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At the Geena Davis Institute, we take a research-driven approach to driving diverse representation and inclusion on screen. Our work combines large-scale data collection, rigorous quantitative analysis, and year-to-year comparisons to track how portrayals are evolving, to highlight both progress and persistent gaps. Our annual TV study is a cornerstone of this approach. By analyzing children’s programming, we assess diverse representation across gender, race, LGBTQIA+ identity, disability, age, and body type. Comparing these findings with previous years offers a clear picture of how representation is evolving, giving the industry a deeper understanding of shifts in audience engagement and storytelling. 

For this annual study, we analyze two types of television programming. The first is television programming popular with children ages 2 to 11 in the U.S., according to Nielsen metrics, which includes the 10 most popular broadcast, cable, and streaming shows, inclusive of all languages, from 2018 to 2024. The second is new programming for children, from 2018 to 2024; this includes TV programming actively being made for children.

We include both popular and new programming shows in our sample for different reasons. Popular programming gives us a good understanding of what children are currently watching or interested in, but it also reflects the choices made by networks about which shows to prioritize, rerun, or amplify. Analyzing new programming, on the other hand, taps into what television studios and the industry are currently green-lighting for children’s consumption. 

Key Findings

2024 Popular Programming for Children

  • Gender Representation
    • In 2024 popular programming, male characters outnumber female characters by 22.6 percentage points (61.3% compared with 38.7%). That is a wider gap than in 2023, when the gender gap still favored male characters, but the difference was 15 points (57.5% compared with 42.5%). 
    • In 2024 popular programming, 40.0% of leads are female characters. This is a 4.2-point increase from 2023 (35.8%) and a 7.9-point decrease from 2022 (47.9%). 
    • The biggest gender gap by prominence (lead, notable supporting, supporting, minor) is in minor roles. In 2024 popular programming, male characters make up 65.8% of all minor characters, while female characters make up 34.2% of all characters — a 31.6-point gender gap.
    • Female characters are significantly more likely than male characters to be characters of color (47.1% compared with 28.5%). Male characters are significantly more likely than female characters to be white (71.5% compared with 52.9%).
    • Female characters are significantly more likely than male characters to be wearing revealing clothing (9.5% compared with 3.0%).
    • Female characters are significantly more likely than male characters to be married or in a committed partnership (23.0% compared with 16.1%). 
    • Male characters are significantly more likely than female characters to have an occupation (42.4% compared with 33.3%).
  • Race/Ethnicity Representation
    • In 2024 popular programming, characters of color make up 35.9% of all characters — a decline from 2023, when 40.5% of all characters were people of color. 
    • Of leads, 65.2% are white and 34.8% are characters of color. In 2023, 68.3% of leads were white, and 31.7% were characters of color. 
    • White characters are significantly more likely than characters of color to be married or in a committed relationship (28.0% compared with 12.8%). 
    • In popular programming, characters of color are significantly more likely than white characters to have a STEM occupation (8.8% compared with 2.9%).
  • LGBTQIA+ Representation
    • In 2024 popular programming, LGBTQIA+ characters make up only 1.1% of all characters, compared with 1.0% in 2023. 
    • LGBTQIA+ characters are 1.3% of leading roles but are not represented in any minor roles. In 2023, LGBTQIA+ characters were not represented in any leading or minor roles. 
    • LGBTQIA+ characters are significantly more likely than non-LGBTQIA+ characters to have an occupation (87.5% compared with 37.6%). 
  • Disability Representation
    • In 2024 popular programming, only 2.5% of all characters are disabled. This is a slight improvement from 2023, when just 1.0% of all characters were disabled.
    • In 2024, no disabled characters are represented in leading or minor roles. In 2023, there were also no disabled leads or disabled characters in minor roles.
    • Disabled characters are significantly more likely than nondisabled characters to be shown kissing (11.1% compared with 1.3%).
    • Disabled characters are significantly more likely than nondisabled characters to have a job in STEM (16.7% compared with 3.1%). But nondisabled characters are significantly more likely than disabled characters to be shown as leaders (27.8% compared with 0.0%). 
  • Body-Type Representation
    • In 2024 popular programming, fat characters make up 16.5% of all characters — an increase from 2023, when 6.5% of characters were fat. 
    • The representation of fat leads has increased: 5.3% of leading characters are fat in 2024 content, compared with 1.5% in 2023. 
    • Fat characters are significantly more likely than characters who are not fat to be married or in a committed partnership (30.6% compared with 16.1%).
    • Fat characters are significantly more likely than characters who are not fat to be shown wearing revealing clothing (10.2% compared with 4.5%). 
  • Age Representation
    • In 2024 popular programming, characters who are ages 50 and older make up 17.3% of all characters — an increase from 2023 when 9.8% of all characters were 50-plus. 
    • Fifty-plus characters are significantly more likely than characters under age 50 to be , white (82.1% compared with 59.1%). 
    • In 2024 popular programming, 50-plus characters are significantly more likely than characters under 50 to be shown in leadership portrayals (40.0% compared with 25.8%).

