The under-representation of women in cinema belongs to the broader theme of gender equality that involves different spheres: from the labor market as a whole, to the world of scientific research, to that of top management positions in the private sector, to presence on the Board of Directors , to wage differences. But it also extends to other aspects of social life from access to finance, to the distribution of family burdens, to representation. In its report on the subject, UNESCO recalls, among other things, that creativity is not gender neutral and that inequalities in the creative sector reflect the structural barriers present in other economic sectors and in society in general.
DEA, Women and Audiovisual
In the audiovisual sector, inequalities are evident as already highlighted by some pilot researches such as the one conducted within the European Women's Audiovisual Network (EWA):
- 88% of Italian publicly funded films are directed by men. Only in 12% of cases there is a female direction.
- 79% of the films produced by Rai were directed by men. Therefore, only 21% are the films produced by Rai with a director.
- 90.8% of the films that arrive in cinemas are directed by men. Less than 10% (9,2%) are films directed by women that arrive in cinemas
As long as the film industry continues to offer narratives and representations of the world from an essentially male point of view, we will remain a macho and patriarchal society. Italy ranks 127 (out of 144) in terms of equal pay in the world of work, according to the 2016 Global Gender Gap report.
The DEA project joins the research of the EWA network which has already produced important data on Italy; in the course of the project, paths that have not yet been explored will be developed:
- Analysis of research in Europe and in the world
* Gap & Ciak Report - Gender gaps in work and in the audiovisual industry
- Analysis of data collected by professional associations
* database of professionals in the audiovisual world
- Interviews on the life stories of women and men from film and documentary
* What factors hinder the access and affirmation of female talents?
- Recommendations to policy makers
* How to give women's determination and quality a chance
The professionals and genres selected for the study are:
* Directed
* Assistant director
* Film script
* Adaptation
* Production (independent)
• Genres
* Narrative cinema
* Documentary
* Animation
A Scientific Committee with advisory functions, expertise, scientific support, setting up and participation in the dissemination of the results achieved in the research activities.
The committee is composed of:
Maura Micati IRPPS / CNR;
Adele Menniti IRPPS / CNR;
Mariangela Barbanente, DOC / IT;
Stefania Casini, Vice President of DOC / IT;
Ilaria A. Depascalis, University of Rome 3;
Jole Giannattanasio, Directorate General Cinema- MIBACT;
Massimo Guastini, communication consultant - copywriter & partner @ cOOkies adv;
Andrea Marzulli, SIAE;
Veronica Pravadelli, University of Rome 3.
3 research reports
1 policy brief containing the recommendations
Production of audiovisual material relating to the themes of the project
Meetings with policy and decision makers