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TV's gender gap widens: Fewer women behind the camera
1 Sep
Summary
- Women creators on streaming fell from 36% to 24% in one year.
- Female directors on streaming also dropped significantly.
- Major roles for female characters saw a decline on streaming.
The landscape of original U.S. television shows on streaming services has seen a significant regression in female representation behind the camera and in major on-screen roles. The "Boxed In" study, released Tuesday, revealed a sharp decline in women creators on streaming platforms, plummeting from 36% in the 2024-25 television year to 24% in 2025-26. This marks a reversal of the upward trend observed the previous year.
Female directors on streaming projects also experienced a decrease, falling from 32% to 22% during the same period. Broadcast television mirrored this trend, with slight drops in both women creators and directors. Furthermore, the study noted a decline in major roles for female characters on streaming, from 49% to 44% in 2025-26.
These figures are particularly concerning as they suggest that recent gains in representation were temporary surges rather than sustained progress. The report also highlighted that male characters are allowed to age more credibly into powerful roles, while female characters face a steep decline in opportunities as they age past their 30s, emphasizing appearance over substance.
