There is a slight increase in the number of women in front of and behind the camera, a new study shows.
The annual Boxed In study from San Diego State University looked at over 3,000 characters and more than 3,800 credits in the 2021-2022 television season to determine the number of women working both on screen and behind the camera. They looked at shows on the major broadcast networks during prime time and all of the top streaming services.
However, the study, conducted by the Center for the Study of Women in Television & Film, also showed that from about age 40, female characters began to disappear in substantial numbers from broadcast and streaming programmes.
"On broadcast programs, the percentage of major female characters plummeted from 42% in their 30s to 15% in their 40s", the report said. "Similarly, on streaming programs the percentage of major females dropped from 33% in their 30s to 14% in their 40s."
And if you're over 60, you're probably not seeing yourself represented much at all on screen.
IMAGE: The cast of Yellowjackets is mostly female. And younger than 40.