USC Annenberg
Katherine L. Neff, Dr. Stacy L. Smith & Dr. Katherine Pieper
Inequality Across 1,700 Popular Films: Examining Gender, Race/Ethnicity & Age of Leads/Co Leads From 2007 to 2023
Gender, Race, Representation, Diversity/ Inclusion
Report
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USC Annenberg
Gender, Race, Representation, Diversity/ Inclusion
Report
The purpose of this study was to examine the gender identity, racial/ethnicity, and age of leads/co leads across the 100 top-grossing films from 2007 to 2023. The findings show decreases in inclusion for women and women of color. Despite posturing, the legacy studios have dealt little or reversed course on inclusion in popular films. It is time for experts to guide their decision making rather than rely on internal mechanisms for change.