2024 New Programming for Children

  • Gender Representation
    • In 2024 new programming, 42.6% of all characters are female. This is a 1.8-point decrease from 2023 (44.4%), and a 1.9-point decrease from 2022 (44.5%).
    • Of all leads, 48.8% are female. This is record-high, since we started collecting data on new programming in 2018. In 2023, 47.8% of lead characters were female and in 2022, 44.3% of lead characters were female. 
    • Male characters are significantly more likely than female characters to be fat (11.5% compared with 8.5%) and 50-plus (9.0% compared with 5.6%).
    • Male characters are significantly more likely than female characters to be objectified (2.1% compared with 0.4%). 
    • Female characters are significantly more likely than male characters to be shown wearing revealing clothing (6.9% compared with 3.4%).
    • Female characters are significantly more likely than female characters to be in leadership positions (28.8% compared with 21.7%) 
  • Race/Ethnicity Representation
    • In 2024 new programming, 48.9% of all characters are characters of color, which is an 8-point decrease from 2023 (56.9%). 
    • Characters of color are 52.3% of all leads in 2024 new programming; this is an 11.1-point decrease from 2023 (63.4%).
    • Of all characters, 23.7% are Black, 9.4% are Asian and Pacific Islander, 8.8% are Latinx, 1.8% are multiracial, 1.4% are Native, and 0.5% are Middle Eastern/North African. In 2023, 26.8% of all characters were Black, 14.6% were Asian, 8.2% were Latinx, 1.6% were multiracial, 1.1% were Native, and 0.6% were Middle Eastern or North African. 
    • White characters are significantly more likely than characters of color to be 50-plus (10.9% compared with 5.7%).
    • In new programming, characters of color are significantly more likely than white characters to be shown as leaders (31.0% compared with 24.3%).
  • LGBTQIA+ Representation
    • Only 1.5% of all characters are LGBTQIA+, compared with 1.6% in 2022. 
    • Only 1.4% of leads were from an LGBTQIA+ character. In 2022, no LGBTQIA+ characters were leads. 
    • In new programming, LGBTQIA+ characters are significantly more likely than non-LGBQTIA+ characters to be in dating relationships (13.3% compared with 1.6%), married or in committed partnerships (36.7% compared with 6.4%), and kissing (13.3% compared with 0.5%).
  • Disability Representation
    • Only 1.7% of all characters are disabled — a slight increase from 2023, when 1.1% of all characters were disabled. 
    • Among leads, 1.4% are disabled characters. This is a 0.6-point increase from 2023 (0.8%).
    • Disabled characters are significantly more likely than nondisabled characters to be 50-plus in new programming (18.9% compared with 7.2%).
  • Body-Type Representation
    • Of all characters, 10.2% are fat — an increase from 2023, when 7.9% of all characters were fat. 
    • Among leads, 5.6% are fat, compared with 6.9% in 2023.
    • Fat characters are significantly more likely than characters who are not fat to be male (64.5% compared with 56.4%). Fat characters are also significantly more likely than characters who are not fat to be 50-plus (13.8% compared with 6.7%). 
    • Fat characters are significantly more likely than characters who are not fat to be married or in a committed partnership (11.6% compared with 6.4%).
    • Fat characters are more likely than characters who are not fat to be shown with a job (37.2% compared with 18.5%).
  • Age Representation
    • Only 7.5% of all characters are 50-plus, compared with 9.4% in 2023.
    • Among leading roles, 0.7% are 50-plus, compared with 0.0% in 2023.
    • In 2024 new programming, 50-plus characters are more likely than their younger counterparts to be male (67.8% compared with 55.7%), white (66.7% compared with 49.7%), fat (19.6% compared with 9.9%), and disabled (4.9% compared with 1.7%). 
    • Fifty-plus characters are more likely than younger characters to be shown with a job (31.6% compared with 20.6%). 
    • Fifty-plus characters are significantly more likely than characters under 50 to be shown in leadership portrayals (39.8% compared with 23.9%). 

Recommendations for Improving On-Screen Representation

  • Amplify and publicize female-centered stories. Among leading roles in new programming, gender parity has nearly been reached (51.2% of leads are male, 48.8% are female). But when looking at what kids watch (i.e., popular programming), only 41.0% of leads are female (40.0% in English-popular programming). This gap doesn’t necessarily reflect children’s preferences. It can reflect which stories are most promoted and visible. 
  • When casting older characters, think intersectionally. Characters who are ages 50 and older are more likely to be white and male. This means that older characters in kids’ favorite shows lack gender and racial diversity. To address this, intentionally cast older characters who are women, people of color, or from other underrepresented groups. Pair this with storylines that highlight their experiences, strengths, and perspectives, ensuring these characters are visible, meaningful, and multidimensional rather than tokenistic.
  • Diversify minor characters. Inequalities are highest among characters cast in minor roles. In animation, this can be remedied immediately. While these characters do not contribute to the central storyline and generally do not speak, they set the stage for who exists in these imaginary worlds. 
  • Show LGBTQIA+ identities in new ways. An easy way to communicate to audiences that characters are LGBTQIA+ is by showing them in same-sex relationships. But it is important to feature LGBTQIA+ characters in roles that don’t have to do with romance, and this may require more nuanced and subtle screenwriting to show that these characters are LGBTQIA+. 
  • Bring disability to the screen in new ways. In new programming, disabled characters are significantly more likely to be ages 50 and older than under 50, which may reinforce associations between disability and aging. To broaden representation, include disabled characters of all ages and backgrounds, and depict a range of abilities, experiences, and roles. Ensure these characters are central to storylines, with personalities, goals, and achievements that go beyond their disability.

How to cite this study

Terán, L., and Conroy, M. (2025). “GDI’s 2025 Children’s TV Report: Record Number of Female Leads in New Shows” The Geena Davis Institute.

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