Now in its 25th year, the latest “Boxed In” report reveals that streaming platforms have yet again eclipsed their broadcast TV competition with the representation of women on television. The study, led by Dr. Martha Lauzen of San Diego State University, found that streamers employed more women than broadcast TV networks in both on-screen and off-screen roles during the 2021-2022 season. 

With women making up 50 percent of major characters on streaming services compared to broadcast TV’s 48 percent, this is the fourth year that streamers have surpassed their broadcast counterparts in representing women on the small screen. The report reveals, however, that women of color remain underrepresented on screen: while streaming programs featured more Asian and Asian American women in major roles (15 percent) than TV networks (10 percent), broadcast programs had a higher percentage of Black (28 percent) and Latina (7 percent) women in major roles than streaming programs (21 percent and 3 percent, respectively). 

The “Boxed In” study measures how women are faring in original U.S. TV programs on both streaming and broadcast network platforms. Conducted from September 2021 to May 2022, this year’s edition focused on how many women were hired for key behind-the-scenes positions and monitored the on-screen representation of women in drama, comedy, and reality TV series.

The study examined over 3,000 characters and 3,800 credits from randomly selected episodes of prime-time series on broadcast networks including ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, and the CW, as well as series from streaming services including Amazon Prime, Apple TV+, Disney+, HBO Max, Hulu, Netflix, Paramount+, and Peacock.

According to the report, the television industry, no matter the platform, continues to discriminate against aging women on screen. The percentage of major women characters aging from their 30s to 40s suffered a steep decline on broadcast TV, dropping from 42 percent in their 30s to 15 percent in their 40s. Likewise, the percentage of major women characters on streaming programs fell from 33 percent in their 30s to 14 percent in their 40s. The study also found that women over 60 continue to be dramatically underrepresented on TV, comprising just 3 percent of major characters on both broadcast and streaming programs. 

Notably, the percentage of women working in key behind-the-scenes positions for streamers has reached a recent historic high with 37 percent – a boost of four percentage points from last year’s figures. The same metric for broadcast networks, however, has remained the same since 2020-2021 at 31 percent of women working as creators, directors, writers, executive producers, producers, editors, and directors of photography. Overall, both streaming and broadcast programs employed relatively low numbers of women in key off-camera roles: as only 14 percent of the programs hired 11 or more women in the roles considered, while 67 percent employed 11 or more men.

The study also found that streaming programs hired significantly more women directors than broadcast programs, boasting 29 percent compared to 18 percent. The same could be said for women executive producers, with streamers hiring 38 percent and broadcast networks hiring 29 percent. 

“On broadcast and streaming platforms, programs with at least one woman creator employed substantially higher percentages of women in other key behind-the-scenes roles than programs with exclusively male creators,” the report details. “For example, when a program had at least one woman creator, women comprised 33% of directors. On programs with no women creators, women accounted for 18% of directors.” 

The report also points out that 92 percent of both broadcast and streaming programs had no had no women directors of photography; 79 percent had no women directors; 72 percent had no women editors; 71 percent had no women creators; and 65 percent had no women writers on their teams.

Highlights from “Boxed In: Women On Screen and Behind the Scenes on Broadcast and Streaming Television in 2021-22” are below. Read the full report here.

• In 2021-22, programs on streaming services featured a slightly higher percentage of female characters in speaking roles (47%) than programs on the broadcast networks (45%). For streaming programs, this represents an increase of 2 percentage points from 45% in 2020-21, and a recent historic high. It represents no change for broadcast programs 
• Programs on streaming services featured a slightly higher percentage of major female characters than programs on broadcast networks. Females represented 50% of major characters on streaming programs versus 48% on broadcast network programs. This represents a decline of 2 percentage points from a high of 52% in 2020-21 for streaming programs, and an increase of 3 percentage points from 45% for broadcast programs, and a recent historic high.
• Female characters continue to experience a steep decline in numbers as they age from their 30s into their 40s. On broadcast network programs, the percentage of major female characters plummeted from 42% in their 30s to 15% in their 40s. Similarly, on streaming programs the percentage of major females dropped from 33% in their 30s to 14% in their 40s. The patterns for female characters in speaking roles were similar. 
• Women 60 and over continue to be dramatically underrepresented. Females comprised just 3% of major female characters 60 and over on broadcast programs and 3% on streaming programs. 
• Broadcast network programs featured a higher percentage of Black female characters in major roles than streaming programs. On broadcast network programs, the percentage of Black female characters in major roles increased from 22% in 2020-21 to 28% in 2021-22. On streaming services, the percentage of major Black females declined from 22% in 2020-21 to 21% in 2021-22. 
• Broadcast network programs featured a higher percentage of Latina characters in major roles than streaming programs. On broadcast network programs, Latinas comprised 7% of major female characters, down 1 percentage point from 8% in 2020-21. On streaming programs, Latinas accounted for 3% of major females, down 2 percentage points from 5% in 2020-21.
• Streaming programs featured a higher percentage of Asian and Asian American female characters in major roles than broadcast programs. On broadcast network programs, Asian and Asian American females comprised 10% of major female characters, up 2 percentage points from 8% in 2020-21. On streaming programs, Asian and Asian Americans accounted for 15% of major females, up 4 percentage points from 11% in 2020-21. 
• While the percentage of women working in key behind-the-scenes roles increased on streaming programs in 2021-22, the percentage working on broadcast programs remained the same. Women comprised 37% of creators, directors, writers, executive producers, producers, editors, and directors of photography working on streaming programs, an increase of 4 percentage points from 33% in 2020-21 and a recent historic high. The percentage of behind-the-scenes women working on broadcast programs remained the same at 31%.
• All of the programs considered (broadcast and streaming) employed relatively low numbers of women in key behind-the-scenes roles. Only 14% of the programs employed 11 or more women in the roles considered. In contrast, 67% employed 11 or more men. 
• While the percentage of women creators rebounded on broadcast networks in 2021-22, their numbers remained stagnant on streaming services. The percentage of creators on broadcast network programs increased by 7 percentage points to 29%, while the number of women creators remained stagnant on streaming programs at 30%.
• Streaming programs employed substantially higher percentages of women as directors (29%) than broadcast programs (18%). 
• Streaming programs employed substantially higher percentages of women as executive producers (38%) than broadcast programs (29%). 
• On broadcast and streaming platforms, programs with at least 1 woman creator employed substantially higher percentages of women in other key behind-the-scenes roles than programs with exclusively male creators. For example, when a program had at least 1 woman creator, women comprised 33% of directors. On programs with no women creators, women accounted for 18% of directors. 
• In 2021-22, 92% of broadcast and streaming programs had no women directors of photography, 79% had no women had no women directors, 72% had no women editors, 71% had no women creators, and 65% had no women writers.