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Race, Gender, Hollywood: Representation in Cultural Production and Digital Media's Potential for Change
Author(s) -
Erigha Maryann
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
sociology compass
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 31
ISSN - 1751-9020
DOI - 10.1111/soc4.12237
Subject(s) - hollywood , narrative , ethnic group , sociology , representation (politics) , gender studies , race (biology) , diversity (politics) , mythology , white (mutation) , production (economics) , film industry , political science , history , anthropology , law , art , movie theater , politics , biochemistry , chemistry , literature , macroeconomics , gene , economics , art history , classics
Since its inception, the Hollywood industry has played an instrumental role in the mass dissemination of popular culture, both within the United States and globally. Yet, White men have almost exclusively created the narratives and myths that comprise Hollywood cultural production, while narratives by women and racial/ethnic minorities are fewer and less prominent. This article gives an overview of current research on racial and gender inequality in representation in the production of Hollywood film and television in the United States, with a focus on the contemporary era. Research on Hollywood cultural production points to a problematic trend of disadvantages in opportunities and outcomes facing women and racial/ethnic minorities, leading to the prevalence of stereotypes and a lack of diversity on‐screen. However, transformations in technology that alter the production and dissemination of media present the possibility of decreasing inequality for women and racial/ethnic minorities.