Although racial and gender disparities are still widespread in the United States, Hollywood has made remarkable strides in expanding inclusivity in the film industry. Hollywood’s television and film production depict a problematic pattern of bias in opportunities and the overall representation of women and ethnic minorities. As a result, the trend has escalated the prevalence of stereotypes, further worsening the lack of on-screen and off-screen diversity. However, the institutionalized racism and sexism are declining gradually as the breadth of representation for women and people of color continue to expand. With the changing racial and gender norms, the white-dominated and patriarchal structures are becoming receptive to inclusivity.
In today’s world, racial and gender norms are changing in Hollywood. Erigha notes that narratives from roles played by racial minorities and women are fewer in the mainstream film industry. However, more women and racial minorities are increasingly featuring in leading and important roles than in previous years. For instance, 39 out of the 100 highest-grossing films had a woman as the lead or co-leading actor, up from 33 the previous year, and 20 in 2007 (Shoard). Additionally, racial minorities, including Asians and African Americans, are playing pivotal on-screen and film-making roles in Hollywood as part of the changing demographics (Molina-Guzman). Moreover, film studios are enchanted to produce films that defy the existing stereotypes due to the success of various women and racially-diverse movies, such as Black Panther and How to Get Away With Murder. Thus, the prevalent racial and gender homogeneity is being replaced with a more diverse community than previously witnessed.
Hollywood is rapidly becoming diverse in response to evolving viewership, demographics, and growing criticism. Women and minority ethnic groups are getting listed for high-profile roles. Although tremendous progress has been achieved in on-screen representation, diversity in behind-the-camera and directorship has been relatively static. Therefore, eradicating barriers that impede the entry and growth of women and racial minorities into the film industry remains a critical priority.
Works Cited
Erigha, Maryann. “Race, Gender, Hollywood: Representation in Cultural Production and Digital Media’s Potential for Change.” Sociology Compass, vol. 9, no. 1, 2015, pp. 78-89.
Molina-Guzman, Isabel. “#OscarSoWhite: How Stuart Hall Explains Why Nothing Changes in Hollywood and Everything is Changing.” Critical Studies in Media Communication, vol. 33, no. 5, 2016, pp. 438-454.
Shoard, Catherine. “Gender And Racial Diversity on the up in Blockbuster Films, Study Finds.” The Guardian, 2019, Web.