Research from Geena Davis's Institute on Gender in Media

[redqueen]

http://www.thegeenadavisinstitute.org/research/

Males outnumber females 3 to 1 in family films. In contrast, females comprise just over 50% of the population in the United States. Even more staggering is the fact that this ratio, as seen in family films, is the same as it was in 1946.

Females are almost four times as likely as males to be shown in sexy attire. Further, females are nearly twice as likely as males to be shown with a diminutive waistline. Generally unrealistic figures are more likely to be seen on females than males.

Females are also underrepresented behind the camera. Across 1,565 content creators, only 7% of directors, 13% of writers, and 20% of producers are female. This translates to 4.8 males working behind-the-scenes to every one female.

From 2006 to 2009, not one female character was depicted in G-rated family films in the field of medical science, as a business leader, in law, or politics. In these films, 80.5% of all working characters are male and 19.5% are female, which is a contrast to real world statistics, where women comprise 50% of the workforce.

More at link.

[seabeyond]

1. it is too subtle for a lot of duers to see why this would be an issue. and the hittin over the head

with the obvious, well, that is too blunt and insulting for a lot of duers to put any thinking behind it.

thanks

and i LOVE geena davis

[redqueen]

2. It's overwhelming.

And most of society sends you the message that the best thing you can do is just ignore it. If you don't like it, ignore it. One step up from that is change it. Well, yes, that's the goal... but that ignores the very real effects of this insidious kind of propaganda.

It is changing, though, however slowly. As more and more people call it out when they see it, at least point out that it's wrong and not convey the message that it's true or ok, it stops being so easy for the indoctrination to 'take'.

[seabeyond]

3. my husband is the one that came to me about the book, girl tattoo

wasnt even on my radar. he said a friend recommended it. the only book ever recommended to him. he researches EVERYTHING. it is a joke in this house. i mean, not peek and then get. major research. he has a kindle. massive research to down load a free book.

he read all kinds of stuff on the book. i was clueless. he came to me and said one big book of porn. garbage. can't believe it is so popular. cant believe it was recommended to him.

he gets tired of hearing it. my kids do. my nieces. and i really really try to limit and only say something when there is a need. but they bring a lot of stuff to me.

but confirming what you say, on this subject that is so conditioned in us, both genders.... all my people get it. i see it in their choices. in the conversation. in what they allow in their lives. in so many ways.

so i agree. there is a reason to speak out.

[LadyHawkAZ]

4. I found Dragon Tattoo incredibly triggering

the story was so-so, but the rape scene went overboard on the graphic details. The scene at the start of the second book was SO triggering that I still can't finish the book. I agree with your husband- I never have trigger moments, but this guy's writing did it for me twice.

[seabeyond]

5. i hear the new and improved version is even worse (or better depending how much you get off on this

shit). listening to once rave about having seen it last night was still in the glow. across the nation, in zombie fashion watching violene against women in all kinds of manner in this film. i dont see what the difference is than porn. a really thorough rape scene, kinda sorta twice including making her suck him off. 3, 4 hot chicks to fuck a medoicre middle aged (old man) and lots of pictures of tortured naed dead women.

how is it different than porn

yea.... porn is now mainstream for all to watch, and take the kids. tis fun.

the more i hear, the more i hear it rationalized, the more i think of being entertained by the violence to women, the more it makes me sick.

this is our world.

and

i am so sorry for an experience that allows this movie to bring it back to you.

too many will tell you, watching it is cathartic. the woman gets her revenge. gruesomely. yea.

on edit. this reminds me just exactly live the fever across the nation with the movie The Passion. the same mentality as those getting off one way or anoth with 45 minutes of beating christ. the same insistence that really, it was to show christ died for our sins. no, it doesnt make us angry and ugly. when really it was ignoring christs message and feeding the ugly. this claims anti violence as it totally promotes violence and feeds violence against women.

[LadyHawkAZ]

13. I was talking about the book

haven't seen either of the movies, and probably won't. The story was not impressive enough to make me want to go see it in movie form.

I don't have issues with porn as it applies to consensual sex portrayed in media format. I have an issue with violence, though, and the portrayal of fictional violence against women as "normal". I consider a TV show like "Criminal Minds" with its portrayal of bizarre fictional sex crimes and dead, pretty women to be more damaging to women than any amount of XXX movies that just show people having sex.

And in what is now 15 years post-rape, I have never had a trigger moment in either news stories, movies, TV or books. Never, until this author came along. The graphic description was unnecessary and added nothing to the mediocre story. And if it can affect me like that, I hate to think what it might do to someone who does not have my coping skills. The book needs a trigger warning.

[seabeyond]

15. that is interesting lady.

from what i read, from many different people, it seems that there was just too much, with this rape.

makes one wonder.... why?

i have read a couple authors (i read a massive amount), one a woman author, that is just too horrid with what they do to women. and these are even good stories and well written. but a person can see when it goes too far. it gets to the point where it feels like the author is getting off on it. i can't read her often.

thanks for telling me this.

i appreciate.

i am really bothered, as a people, we would have such anticipation for a whole movie about violence against women.

[redqueen]

6. That's what I would expect,

based on what I've read about these books and movies.

Apparently other people might consider it somehow healing for someone who has been raped to see or read these things. I do not understand how that could be.

[seabeyond]

7. you asked, how could so many women be clueless. (well, that is not what you asked,

it is how i interpret it, which is not fair to you) maybe these women who are so blase about the violence to women in the movie has not experienced it in personal life.

[redqueen]

8. You reminded me of this shirt.

http://www.oneangrygirl.net/participate.php

[seabeyond]

9. Do not participate in your own exploitation.

sad.

edit.... not the tshirt. yea that. though, not pink, lol.

[redqueen]

10. Hah, yes... they do have other colors...

but a couple of them are pink.

[seabeyond]

11. you know what pisses me off. with this, we have now said yea to violent rape porn in our mainstream

movies. they crossed the line. the sales are up. now hollywood has the ok from the people to go beyond the line. a continual one upmanship of how graphic, how horrid a woman can be raped, for our entertainment.

we crossed a line. we said this is fine. not only will we pay for it, we will like it. it is a very loud message to hollywood.

[redqueen]

12. Yep.

It is a disturbing trend, and if it pays off, the envelope will likely only be pushed further.

Maybe we'll get a prequel where they can show all the Nazi guy's murders of all the female characters who are only shown in flashbacks this time.

[LadyHawkAZ]

14. If it had downplayed the rape scene by a lot

then yeah, put together with the revenge scene, I could see that. I can't see that the way it was written.

[backtoblue]

16. Just watched A League of Their Own last night.

I love Geena Davis the actress and the activist in gender equality. Women and girls are constantly being portrayed as nothing more than sex toys for men's pleasure. We are more often than not taken less seriously because of our gender and that limits our potential success in society.

Note: Because of the above comments on the girl with the dragon tattoo - I rented it and returned it the same night. Anyone who found that to be entertainment is morbid. Sexual violence is not entertainment, it is an epidemic that should be shamed and eradicated - not sold as recreation.

[CrispyQ]

17. "it is an epidemic that should be shamed and eradicated - not sold as recreation."

I whole heartedly agree! This movie contributes to a society that accepts violence toward women.

I'm glad I've read this forum so I'm warned about this film. I can hardly stand to watch 'mild' rape scenes, if there is such a thing.

[Remember Me]

18. And I caught Thelma & Louise again the other day

My favorite movie of all time, followed by Tootsie (anyone see a pattern there???)

I didn't know Geena Davis had this foundation, but I'm deeply touched -- and grateful.