Research Paper. Female Discrimination in Film Industry.
Creative means creation. Creation means people. Creative Industries, therefore, are highly dependent on human capital; film industry in particular, even more and harder than any other existing industry. Due to the creative and often times collaborative nature of this specific business, human resources management becomes an inseparable and integral part of it (Dessler and Chhinzer; “The Strategic Role” 2). Unfortunately, ever since the origins of the film business, gender discrimination was and is up to current date another integral part of the industry (Hole 266-271). Unequal treatment based upon the sex of a person is a common occurrence in the world; employers generally favor men in …show more content…
To find the contributing factors for gender discrimination in the industry, it is imperative to look at this first stage of HRM - getting employers for the company. In film business, one instantly encounters the notion of biased hiring. Equality rights is not something present on a day-to-day basis in hiring practices in Hollywood, with strong influence from gender-related stereotypes (Dessler and Chhinzer; “The Changing Legal Emphasis” 30; Erigha 85-87). Women in the workforce are generally regarded as weaker, less educated, more dramatic and opinionated, less resilient to stress (Hansen). For example, talking of female directors, hiring decisions behind their positions are often based on perceived notions of “she cannot film that genre” (Buchanan) or “we tried hiring a woman once” (“What's It like to Be a Black, Female Director in Hollywood?”) or “we already hired a woman this season” (Buckley). The projects are categorized by hiring professionals as not “women friendly” (Buckley). More than that, positions in leading studios require authority and reputation, regardless of experience for the position, therefore being open only exclusively to established, already connected professionals and stars. This limits opportunities for younger people and even ones who have experience in independent productions to get into the studios, with that in turn limiting their opportunities for establishing a network, for seeking financial resources, for getting hired later (Smith et al.; “Exploring the Careers” 16). This all comes back in a vicious circle, where women are the ones who can only be hired if they are well-known, but who cannot get well-known without being hired. Sexism is
Creative means creation. Creation means people. Creative Industries, therefore, are highly dependent on human capital; film industry in particular, even more and harder than any other existing industry. Due to the creative and often times collaborative nature of this specific business, human resources management becomes an inseparable and integral part of it (Dessler and Chhinzer; “The Strategic Role” 2). Unfortunately, ever since the origins of the film business, gender discrimination was and is up to current date another integral part of the industry (Hole 266-271). Unequal treatment based upon the sex of a person is a common occurrence in the world; employers generally favor men in …show more content…
To find the contributing factors for gender discrimination in the industry, it is imperative to look at this first stage of HRM - getting employers for the company. In film business, one instantly encounters the notion of biased hiring. Equality rights is not something present on a day-to-day basis in hiring practices in Hollywood, with strong influence from gender-related stereotypes (Dessler and Chhinzer; “The Changing Legal Emphasis” 30; Erigha 85-87). Women in the workforce are generally regarded as weaker, less educated, more dramatic and opinionated, less resilient to stress (Hansen). For example, talking of female directors, hiring decisions behind their positions are often based on perceived notions of “she cannot film that genre” (Buchanan) or “we tried hiring a woman once” (“What's It like to Be a Black, Female Director in Hollywood?”) or “we already hired a woman this season” (Buckley). The projects are categorized by hiring professionals as not “women friendly” (Buckley). More than that, positions in leading studios require authority and reputation, regardless of experience for the position, therefore being open only exclusively to established, already connected professionals and stars. This limits opportunities for younger people and even ones who have experience in independent productions to get into the studios, with that in turn limiting their opportunities for establishing a network, for seeking financial resources, for getting hired later (Smith et al.; “Exploring the Careers” 16). This all comes back in a vicious circle, where women are the ones who can only be hired if they are well-known, but who cannot get well-known without being hired. Sexism is