Decline in Female TV Creators and Characters Signals Troubling Trend

A recent study has revealed a concerning downturn in the number of women taking on creative roles in television, with figures for female creators and directors on streaming platforms dropping significantly.

The "Boxed In" report, authored by Dr. Martha Lauzen from San Diego State University, highlights that female creators of original U.S. shows fell from 36% in 2024-25 to just 24% in 2025-26, reversing a brief rise seen the previous year. This decline echoes a similar drop in women directing streaming projects, which decreased from 32% to 22% during the same period.

Broadcast television has not fared much better; women creators slipped from 20% to 19%, while female directors also saw a decline from 18% to 16%. These statistics indicate that the presence of women in significant behind-the-scenes roles is now at a lower level than it was nearly a decade ago.

Additionally, the report pointed out a decrease in female representation in major on-screen roles. Women accounted for 44% of major characters in streaming, down from 49%, while broadcast saw a slight drop from 47% to 46%. The findings also noted a disparity in aging representation, where female characters often lose visibility as they age, contrasting sharply with their male counterparts.

Source: www.hollywoodreporter.com