THE STATUS OF WOMEN IN THE U.S MEDIA 2015

WOMEN’S MEDIA CENTER
Hypersexualization of female characters on screen, 2007-2013
Hypersexuality 2007 2008 2009 2010 2012 2013
Sexualized attire 27% 25.7% 25.8% 33.8% 31.6% 30.2%
With some exposed skin 21.8% 23.7% 23.6% 30.8% 31% 29.5%
Referenced attractive 18.5% 15.1% 10.9% 14.7% not measured 13.2%
Source: USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism Media
Female sexualization by age in top grossing films, 2013
Percent 13–20 year olds 21–39 year olds 40–64 year olds
In sexy attire 39.4% 40.5% 18.8%
Partially/fully naked 37.4 39.6 18.5
Referenced attractive 14.8 16.1 7.3
Source: USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism Media
Distribution resources can make or break filmmakers who succeed
at film festivals
Based on their analysis of 208 films debuting at the vaunted Sundance Film Festival
from 2002 through 2014, the Sundance Institute, Women in Film Los Angeles and University
of Southern California researchers concluded that garnering artistic kudos at,
say, Sundance did not guarantee post-festival success for female filmmakers.
A key problem, according to USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism
researchers commissioned to conduct the study, was a lack of resources for
distributing critically acclaimed female-made films after Sundance ended. The study,
“Exploring the Careers of Female Directors: Phase III,” concluded that:
While 70.2 percent of female-directed movies debuting at Sundance were later distributed
by independent companies with less cash than major and quasi-major movie
studios, 56.9 percent of Sundance films from a male director were independently
distributed.
On the flip side, 43.1 percent of male-directed Sundance films and 29.8 percent of
female-directed Sundance films were distributed by those more financially well off
studios.
Of the 208 Sundance films, 177 were distributed in the United States. Of female-directed
Sundance films, 88.7 percent got U.S. distribution as did 83.9 percent of
male-directed Sundance films.
Of the 208 Sundance films, 53, or 25.5 percent, had a female director.
Three-quarters of all Sundance films were dramas, comedies or romantic comedies,
with 92.5 percent of female-directed films falling into those categories. Of male-directed
films, 69 percent were in those categories.
Male-directed and female-directed Sundance films were equally likely to be shown
in 75 or fewer movie theaters as in 76 to 250 movie theaters.
However, films distributed by major companies and shown in 251 or more movie
theaters were more likely to have male directors; 32.1 percent of male-directed films
were shown in 251 or more venues, while the comparative figure for female-directed
films was 21.4 percent
The Status of Women in the U.S. Media 2015 TOC womensmediacenter.com 51