Although it is The Year of Our Lord 2015 (the modern age, and all that), in Hollywood it’s still sometime around 1897 — at least when it comes to women advancing into positions of power and status. Moreover, in oh-so progressive Hollywood, women have actually gone backwards in this regard.
A new study shows that the percentage of women directing the top 250 films has actually decreased over the last 17 years to a pathetic 7%.
Over the past 17 years, the number of women directing the top 250 grossing films declined by 2%, according to a new study by the Center for the Study of Women in Television and Film at San Diego State University.
It’s a sign that some glass ceilings remain stubbornly in place, with women comprising 7% of directors on the biggest moneymakers. It’s not just limited to directing. Behind the camera remains a male-dominated world, as well.
Variety also reports that “the percentage of women working as writers, editors and producers have all dropped.”
Things aren’t much better for women in oh-so progressive Hollywood when it comes to other important, high-profile jobs:
Women were best represented as producers (23%) followed by executive producers (19%), editors (18%), writers (11%) and cinematographers (5%). Although there are more female executive producers and cinematographers working today than there were in 1998, the percentage of women working as writers, editors and producers have all dropped.
Sony president Amy Pascal tried to explain this way with victim-blaming:
“I have begged Kathryn Bigelow to make Spiderman, James Bond anything I can think of,” Pascal told Forbes in 2013. “So far I haven’t hooked her. I think it is about women showing up and saying that’s what they want and not taking no for an answer.”
Of course, Pascal blames women. The number of female executives in on the rise while women are losing ground everywhere else.
Let’s not forget that when it comes to employing the face of its product (actors), Hollywood openly engages in racism, sexism, homophobia, ageism, and good-lookism.
If Walmart hired only young, handsome white males as cashiers, the company would be sued out of existence — even if Walmart could prove young, handsome white male cashiers resulted in better box office more customers. When it comes to casting, to increase its chance at profits, Hollywood discriminates every single day.
Where is the Justice Department?
John Nolte on Twitter @NolteNC