News Archive
Geena Davis: When gender equality is no longer a fairy tale
Five years ago, while watching children’s entertainment with my then 2-year old daughter, I was stunned to see that there were far more male characters than female characters in this media aimed at the youngest of children. Media images are a powerful force in shaping our perception of men and women. The stark gender inequality in media aimed at little children is significant, as television and movies wield enormous influence on them as they develop a sense of their role in the world. And because young kids tend to watch the same TV shows and movies repeatedly, negative stereotypes get imprinted again and again. Read More…
What We See When We See Ourselves Onscreen: Geena Davis
After Women’s History month in March, and having attended so many women’s events, I find myself reflecting on “the tipping point.” In many ways, we are at its cusp, with people of both genders recognizing that the empowerment of women and girls is the critical component for social, economic and political development. Yet, in other ways we are not even close. On April 5 at the Paley Center for Media, I joined other NYWICI members to hear the Center’s President and CEO, Pat Mitchell, speak with Academy Award-winning Actor Geena Davis about her effort to change the way media represent women and girls. Read More…
Long road trip to equality, says Davis
THE on-screen Geena Davis is a woman of action – feisty reporter (The Fly, Hero), baseballer (A League of Their Own), road warrior (Thelma and Louise), pirate (Cutthroat Island), spy (The Long Kiss Goodnight). Off-screen, she moves at a more genteel pace but still gets the job done.
Davis – in Melbourne yesterday to promote the Australian-made feature Accidents Happen, her first big-screen outing since 2002 – made one of her first visits here after taking up archery almost on a whim. Read More…
Hollywood Feminist of the Day: Geena Davis
Last night I had the opportunity to see Geena Davis in conversation with Pat Mitchell at the Paley Center for Media in NYC. They talked through her career but spent the bulk of the time talking about the work she is doing now at the Geena Davis Institute on Gender and Media which is an organization that does research on gender disparities in media for children. She then takes the research and meets with studios and networks and presents them with the facts in hopes that this will address the disparity. Read More…
Geena Davis on Gender in Media at The Paley Center
Last night I had the extreme pleasure of seeing Geena Davis at the Paley Center for Media in New York City. As a member of the Paley Center, I have attended many programs, but never one as eye-opening and educational as this. The night was much more about The Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media then on her career as an academy award winning actress. Read More…
Geena Davis’ new study on gender bias in kids’ media
The research showed that in the top-grossing G-rated films from 1990-2005, there were three male characters for every one female – a statistic that did not improve over time. The concern was clear: What message does this send to young children? I can’t wait for this new study. Thank you to Geena Davis for recognizing the gender bias in kids movies and doing something to change it. Go Thelma! Read More…
Geena Davis’ org eyes gender bias
Geena Davis’ non-profit org devoted to studying gender issues in kidvid is prepping for busy summer and fall. The L.A.-based Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media is set to release this summer the findings of a lengthy study on gender roles in movies and TV shows aimed at viewers 11 and under. The org is also planning a daylong conference in L.A. this fall. The institute has a programming unit dubbed See Jane that aims to work with execs, creatives and other industry orgs to encourage the inclusion of a wider range of femme characters in kid-oriented programming. Read More…
She’s Making Media: Geena Davis at The Paley Center for Media
On August 15, 2011, Paley Center CEO & President Pat Mitchell interviewed Geena Davis about her film career and the work she is doing at the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media. This special event was filmed exclusively for The Paley Center for Media television series, She’s Making Media.
Geena Davis at The Paley Center for Media
On April 5, 2010, The Paley Center for Media held a special event where Paley Center CEO & President, Pat Mitchell, spoke with Geena Davis on stage about her film career and the work she is doing at the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media. Photos: Michael Priest Photography
Pat Mitchell, Geena Davis, Madeline Di Nonno
Geena chatting with Pat on stage
Geena Davis brings another strong woman to the screen in ‘Accidents Happen’
Where in the world is Geena Davis? We haven’t seen much of the former president since Commander in Chief was canceled in 2006. But that doesn’t mean she hasn’t been busy. A few years ago she founded the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media, the largest research project ever conducted on gender in children’s entertainment. The results of research were not encouraging, as she explained in this interview with ABC News at the time. Read More…
