A little over five years since the MeToo Movement and the most recent statistics on an industry long known for its ‘boys club’ mentality certainly have shown a notable increase in the representation of women in leadership (directing, writing, producing, etc.), but is it enough? Maya Rose, actress from HBO Max series ‘The Sex Lives of College Girls,’ and I sat down to discuss that topic. In addition to our mutual admiration for The Woman King, we also discussed some intriguing statistics on female inclusion in one of the world’s most illustrious industries.
The Sex Lives of College Girls has spearheading figures of women in leadership behind-the-scenes.
Statistics from Balance Now show that TSLCG has a trailblazing 70% of women in leadership roles. How does being part of a production that is leading the pack in regards to diversity feel?
Maya: It feels amazing; I’m grateful to be a part of that kind of environment. We’ve been really lucky with the women (and men) involved, and the diversity within the writer’s room made the material feel really authentic to me. In a show centered on the female experience, the nuances of being a woman are only aided by a safe space for women.
With so many female perspectives behind the camera, how would you say that affected the dynamic on set?
Maya: I think having Laura (Sylvester – First AD) leading the set was lovely to see. At the end of the day, I had never seen a woman be that respected on set that wasn’t in a director or producer position. Seeing her curating a safe space for us all was beautiful and affirming.
Based on information from the Boxed In report:
Women comprised 50% of major characters on streaming service shows in 2021. In what way would you say the spike in representation has helped create new opportunities for actresses?
Maya: This show, for me, was revolutionary to see so many tropes flipped backward. The layering of character development is beautiful. From an industry standpoint, there are so many incredible narratives that are coming to light because of the political climate not only for women but also in regards to the trans, non-binary, and BIPOC communities; it’s a renaissance period for the art form.
The study also showed that female characters experience a steep decline in numbers as they age from their 30s (42%) to their 40s (15%). Given that statistic, how do you feel the increased inclusion of women will affect the future of female depiction in media?
Maya: We need to produce, write and enable different narratives. Women specifically are so hyper-focused on staying young because of the dysmorphia centered on aging in our society and how that affects our careers. That concept is wild because I find so much beauty in the narrative of aging, maturing, and understanding myself more.
Based on information from the Celluloid Ceiling report:
Productions with at least one-woman director employed substantially more women in other behind-the-scenes roles. Having worked on a set comprised of a female majority in leadership, what was the most impactful part of that experience for you?
Maya: To work against the stigmatization of women on the set, I’d have to say it’s not wildly different. You’re on set; it’s your job, everyone is there to work, and that’s what we did. I may have felt a little more comfortable approaching production at times because of my bonds with the women (and men) on set, but there wasn’t necessarily some “oh, wow” moment.
The increase of women in leadership roles behind the scenes has only grown by 7% in the last 25 years. With ten years of experience in the industry, what advice would you give young women trying to break into entertainment?
Maya: Don’t erase yourself and become some version that isn’t true to your roots. Women are statistically known for adapting to our partners (personally and in business) to survive because we are sometimes pitted against such odds. Women can do the impossible, and this industry is exactly that. If you don’t see it happening, find a circle of people who make you feel safe, believe in you, and make it happen for yourself.
So, how do we ensure that the inclusion of women in entertainment continues to increase?
While the figures on Women in Entertainment have shown tremendous growth, the Boxed In report also pointed out that 2021 still saw relatively low numbers overall of women in key behind-the-scenes roles. Only 14% (streaming and broadcast productions) employed 11 or more women in positions considered, so as with most initiatives in diversity, we still have new ground to break. Before parting ways, Maya shared that she, too, has started writing to ensure female-empowered narratives remain on the rise. As she put it, sometimes the most productive solution is to create your own, and there’s no better place than Hollywood to turn the dreams of women everywhere into a reality.
