Minorities and representation in TV and film - statistics & facts

Diversity in Hollywood

Hollywood has made slow but steady leaps towards diversity in the recent past. Looking at some of the key employment areas, it is undeniable that women, people of color, and other minority groups have made meaningful progress. For example, women essentially reached proportionate representation among movie leads in 2020. And while 2020 was also the year with the highest share of female directors in the history of Hollywood, women remain underrepresented behind the camera. A similar picture is painted for people of color, who have approached proportionate representation among film leads and total actors while accounting for only 25 percent of writers and directors. When it comes to honoring the cinematic contributions of diverse creatives, award shows also have a long way to go. At the 93rd Academy Awards in 2021, for example, Chloé Zhao made history by winning the Oscar for Best Director as the first woman of color. Overall, she was only the second woman to succeed in the category since the Oscar’s were first presented in 1929.

Being seen on the (small) screen

Over the past decade, the share of series regulars on U.S broadcast TV that 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 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. That said, there is still work to be done when it comes to issues surrounding gender, race, ethnicity, and LGBTQ portrayals. Knowing that on-screen presence does not automatically imply inclusion, Disney+ added a content warning to movies that contain inaccurate cultural depictions or perpetuate negative stereotypes. This step prompted outcries from many viewers, which also aligns with the findings of a recent report. When asked about their attitudes towards controversial content on streaming services in 2020, a majority of white adult respondents expressed that platforms should keep such content for its historical value.

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