News Archive

June 23, 2022

Announcing #GirlsLeadSTEM – A New, Collective Voice for STEM Equity

While women have made gains in STEM career fields (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), persistent gaps remain. The U.S. continues to fall short in empowering young women to lead the way, especially those who have been historically under-represented. Until now.

We are thrilled to announce that in October 2022, #GirlsLeadSTEM, a new national, multi-sector effort will elevate the diverse voices of young women and girls in STEM. Together, we will celebrate the girls who lead their STEM journeys and empower them to raise their voices to inspire each other and share their perspectives on what’s needed to close the gaps in STEM equity.

Throughout October, we will lead a social media campaign to amplify the diverse voices of girls involved in STEM projects and fields from across the U.S. Join us at GirlsLeadSTEM.org

Get involved today:

  • Sign up to receive our monthly #GirlsLeadSTEM newsletter and stay informed!
  • Participate in #GirlsLeadSTEM month by sharing content using our hashtag. Contact us for Participating Partner guidelines.
  • Provide direct support for #GirlsLeadSTEM. Contact us for more ways to amplify the effort.

About #GirlsLeadSTEM
#GirlsLeadSTEM is the brainchild of a coalition of STEM champions committed to advancing gender and racial equity in STEM, including advocates from the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media, Intel Corporation, Lyda Hill Philanthropies, STEM Next Opportunity Fund, Techbridge Girls and the National Girls Collaborative Project. Visit: GirlsLeadSTEM.org

June 22, 2022

Mars Announces Progress in Drive to Increase Representation throughout Global Advertising

Mars, Incorporated has published key findings of a comprehensive audit of representation in its global advertising. Mars – the global pet care, food and confectionery business known for its suite of iconic brands like Pedigree, Ben’s Original, M&M’S, Royal Canin and Snickers – has partnered with the Geena Davis Institute (GDI) on Gender in the Media since 2018 to help the business measure representation and address bias in its marketing.

Madeline Di Nonno, President & CEO, Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media, said: “We are proud of our partnership with Mars and their commitment to taking a systematic approach to instituting diversity, equity and inclusion across their iconic brands and being transparent and accountable. There is more for the industry to do, but having data and insights, to measure and establish goals, is critical for progress.”

The research found that the business has made positive progress to increase representation and more specifically, female characters in its advertising, who made up 45% of characters last year. This is an increase of 11 percentage points since Mars first started auditing gender representation in 2018. The report also included other key statistics, so please see Mars’ press release for details.

Read the Full Press Release

May 03, 2022

Spellcheck for Bias receives Honorable Mention in Fast Company’s 2022 World Changing Ideas Awards

We’re excited to be recognized with our partners NBC Universal and USC Viterbi School of Engineering for Spellcheck for Bias. The media and entertainment category of Fast Company’s World Changing Ideas Awards honors movies, books, videos, and other projects that expose issues or create actionable change.

Spellcheck for Bias, a collaboration between the Geena Davis Institute and the University of Southern California’s Signal Analysis and Interpretation Laboratory (SAIL), analyzes film and television scripts, manuscripts, and advertising briefs to create a breakdown of characters and dialogue.

By using Spellcheck for Bias to flag stereotypes, tropes and casting opportunities pertaining to Latino characters, NBC Universal was able to make adjustments to 20 percent of the scripts it tested during the tool’s pilot phase over the past year.

Read the Full List of Honorees

March 25, 2022

Discovery+ Empowered Women, Empower Women Event

Registration is now open for “Unapologetically You”, part of the Empowered Women, Empower Women series. This special event takes place online March 31, 2022 at 8am PT / 11am ET. Come join our panel, Tia White, Lisa Garnett-Willis, and the Institute’s Madeline Di Nonno, trailblazing leaders in technology and media as they unpack the journey to showing up unapologetically as their whole selves.

“Unapologetically You” is such a liberating sentiment. Showing up as our whole, authentic self. Living this sentiment, however, is much harder to achieve. We are explicitly and implicitly given queues on what ‘fits’ and is celebrated, the result of which is often internalizing these messages and shrinking parts of us that don’t fit the archetype. So, how do we overcome this and recognize those differences as our superpowers? Those are the questions we’ll explore during “Unapologetically You”, a conversation about the journey and impact of bringing your authentic self to work.

