Sexism and the Gender Wage Gap in the Film Industry

By Juliana F.

Abstract:  The film industry is an occupation for a large number of people, though some employees do not reap the same benefits as others. Women in the film industry suffer a difference in pay, far less responsibility, bad representation on, and behind the screen.  There is a major gap in the pay between actors and actresses on screen and behind the camera with females not being able to attain high power positions. Even when they have high power positions behind the camera, they are not given the opportunity to make big films or receive awards for their work. Having females in high power positions would rectify problems on and off screen. Females in executive roles could give bigger budgets and opportunities to females in the industry, and lower the wage gap between actors and actresses in movies. 

Keywords: Sexism, Gender Wage Gap, Film Industry, Female Filmmakers, Actresses, Gender Equality, 

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Summary:  Females in the film industry have been disadvantaged compared to their male counterparts since the beginning. Actresses see an extremely large gap in wage between the actors in the same movies as them. On screen women lack positive representation to show truly being a woman, as the people making popular films are men. Men overtake females in behind the screen presence as there are far more male directors, writers, and producers than there are females. 

The long lasting patriarchy within the film industry has kept females on screen and behind the camera down for years. Males continuously being in high positions have limited opportunities for women to enter and rise within the industry. Sexism within the genres of movies is also a factor as female directors and writers are forced to make “female movies”, like romance and comedies. Along with this the lack of females in high power positions is a major cause of the wage gap in the film industry, as they are never given the chance to make movies with strong female leads and mostly female characters.

Increasing females in high power positions is the most effective way to solve this problem. With female directors actresses have seen a lowering of the wage gap between them and the actors in their movies. Female characters better represent actual female lives, as they are written by women. Having females in high power positions also opens doors for females coming into the industry and helps them get better opportunities.