According to a new study by the Geena Davis Institute, LGBTQ+, fat, and disabled characters only make up 10% of the top 100 highest-grossing U.S. films. The study, titled “Charting Progress in Film Diversity,” focuses on children’s and family programming to understand the impact of media on vulnerable young audiences.
The goal of the study is to drive industry change by providing creators with data and insights to improve the representation of gender, race, LGBTQIA+ identity, disability, body size, and age on screen. The findings were presented at TheWrap’s 2024 Power Women Summit in Los Angeles by key speakers from the Geena Davis Institute and entertainment industry leaders.
Analyzing G, PG, and PG-13 rated films made for at least $10 million in English, the study found that LGBTQ+ characters accounted for 1.5% of roles, disabled characters for 2%, and fat characters for 6.5%. Female characters made up 37.8% of screen roles, non-white characters made up 40.5%, and characters aged 50 and older made up only 18.7%.
The study emphasizes the use of the word “fat” as a neutral descriptor to differentiate from terms like “obese” or “overweight,” which may carry stigma and bias. It also revealed that women are more likely to be objectified on screen and wear revealing clothing compared to men. Despite this, women are equally likely as men to hold leadership roles and work in various professions in film and TV.
TheWrap’s Power Women Summit brings together influential women in entertainment and media to inspire and empower professionals in their careers and personal lives. With the theme “Aspire,” the summit offers keynotes, panels, workshops, and networking opportunities for attendees. For more information on the event and coverage, visit thewrap.com/pws.
Source link