Register to Watch the Event Online

March 09, 2022

EDI Insights With #RaiseTheGame: Gender & Inclusion In Video Games

EDI Insights with #RaiseTheGame – a new series facilitated by the pledge aims to spotlight some of the academic and research work being done around EDI (Equality, Diversity & Inclusion), speak to the people behind such projects and have open discussions with industry professionals not only about the applications of use around such research but all things EDI related as well. The Geena Davis Institute’s President & CEO, Madeline Di Nonno, joined the first session on February 9, 2022.

 

March 08, 2022

New Factsheets on the LGBTQIA+ Community from TTIE

Hey Hollywood: What we put on screen impacts the way people move through society. It’s time the stories we tell responsibly reflect the world we live in. Check out the new factsheets on the LGBTQIA+ community for tips on accurate representation from TTIE (Think Tank for Inclusion & Equity).

Visit WriteInclusion.org/factsheets for the LGBTQIA+ Community Factsheets, plus 15 others on African Americans, AAPI, Criminal Justice, Disabled People, Muslims, Veterans, Women & Girls, and more! Additional factsheets are underway and will be announced in the coming months.

Project partners include Storyline Partners, GLAAD, InterACT, Ace LA, HRC, Transgender Film Center, Kimberly Zieselman, Laura A. Jacobs, Kiki Rivera, Alex Love, SRC Partners, WIF, and Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media.

March 04, 2022

Demographic Report: Hispanic Parents & Kids Media

The Geena Davis Institute’s President & CEO, Madeline Di Nonno, wrote this article for Kidscreen, shining a spotlight on new research from Edye and The Geena Davis Institute that reveals what the fastest-growing kids population in the US, and their parents, are looking for in content.

Read the Kidscreen Article

February 21, 2022

How to Advance DEI Work in Licensing, Marketing, and Packaging

Children need diverse role models who can positively impact their perceptions of themselves, their own empowerment, and the world around them. Engaging businesses to promote positive representation through the marketing, packaging, and advertising of products designed for children is a vital part of achieving equality and inclusion. It also inspires more diverse and equal worlds of play.

Members of the DE&I and global play communities are invited to watch this educational webinar on YouTube, originally scheduled to take place at Toy Fair New York 2022. Panelists include Madeline Di Nonno, President & CEO of the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media, and Shreyasi Jha, Senior Advisor of Gender Equality at UNICEF. Maura Regan, President of Licensing International, moderated this session, hosted by The Toy Association.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExrnjEM5PgY

February 07, 2022

M&M’S® Brand Announces Global Commitment to Creating A World Where Everyone Feels They Belong

M&M’S®, part of the Mars, Incorporated portfolio of brands, has announced a global commitment to creating a world where everyone feels they belong, and society is inclusive. The iconic candy brand’s announcement is built on more than 80 years of bringing people together with its bite-sized colorful candies and flavors and is part of the evolved M&M’S brand’s strategy built on purpose, which promises to use the power of fun to include everyone, with a goal of increasing the sense of belonging for 10 million people around the world by 2025.

Read the Full Press Release

January 31, 2022

Geena Davis on the ALL INCLUSIVE Podcast

Hollywood Isn’t Just for the Boys

Listen to the latest episode of ALL INCLUSIVE with Jay Ruderman as Geena Davis, Founder & Chair of the Geena Davis Institute, discusses her groundbreaking career, fighting for gender equality in Hollywood, ageism, mental health, and more.

Listen on Apple Podcasts

Listen on Spotify Podcasts

Listen on Omny.fm

ALL INCLUSIVE is a podcast focused on inclusion, innovation, and social justice. Join Jay Ruderman as he interviews leaders and experts on the latest news, technology and advocacy for social justice. In order to make progress that will lead to an innovative future, honest discussions must be held. That is what ALL INCLUSIVE is all about.

IF SHE CAN SEE IT, SHE CAN BE IT®