For the second year running, the percentage of women in television and streaming has fallen, according to the findings of a recent report that show a decline in representation both onscreen and behind the scenes.
According to this report, when it comes to original US programming, women represented just 23% of creators employed across streaming platforms and broadcast television. This is down from 26% in 2022-23, and from 30% the previous year.
Onscreen, women made up 43% of characters with speaking roles, down from 44% in 2022-23 and 46% a year earlier. Meanwhile, 45% of major characters were women, compared with 48% the previous year and 49% in 2021-22.
A separate study has already shown that women held fewer leading roles in movies in 2023.
“As creators of television series, the percentages of women are now substantially below the historic highs they experienced between 2019 and 2022. Their numbers have plummeted, particularly on broadcast network programmes,” said report author Martha M Lauzen, quoted by The Hollywood Reporter.
“The percentage of women working as creators on broadcast network series in 2023-24 was only two points higher than it was in 1997-1998, the first year of the study. The size of the population of female characters onscreen is tied to gender ratios behind the scenes. When the percentage of women creators declines, the population of female characters also declines.”
While they remain in the minority, women behind the camera accounted for 31% of the teams of creators, directors, scriptwriters, producers, executive producers, editors and cinematographers, two percentage points more than in 2022-23. Men formed the majority at 68.6%.
In addition to being less well represented, women also face discrimination on the basis of their age. In 2023-24, 51% of male characters were aged 40 and older, compared to just 29% of female characters. This is far from a new phenomenon in the world of movies and TV, and is compounded by discrimination on the grounds of ethnic origin.
However, women continue to show solidarity: according to the report, on shows with a woman as the creator, 50% of lead roles are played by women, versus 26% for shows created by men. In addition to starring roles, the influence of female creators also results in greater representation among behind-the-scenes teams.
In the case of shows created by women, 30% of directors and 60% of scriptwriters were women, compared to 15% and 17%, respectively, for shows created by men.
“Females begin to disappear from the television landscape around the age of 40,” Lauzen highlighted. “The number of males declines a decade later as they age from their 40s into their 50s. As a result, male characters are more likely to age into positions of professional and personal power.
“It’s not something viewers would necessarily be aware of, but these patterns have prevailed since this project started collecting data in the late 1990s. It reinforces the idea that men remain visible and vital past the age of 40, but women do not.”
These are stereotypes that several shows, such as “And Just Like That…” with Sarah Jessica Parker, or “Griselda” with Sofia Vergara, have tried to challenge by showcasing women over 50 onscreen.