Geena Davis on Gender in Media at The Paley Center

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Last night I had the extreme pleasure of seeing Geena Davis at the Paley Center for Media in New York City. As a member of the Paley Center, I have attended many programs, but never one as eye-opening and educational as this. The night was much more about The Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media then on her career as an academy award winning actress.

The night began with a discussion of Geena's career, but the emphasis was on the fact that her biggest and most iconic roles were all playing very strong women. From Muriel to Thelma to Dottie to President Mackenzie Allen in The Accidental Tourist, Thelma and Louise, A League of Their Own and the television series, Commander in Chief, Geena has been a strong role model for young women. Unfortunately, role models like this are few and far between.

The rest of the night, talk focused on the work that Geena is doing to correct this media imbalance through The Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media. The goal of the institute is to educate entertainment companies and content creators of this imbalance and to try to get them to increase the number of girls and women in media aimed at kids. The institute also does research on these gender stereotypes. You can read the major findings of the research on Gender Stereotypes: An Analysis of Popular Films and TV.

Before last night, I don't think I realized how few female characters appear in G-rated movies, especially as minor characters or in crowds. And do you know what the main aspiration for almost all female characters in G-rated movies? Romance. How does that influence young girls? Many other startling facts were discussed that would make any feminist's blood boil. Did you know that the more TV a girl watches the less options she thinks she has and that female character in G-rated movies wear just as revealing clothing as in R-rated ones?

According to Geena, change is very slow because of the mindset of people making entertainment. Every time a movie with strong female role models is a hit, they powers that be shrug it off as a fluke, a one-time occurrence. Suggestions on ways to get involved and help are offered on the institute's website. If you would like to see Commander in Chief, where Geena plays the President of the U.S.A., come to cable, please write, tweet or facebook your desire. Geena Davis is one of the most charming, intelligent, and funny women in the media and I truly hope her institute succeeds in its goals.

See also:
Why International Women's Day is Important
Giuliana Rancic on Breast Cancer and Early Detection
A Little F'd Up: Book on Feminism for Teens and Young Adults
18 Kids or YA Books with Strong Female Characters
TEDxWomen - Teenage Girls Harmed by our Culture
Five: All Star Cast in Breast Cancer Anthology on Lifetime
NYT on Tween Girls, Judy Moody and Movie Audiences
Wonderful Women of Tween Summit 2010