03/10/2020 Women are still sex objects in films even when they play leaders, finds study | World

y leaders, finds study | World Economic Forum

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Women are four times more likely to be

shown undressed in films than men

Stereotypes like these are damaging to women across the world. Image: Jakob Owens/Unsplash

This article is published in collaboration with

Reuters

11 Oct 2019

Sonia Elks
Journalist, Reuters

Thomson Reuters Foundation

,

Playing a boss does not stop women being treated as eye candy in films, according to a new
study that found “harmful stereotypes” still dominate the big screen.

Actors have hailed a widening of roles for women - including reports of a female 007 in next
James Bond film - but sexism is still rampant, according to rights group Plan International and
the Geena Davis research institute.

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03/10/2020 Women are still sex objects in films even when they play leaders, finds study | World Economic Forum

Female leaders were four times more likely to be shown naked on screen than similar male
roles, they found, after studying the 56 top-grossing films of 2018 in 20 countries.

“A woman 007 or superhero in film is welcome. But our research shows they are exceptions
and not the rule,” said Anne-Birgitte Albrectsen, chief executive of Plan International.

Image: Plan International

“The bigger picture is that gender discrimination and harmful stereotypes still dominate on
screen ... We need to stop the sexualisation and the objectification of women and girls on
screen and everywhere else.”

Women are still under-represented on screen, according to research by San Diego State
University, which found they were often relegated to supporting roles, and only one in three
speaking characters in top-grossing films of 2018 were female.

But even when they do appear in powerful roles, they are often objectified, according to the
new study, which used machine learning to examine 56 top films in countries from United
States to India, Sweden, Uganda and South Sudan.

It found that nearly a third of powerful female characters were shown wearing revealing
clothing compared to less than 10% of similar male characters.

Women bosses were four times more likely to be shown completely naked, at 2% compared to
0.5%.

The report also highlighted the prevalence of men behind the camera. None of the films
analyzed in the report was directed by a woman, and only 10% had at least one woman
among its writers.

“Girls need to see themselves reflected on screen and to see positive and authentic characters
that can inspire them,” said Geena Davis, the Oscar-winning star of “Thelma and Louise” who
set up the institute to address harmful gender stereotypes.
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03/10/2020 Women are still sex objects in films even when they play leaders, finds study | World Economic Forum

“Content creators and storytellers in entertainment and media have an opportunity to support
and influence the aspirations of girls and women and stop reinforcing damaging gender
stereotypes.”

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Written by

Sonia Elks, Journalist, Reuters

Thomson Reuters Foundation , ,

This article is published in collaboration with Reuters

The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone and not the World Economic Forum.

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