As we move into the 21st century, one of the most influential and important fields has been the media field. Since 2011, the media industry has made 1.39 trillion US dollars and they are predicted to make 2.6 trillion dollars by 2025. This industry consists of entertainment and media such as TV shows, films, radio, newspapers, news, magazines, and books.
Over the course of media history, we have seen a very narrow set of roles for women, whether it be in movies, books, or television. Some of these examples include having fewer female protagonists in films or women artists getting judged for their lyrics when they have a song come out. There are still many companies that only cast women as the last resort. One example of this is an advertising company that only cast women as the lead if the sale demanded that, such as beauty supplies or cleaning products. Even though we are making progress in certain areas, I believe that we still have a long way to go before we see equality for women in the media. Thankfully, over the years, we have seen more female protagonists and more diverse roles for females.
Many women are aware of the negative stereotypes and lack of diversity in media and see it as the only motivation for them to enter the industry. They want to be treated equally as their male colleagues in the same world and want the same level of respect. An example of this is the increase in successful female artists in the music industry. This list includes Dua Lipa, Billie Ellish, and Ariana Grande. Even though it is harder for females to become respected singers due to misogyny in the music world, these successful ladies have shown how nothing should stop you from shining. One woman that had a major impact on me personally is Taylor Swift. At a very young age, she had a great deal of success. Her titles include11 Grammys, 8 Academy of Country Music Awards, 23 American Music Awards, and a Billboard Music Awards. She also has 10 IHeartRadio Music awards and 68 BMI awards. Although she dealt with a lot of misogynistic controversy over her dating history, she has proven she would do anything to go above and beyond for herself. She has also always been very open about her relationships and her opinion no matter what. She never shies away from speaking her mind and saying what she believes in. She has taught me to never give up on my dreams and that I should never settle for anything less than what I deserve. She is one of the most influential women in the music industry and proves that we can do anything we put our minds to.
Women have been increasing their presence in Hollywood as well. According to a study done at San Diego State University, women comprised 20% of all directors, writers, composers, producers, executive producers, and cinematographers in the highest-grossing movies of 2019.
Overall, women have proven that anything men can do, they can do as well. Media is a place for all, and seeing inspiring women has only motivated me to keep advancing towards my goals and achieve my own dreams. I hope that seeing these advancements inspires you as well.