Representation of female protagonists and BIPOC women in 2021’s top-grossing films have ticked up slightly, the latest study from San Diego State University’s Dr. Martha Lauzen finds. L…
Black females comprised 16.4% of all major female characters in 2021, up from 13.2% in 2020The percentage of major Asian and Asian American females increased from 5.7% in 2020 to 10.0% in 2021
When it comes to increases for Latina and Asian and Asian American women, the report attributes the rise of on-screen representation to titles likeMortal Kombat. “These findings suggest that the increases in Latinas and Asian and Asian American females in major roles are largely due to their presence in a handful of films, rather than their integration in a wide variety of films,” said Lauzen.
Among the additional on-screen gender parity shortcomings of 2021’s highest-grossing films were the following:Female characters accounted for 35% of major characters, down 3 percentage points from 38% in 2020 and down 2 percentage points from 37% in 2019 even with the percentage in 201Only 8% of films featured equal numbers of female and male characters
Additionally, gender stereotypes persisted in the 2021 films. Female characters, who were more likely to have a known marital status, were younger than their male counterparts. Girls and women were more likely to have personal life-related roles and goals, whereas boys and men were more likely to have work-related roles, as well as anti-social goals.
The 2021 report, analyzed over 3,100 characters in the 100 top domestic grossing films. This year’s study also considers portrayals of girls and women on recently released films included on the Digital Entertainment Group’s Watched at Home list.