Women In Film

Men hold 9 out of 10 roles in the film and television trades, billion dollar industries that dominate so much of society’s entertainment. Where is there equality in that? There has always been a stereotype against women that states that we should be at the stove, doing the laundry and taking care of kids. Only in the recent half-century have women gained more of a credibility in society and even so stereotypes still exist and our participation in society isn’t always equal due to the past. Statistics show that women are typically not behind the production of film and television. Even worse, because stereotypes against women exist, women-led films are not so popular. If women contribute to 50% of purchased ticket sales and viewership, we should be producing and starring in more than just 10% of these medias (Lauzen).
In order for a major motion picture to be both a box-office hit and critically acclaimed, hundreds and sometimes thousands of people have to put in their A-game throughout the entire production of the film. Since movies have been in production, men have always dominated roles behind the camera. Whether it be directing, producing, writing, or many other roles in the production of a movie, the statistics prove that women are a minority when it comes to doing these jobs. Throughout history of film, the statistics have risen and fallen. Cari Beauchamp, an Academy Film Scholar, “announced, to gasps from the audience, that fifty per cent of all silent films were written by women (Slide 114). If a 35% drop of women writers from the early 1900’s to now isn’t shocking, I don’t know what is. Having watched a number of silent films from the 1920’s to the 1930’s and many movies from generations thereafter until now, this was com...

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...ry thought and the reason for every action we make.
There shouldn’t be any more excuses in the film and television world, women should be able to show what they are capable of instead of having men dominating the industries. If what is being portrayed on-screen is just a representation of the thoughts of males not women, the message being sent to women isn’t the one that we want to receive. As seen through statistics, females are not being put behind or on the camera, but could change with more women stepping up to study and fulfill these roles. As Cate Blanchett said while accepting her Best Actress award at the 86th Academy Awards, “Those in the industry who are still foolishly clinging to the idea that female films, with women in the center are niche experiences. They are not; audiences want to see them and in fact they earn money. The world is round people!”