Boxed In: Women On Screen and Behind the Scenes on Broadcast and Streaming Television in 2022-23
Excerpt:
In 2022-23, females fared better as characters and contestants on reality programs and game shows (50%) than as characters on scripted programs (43%). While the employment of women in behind-the-scenes roles was the same on both scripted and unscripted programs (32%), women fared better as directors on scripted (22%) than unscripted programs (11%). However, the percentage of women working as producers was higher on unscripted (47%) than scripted programs (41%). Overall, the findings indicate that 2022-23 was not a stellar year for women on screen or behind the scenes. Females accounted for 45% of all speaking characters on original streaming programs and 44% on broadcast network programs. Both of these percentages represent a retreat from slightly higher numbers in 2021-22. The percentage of women working in behind-the-scenes roles also declined from 37% in 2021-22 to 34% in 2022-23 on original streaming programs, and from 31% in 2021-22 to 29% in 2022-23 on broadcast network programs.