Gender survey seeks participants to promote change
More than 80 people have participated in the Girls on film industry survey looks at gender divide since its launch on September 14, but the researchers hope at least 200 will take part and the results will eventually have an impact on policy.
“I don’t have an end date for the survey, because I want to get at least 200 people to do it–more if I can. I will use this research as an evidence base for action [on gender imbalances in the screen industry],” RMIT University associate professor of cinema studies Lisa French told Encore.
RMIT University launched the survey into women’s participation in Victoria’s film, television, video and digital media industries, as part of the first study of gender balance in the screen industry in nearly two decades.
French works for the School of Media and Communication, and says preliminary research indicated that women are under-represented in key creative roles in Australia’s screen industry. No research has been done in this area since 1992.
“The methodology is modeled – with Screen Australia’s permission – on the last major survey conducted by the AFC and the National Working Party of the Portrayal of Women in the Media in 1992,” explained French.
The survey has received support from the federal agency and Screen Australia, Women In Film and Television, producer and RMIT adjunct professor Sue Maslin, the Australian Writers’ Guild, the Australian Film Institute, the Victorian Women’s Trust and the Australian Teachers of Media (ATOM). Assistance has been received from an advisory board including Sharon Bell, Sue Maslin and Leonie Morgan.
“Many of the research partners are screen/education/cultural authorities and there will be various outcomes which I hope will have an impact on policy.
“First I am collecting the data, and if there are gender imbalances, I will map them, and the possible reasons for them and use this research as an evidence base for action. I would propose next to undertake a national project–depending what I find in my Victorian research. However, I have already been through the available international research, and there is an issue in Western industrialized countries,” said French.
The survey can be found here.
Most protagonists in films male too. What does the government plan on doing about that?
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