Exploring the Effect of a Film Director’s Gender on Female Film Representation

Abstract

Many studies have established the prevalence of the underrepresentation and stereotypical representation of female characters in film and its negative implications on viewers. However, other literature suggests that these issues can be ameliorated with the presence of female filmmakers. For instance, studies have compared male and female directors in their representation of female characters in high-grossing films and found stronger representation in female-directed films. However, no study has directly compared male and female directors in the context of independent film. Thus, this study looks to answer “How Do Male And Female Directors Compare In Their Portrayals of Females in Independent Films From 2021?” using the Bechdel Test and a directed content analysis of female stereotypes/non-stereotypes to compare female representation within three male-directed films and three female-directed films. It finds that while female-directed films are less likely to underrepresent, stereotype, and monolithically represent females, the difference is not substantial. Moreover, female and male directors portrayed their female characters in very similar ways.