Between 2018 and 2021, 55% of Netflix movies and series will feature female leads. Parity noticedUSC Annenberg Inclusion InitiativeAn organization responsible for tracking the evolution of performance in the American audiovisual landscape.
If this study shows real progress on screen, things are also moving behind the camera. In 2021, for Netflix movies, 26.9% of directors were female. In terms of series, 38% of creators are female, compared to 26.9% in 2018. Still, for TV series, female directors of diverse backgrounds now represent 11.8%, up from 5.6% three years ago.
Significant progress can also be seen on the side of characters. For movies, 27.7% of heroines are women of color. This percentage increases to 54.75% for series. Examples include Season 2 of Bridgerton or its spin-off, La Reine Charlotte.
In general terms, nearly half of Netflix’s content features main characters who belong to an ethnic group. This is 19% more than in 2018. However, there are still differences between Latin communities, from the Middle East or North Africa.
There is also much to be done in the representation of persons with disabilities. In 2021, there was no main character with a disability in any series. Only 7.7% of films were shot.
Finally, in the representation of LGBT characters, the study notes a clear improvement for leading characters (35.8% in 2021), although efforts are still needed for secondary characters, who represent only 4% of works. Netflix.
You can see the study in its entirety here.
Source: Allocine
Camila Luna is a writer at Gossipify, where she covers the latest movies and television series. With a passion for all things entertainment, Camila brings her unique perspective to her writing and offers readers an inside look at the industry. Camila is a graduate from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with a degree in English and is also a avid movie watcher.
