Study Reveals Higher Levels of Sexism in Reviews of Female-Led Films

AI analysis of over 17,000 reviews shows significant gender bias, with female-led movies facing more hostile and patronizing criticism than male-led films.

• Research analyzed 17,165 film reviews using AI to detect gender bias in language, focusing on male- and female-dominated casts.
• Reviews of female-led films exhibited 149% more hostile sexism and 44% more benevolent sexism compared to male-led films.
• Hostile sexism was most prevalent in reviews of Romance films, while benevolent sexism peaked in Family and Music genres.
• The study highlights severe underrepresentation in the industry, with only 28% of lead actors, 9% of directors, and 14% of writers being female.
• Researchers suggest critics have a role in addressing bias to promote equity and call for broader studies including non-Western films and gender-diverse identities.

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