Tackling Gender in Media | Geena Davis | Talks at Google | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

In family films and animated movies, female characters are underrepresented, stereotyped, and hyper-sexualized, with only one female character for every three male characters.

Key Insights

• 🕵️‍♀️ Geena Davis' research institute found a significant gender imbalance in family films, with three male characters for every one female character.
• 👶 Female characters in children's entertainment are often stereotyped or hyper-sexualized.
• ☠️ Gender representation in G-rated animated movies is comparable to R-rated movies in terms of sexually revealing clothing.
• 🫢 The research has shocked studios, networks, and guilds, who were unaware of the extent of the issue.
• 👩 Showing better, empowering images of women and girls in media can combat negative stereotypes and improve self-esteem.
• 💇 The Research Institute on Gender in Media aims to cut the timeline to achieve gender parity in half.
• 💦 The institute received a Global Impact Award, bringing attention to their work.

Transcript

[MUSIC PLAYING] GEENA DAVIS: When my daughter was two, I started watching little kids videos and programs with her, and now I had this incredible spidey sense about how women are portrayed. And I was absolutely stunned to see what I perceived to be a huge dearth of female characters in these entertainments made for kids. I decided I needed the numb... Read More

Questions & Answers

Q: Why did Geena Davis decide to start researching gender depictions in media?

Geena Davis noticed a lack of female characters in children's entertainment and wanted to know the extent of the issue through data and research.

Q: What were the results of the research conducted by Geena Davis' institute?

The research found that in family films, there were three male characters for every one female character, and female characters were often stereotyped or hyper-sexualized.

Q: How does gender representation differ between G-rated and R-rated animated movies?

The research showed that female characters in G-rated animated movies wear the same amount of sexually revealing clothing as female characters in R-rated movies.

Q: What is the goal of Geena Davis' organization?

The goal of Geena Davis' organization is to achieve gender parity in media by adding more female characters and improving their portrayal.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Geena Davis noticed a lack of female characters in children's entertainment and founded a research institute to study gender depictions in media.

• The research revealed that in family films, there are 3 male characters for every 1 female character, with the majority of female characters being stereotyped or hyper-sexualized.

• G-rated animated movies portray female characters in sexually revealing clothing at the same rate as R-rated movies.