A new report by the Sundance Institute and WIF (formerly known as Women in Film) shows the overall number of gender-balanced series is down 8.5% from last year and 20% from the peak in 2020-21; however, those prioritizing gender equity in hiring fared well at this year’s Emmys.
The report comes via the recently released 2024 ReFrame Emmy Voter Guide.
The guide, which hails from the organizations’ ReFrame initiative, highlights the gender-balanced productions awarded the “ReFrame Stamp” and women, nonbinary and trans people nominated for Emmys this year.
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The stamp acknowledges gender-balanced hiring and demonstrates the potential for every production — regardless of subject matter or the gender of its creator or lead talent — to achieve gender equity.
“While the number of ReFrame Stamps awarded to our most popular TV series is down overall, this year’s Emmy nominations show that series produced by a gender-balanced team are well received and recognized, with nearly half of this year’s Emmy nominated series being Stamped productions,” Erica Fishman, ReFrame director, told Variety in a statement.
She continued: “It’s disappointing to witness the equitable hiring backslide in Television, but this year’s nominees reinforce our belief that inclusive hiring in front of and behind the camera results in high-quality series telling authentic stories that resonate strongly with both critics and a broad audience.”
Of this year’s nominees, three drama series (“Mr. and Mrs. Smith,” “Fallout” and “The Morning Show”); five comedy series (“Abbott Elementary” “The Bear” “Hacks,” “Reservation Dogs” and “What We Do in the Shadows”); three limited series or anthology (“Baby Reindeer,” “Lessons in Chemistry” and “True Detective: Night Country”) and one animated program (“Blue Eye Samurai”) all qualified for the ReFrame Stamp.
As part of WIF’s mission to advocate for change, the Voter Guide aims to amplify the work of deserving women, trans and nonbinary folk, serving as a go-to resource for Television Academy voters who are conscious of gender bias and desire equity in the industry.
Launched in 2018, the stamp is awarded to scripted series that hire women or people of other underrepresented genders (including those who are trans, nonbinary or gender nonconforming) in at least 50% of key roles, including showrunners, writers, directors, executive and line producers, leads, co-leads and department heads.
Additional points are awarded to productions that hire women of color in these positions and to those with gender parity in their crews overall.
Click here to read the full guide, or read it below.
