
the cause are Lena Dunham, Emma
Watson, and Kathryn Bigelow. These
women are some of the few to speak
up, they have spoken publically and
openly about the issues of gender
equality in the film industry in an
effort to make strides towards equal
representation.
Lena
Dunham
Emma
Watson
Kathryn
Bigelow
13. Major Milestones for Women in Film
1896
April
Women directs a motion
picture for the first time, her
name was Alice Guy-Blache.
1919
February
Mary Pickford is the first female to
receive a payment of 1 million dollars
per year.
1976
April
First female to anchor a major network
news broadcast, Barbara Walters.
February
First female nominee for Best
Director at the Academy
Awards.
1977
January
Sherry Lansing, becomes the first female to head
a major film studio by being named president of
20th Century Fox.
1980
September
Katie Couric, first female to be a solo
news anchor on broadcast television
evening news on week nights.
2006
All information found on www.hollywoodreporter.com
14. Reflection on Milestone Findings
➔ After discovering my findings I must say I am shocked, to find out that
women started making strides in 1896 and haven't really made it that far.
Going back to the article it states “The 2,000 films surveyed revealed that
women accounted for only 13% of the editors, 10% of the writers and just 5%
of the directors” (theguardian.com). In my opinion those numbers should be
equivalent to those of males or at least much closer than what they are.
15. Issues Regarding Sexual Harassment
➔ Sexual Harassment is when a person(s) make undesired or
unwanted sexual remarks, gestures, advances, etc. Basically
any unwanted sexual acts is deemed to be that of harassment.
➔ Relating this to the film industry not only in major blockbuster
hits is sexual harassment portrayed as funny or harmless but
also as something that just happens, giving the idea that
nothing can really be done to dissolve the issue.
➔ For example: Clueless the 1995 chick flick beloved by so many to this day has a scene in
which the lead character is walking across campus and men are grabbing and making
comments to her which she attempts to stop by pushing a man off of her. With it’s funny
comments and witty remarks most viewers sit and laugh but is a women having to resort
to violence in an effort to not be violated truly something to laugh at?
16. Sexual Harassment Cont.
➔ Looking at the chart to the right,
you’ll see that while filming on
screen women have to reveal their
bodies in many more instances than
males. The two I wish to bring
attention to the most are “28.8% of
women wore sexually revealing
clothes as opposed to 7.0% of men”
and “26.2% of women actors get
partially naked while 9.4% of men
do”. Why must women’s bodies be
portrayed sexual in more instances
than men’s? Perhaps this technique
is leading to more and more sexual
harassment in the workplace.
17. Questions?
➔ Why have women in the film industry put of with this type of treatment so
long? Hasn’t always being put below a male infuriated you after all this time?
If so why? And if not why?
➔ What do you think women need to do to gain equal representation in the
film industry? Would you being willing to do it?
➔ It is stated in the article that women only hold dominance in a few areas of
film, those being makeup crew, costume design, and casting. Why do you
think that is?
18. Questions? Cont.
➔ Are you happy with your job in the film industry? If so what about your job
do you like so much to make it worth everything you must go through being
a women in this industry?
➔ If another women were to come to you and tell you that they wanted to
pursue a career in the film industry what would be the best advice you could
give them?
➔ What is your solution for gaining equal gender representation in the film
industry?
19. Solutions For This Issue
➔ I have one solution for this problem, it may seem implausible but frankly I
think it’s worth a shot. I think laws need to be made about equal
representation of all genders in the workplace. We need to evenly divide up
segments between each gender. For example let's just say for simplicity sake
that you must divide all jobs evenly between males and females meaning no
matter what the job be whether it’s directing, producing, designing, casting,
or any other position 50% must go to men and 50% must go to women. After
so many years of this law being in place I feel it can be disband, but until this
industry can wrap its head around the fact that women are just as capable if
not more capable in some cases of doing the exact same jobs as men nothing
is going to change. So the solution is you force them to realize the issue.
20. Ellis-Petersen, Hannah. "Gender Bias in the Film Industry: 75% of Blockbuster Crews Are Male." The Guardian. Guardian
News and Media, 22 July 2014. Web. 19 Feb. 2016.
"Gender Inequality in Film - An Infographic." New York Film Academy Blog. The New York Film Academy, 25 Oct. 2013.
Web. 19 Feb. 2016.
"Women in Entertainment Timeline." The Hollywood Reporter. The Hollywood Reporter. Web. 19 Feb. 2016.
Works Cited
