Movies and television shows can transport audiences to different time zones, places, and imaginary worlds. through the stories they tell and the characters they portray. But do they also reflect the diversity of the audience they cater to? This question has been raised more frequently than ever in recent years, with calls for appropriate inclusion and representation becoming louder every year. While on-screen and behind-the-scenes diversity has come a long way, data on the distribution of
shows that women and minority groups continue to be distinctly underrepresented behind the scenes. The world’s largest theatrical film market still has some catching up to do.
Diversity in Hollywood
Hollywood has made slow but steady leaps toward diversity – looking at key employment areas, it is undeniable that women, people of color, and other minority groups have made meaningful progress. In 2020 and 2021, for example, women essentially reached proportionate representation among movie leads; however, by 2023, this share fell again to just over 30 percent. And while 2021 was the year with the
highest share of female directors in the history of Hollywood, when also considering other roles behind the camera, women remain broadly underrepresented. On-screen, the data paints a similar picture; Black, Asian, Hispanic, and other ethnic minorities accounted for only up to 16 percent of
characters in top-grossing films in 2023. When it comes to honoring the cinematic contributions of diverse creatives, award shows also have a long way to go. The Academy Awards, for example, has made progress in nominating and honoring minority groups nine years after #OscarsSoWhite, with, amongst others, Da’Vine Joy Randolph winning the trophy for best supporting actress in 2024. However, over one in four American respondents to an early 2024 survey revealed that the
awards show still has a diversity problem.
Being seen on the (small) screen
Over the past decade, the
share of regular characters on U.S. broadcast TV who are people of color has steadily increased, indicating that the country’s TV landscape is gradually becoming more diverse. Interestingly, this trend has also been fueled by the streaming revolution. Streaming programs have been shown to employ a higher percentage of women behind the scenes than broadcast networks, and on screen, the cast and narratives of streaming shows are also expanding in terms of inclusivity. However, with surveys showing that more consumers think that
minorities in TV and film are shown in a negative way than in a positive one, there is still work to be done when it comes to issues surrounding gender, race, ethnicity, and LGBTQ+ portrayals on the big and small screens.
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