Television, along with all other media, is a male dominated industry. If you’re one of those people who roll their eyes at statements like that, here are some quick facts. In the behind the scenes world, women are overwhelming overlooked in attaining roles such as director, writer, producer, editor, etc. According to the Boxed In report, 45% of television programs had 4 or fewer women in main production roles while only 4% of programs had 4 or fewer men in said roles. Programs without a woman producer would only have women account for 6% of writers. Broadcast program with at least one woman executive producer would have more female characters along with employing more women directors, writers, editors, etc. This issue of misrepresentation does not stay behind the scenes- another study from the Center for the Study of Women in Television & Film reports that only 12% of protagonists in 2014 were female. Women are less likely to be identified with a work-related role, men are almost twice as likely to be identified with their work. This misrepresentation stems into intersectional issues, having 74% of female characters be white, while the remaining percent is made up of 11% black, 4% latina, 4% asian, and 7% other.
So, enough with the numbers, what can be said about this? Is there hope for more equal representation of the sexes within the media? Are we gonna keep complaining that Leonardo DiCaprio has never won his Oscar while not one woman was nominated for best screenwriter, composer, cinematographer, director was nominated for an Oscar this year?
BUT, there is hope! We have Mindy Kaling; the feminist savior of television.
Mindy got her start at merely 24 as the only female writer on the writing staff for the the mockumentary that changed television, “The Office”. She had multiple roles in the show aside for writing, including the iconic character of Kelly Kapoor, directing credit for some episodes, and producing a majority of it. This was a feat for not only a woman, but a woman of color. Mindy did not stop her triumph there, she realized that she had the potential to create something of completely of her own. Mindy, determined and talented, went on to develop her own show “The Mindy Project” which also stars herself as Mindy Lahiri.
In it’s fourth season, “The Mindy Project” continues to be a show that portrays women as characters with depth and value instead of accessories to male characters. Her character, Mindy Lahiri, is a OB-GYN who keeps things fresh and fun by getting herself, and her coworkers, involved in the daily mischief she so often creates. Mindy’s character has confidence and does not succumb to the antagonist males in her life- and she loves pad thai and Beyoncè! Mindy’s way of writing her female characters lets them have fun character traits but also be independent and strong.
Mindy is a force in the television industry, not only for attaining success herself, but for continuing to use her position of power to help other women rise. Having a huge focus of the show be Mindy Lahiri’s work as a doctor inspires millions of viewers to see a woman, especially a woman of color, be work-oriented. Also Mindy has other women as writers and producers, which is important to incorporate other women perspectives into a program. Mindy continues to pave the way for girls and serves as a figure for those who worry they won’t stand a chance in a currently male-dominated industry. Changes are coming and Mindy Kaling is just the beginning.