Gender Representation and Equity: How Intersectionality Matters

The "Intersectionality Matters" event, held at the St. Jane Hotel in Chicago, highlighted the Geena Davis Institute’s commitment to advancing gender equity and inclusion in media. This See Jane Salon provided a platform for unveiling key findings from the Institute’s latest reports, including the "See Jane 2019: Historic Gender Parity in Children’s Television" report, the "Rewrite Her Story" study conducted in collaboration with Plan International, and the "Bias and Inclusion in Advertising" report. These findings set the stage for a panel discussion featuring leaders from Hollywood, production companies and creative industries who are dedicated to reshaping the media landscape to reflect diverse and underrepresented voices.

Speakers and Panelists

• Madeline Di Nonno: President and CEO, Geena Davis Institute
• Teagan Earley: Actor, Producer, and Co-Founder of Sisters First
• Qadree Holmes: Founder and Executive Producer, Quriosity Productions
• Kris Rey: Writer, Director, and Producer, "I Used to Go Here"
• Sadieh Rifai: Actor, "The Red Line," "Patriot"

Event Highlights

The evening began with a welcoming reception, followed by a compelling presentation by Madeline Di Nonno who introduced the latest research findings from the three aforementioned major reports. This research provided key insights into the current state of gender representation and equity in media, film, and advertising. Moreover, Di Nonno emphasized how gender stereotypes in media directly affect the ambitions and perceptions of girls and young women globally.

The panel discussion featured insightful conversations around the challenges of gender representation and equity in media and leadership. Teagan Earley shared how her company, Sisters First Productions, is fostering stories of female empowerment. Afterwards, Qadree Holmes spoke on the importance of creating opportunities for women and minorities through diverse talent rosters in advertising. Then, Kris Rey discussed her experience as a director and how her projects are challenging industry norms. To round out the discussion, Sadieh Rifai provided a personal perspective on acting in diverse roles and how she navigates the complexities of underrepresentation in Hollywood.

The evening concluded with a call to action for attendees to apply these insights in their respective fields and continue striving toward a media landscape that reflects the diverse world we live in. The panelists agreed that true progress requires collaboration, intentionality, and accountability to create lasting change.

Key Takeaways

• The "See Jane 2019" report shows significant improvements in gender parity in children’s television, but more work is needed to ensure inclusion of underrepresented groups such as women of color and LGBTQ+ characters.
• The "Rewrite Her Story" report revealed that media stereotypes have a profound impact on the self-perception and aspirations of girls and young women, emphasizing the need for more diverse and empowered female characters.
• The "Bias and Inclusion in Advertising" report underscored the persistent biases that exist in advertising, despite the proven economic and social benefits of diversity in media.

Actionable Insights

1. Commitment to Inclusive Storytelling: Media creators should prioritize content that authentically represents the experiences and identities of women, especially from marginalized communities, to inspire the next generation of viewers.
2. Promoting Diverse Leadership: Supporting women and minorities in leadership roles within media, advertising, and production companies is crucial to ensuring that inclusive practices are adopted at all levels of decision-making.
3. Challenging Stereotypes: Content creators and advertisers should continuously evaluate their work to avoid reinforcing harmful gender stereotypes and instead focus on portraying diverse, multidimensional characters.
4. Utilizings Data-Driven Advocacy: The research presented by the Geena Davis Institute demonstrates that diversity is not just a social imperative but also a business advantage. Media companies should use these insights to advocate for inclusive policies and practices in the industry.

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