The slow and persistent struggle for gender equality within the Spanish audiovisual sector has been rigorously examined by a research initiative led by Professor Jéssica Izquierdo Castillo at the Observatory of Media Content and Platforms, Universitat Jaume I of Castelló. This comprehensive study, spanning the period from 2015 to 2022, delves deep into the role and representation of women across Spain’s streaming industry, revealing persistent disparities that mirror broader societal inequalities. The investigation explored content and professional roles across major streaming platforms such as Netflix, HBO Max, and Amazon Prime Video, providing a multifaceted insight into the gender dynamics that shape the audiovisual landscape today.
In the realm of audiovisual content available on these dominant platforms, one of the most striking findings is that women constitute only 35% of the visible content, while men dominate roughly two thirds of the roles and presence. This disproportionate representation reflects longstanding industry trends where male voices and perspectives have been historically prioritized, perpetuating gender imbalances and limiting the expressivity and diversity of narratives accessible to audiences. The data indicates a significant gender disparity not just in front of the camera but also behind it, with crucial positions such as direction and cinematography overwhelmingly occupied by men.
Fundamentally, the study underscores a stark contrast in the professional composition of the industry: 81% of directors in the Spanish audiovisual field are men, with women accounting for a mere 19%. This gap narrows only slightly when focusing on fiction, where female directors represent 22%; however, this figure drops when analyzing documentary content and remains modest at 18.6% in streaming documentaries. The role of director of photography is even more male-dominated, with women occupying only 7.1% of these positions. These figures starkly illustrate the structural barriers impeding women’s advancement in technical and leadership roles within the audiovisual production pipeline.
Beyond numerical parity, the study also emphasizes qualitative concerns, particularly regarding the visibility and complexity of women’s roles in content production and storytelling. Female creators often face limitations in the thematic and narrative scope of their projects, constrained by industry expectations and market dynamics that favor male-centric viewpoints. This cultural bias influences the kinds of stories told and who gets to tell them, effectively shaping public discourse and cultural memory through the persistent underrepresentation of women’s perspectives.
This research effort also sheds light on employment distributions across genres. Notably, men still account for 68.6% of the total workforce in the documentary genre, a field that is often considered more accessible and flexible compared to commercial fiction. This persistent gender imbalance in documentary work suggests that structural industry norms and social expectations limit opportunities even in areas perceived as more inclusive. These trends have significant implications for the kinds of stories produced and whose experiences are validated and disseminated through the audiovisual medium.
The study’s outcomes have been consolidated in the recently published book "Mujeres en streaming. Especialización, liderazgo y representación," edited by Professor Izquierdo Castillo in collaboration with fifteen co-authors from six universities. The publication offers a multidisciplinary approach to analyzing the specialization, leadership roles, and representation of women in the Spanish streaming industry, providing critical frameworks to understand ongoing challenges. This scholarly resource is a notable contribution to media studies, aiming to influence policy making and industry practices toward more equitable participation.
Complementing the academic outputs, the research team established an interactive web platform that hosts articles, interviews, and multimedia content to foster dialogue and awareness around gender issues in the audiovisual sector. This platform features a rich repository of professional testimonies from women across diverse realms of the industry, illustrating both their professional journey and the systemic obstacles encountered. Through videos titled "The voices of the documentary," "Women’s leadership in the industry," and "Opportunities and challenges for women in the audiovisual sector," the platform highlights crucial insights into the gendered dynamics shaping creative production and consumption.
The Observatory also made available a comprehensive report summarizing the study’s findings, which meticulously details the statistical breakdowns and qualitative assessments of women’s roles in streaming content creation. This document provides an essential resource for policymakers, industry stakeholders, and scholars dedicated to fostering gender equity in media. The rigorous data-driven approach offers clear evidence to inform initiatives aimed at transforming structural inequalities within audiovisual ecosystems.
This extensive research project was conducted within the framework of the funded initiative "Study of the impact of streaming platforms on the role of women in the Spanish audiovisual industry and its contents" (AICO/2021/168). Coordinated by Universitat Jaume I, the project represents a collaborative effort involving multiple Spanish universities including Vigo, Basque Country-EHU, Complutense de Madrid, and University of A Coruña. This alliance of academic institutions underscores the interdisciplinary and wide-reaching significance of the study for understanding the evolving cultural and economic dynamics of audiovisual production.
Looking ahead, the Spanish Ministry of Equality has recognized the urgency of addressing these disparities by funding a new project spearheaded by the Observatory titled "Women creators in the audiovisual sector: factors of transformation of structures to renew discourses and references." This initiative brings together expertise from diverse academic fields spanning communication sciences, philosophy, sociology, translation, interpreting, and mathematics, reflecting the complexity of structural ingenuity required to foster systemic change. This coordinated research promises to develop actionable insights and strategic pathways to dismantle entrenched gender hierarchies in audiovisual storytelling and production.
The technical analyses performed throughout the study utilized a variety of content analysis methodologies, including quantitative coding of streaming catalogs and qualitative interviews with industry professionals, to uncover the nuanced ways gender biases manifest in content and employment. By employing interdisciplinary methods, the research transcends mere statistical description, probing into the cultural, institutional, and economic factors that shape the industry’s gender architecture. This holistic understanding is critical for framing effective interventions aiming to cultivate a more inclusive media landscape.
In sum, the findings of this landmark study offer a sobering yet crucial portrait of gender inequalities entrenched in Spain’s audiovisual sector, particularly within the rapidly expanding streaming market. They invite industry leaders, policymakers, and cultural institutions to critically reevaluate existing production practices and implement inclusive policies that support women’s leadership and creative agency. Addressing these systemic imbalances is not only a matter of social justice but a strategic imperative to enrich cultural expression and democratize access to narrative power in the digital age.
Subject of Research: Gender inequalities and women’s representation in the Spanish audiovisual streaming sector (2015-2022)
Article Title: The slow progress of equality in the Spanish audiovisual sector
News Publication Date: 2024
Web References:
Image Credits: Universitat Jaume I of Castellón
Keywords: Gender inequality, audiovisual sector, streaming platforms, women directors, Spanish media, film industry, content analysis, media representation, diversity in media, audiovisual leadership.
