Progress Through Time

Throughout history people have made opportunities for women to learn about the behind the scenes aspect of moving pictures. Though this was a positive aspect from the evolution through history, there were also negative. Overall women have had little to no rights especially in the film industry. But as time went on, women gained more rights in this area. Especially from the 1920’s, during the silent film era, women were silenced creatively not just on camera, but behind the scenes as well. From this time period women have slowly gained their voice and their power inside and outside of the film industry. 

Women have gotten where they are today within the film industry through the improvement of women's rights. Throughout history women had no rights and those that did have them were based on their gender and what they were good for. According to the World Economic Forum, “MeToo helped increase awareness of gender inequality in Hollywood, but the number of women working in the sector is rising very slowly.” As women gained more rights, they started to gain more rights in all fields. Especially in the time of the world wars, women had to step in and do the jobs of men. This opened the eyes for many men and women to see the power of women  and what they could truly do.

Efforts at reform have not been very apparent and public. However, the evolution of women’s rights  allowed women in Hollywood to gain more equality and respect within the industry. Actress Reese Witherspoon has created an organization called “Hello Sunshine” that works with young women ages 18-21 to obtain internships on film sets. This would allow them to gain more experience with the behind the scenes aspect and provides more hands on learning opportunities than one would experience in a classroom setting. The main goal of the organization is to increase representation of women and women of minorities in the film industry. Hello Sunshine also tells the stories of these women through different forms like stories, blogs, social media, and television. Organizations like Hello Sunshine are fighting for this injustice and putting women's rights in Hollywood in the spotlight. 

Another organization that has been making an effort at reforming this injustice is “Women In Film.” The organization “Women In Film” advances the careers of women working in the film industry. In this organization they advocate for women in front of and behind the camera. They offer programs and fellowships for women interested in the filming industry. Through their website, Women In Film, provides  multiple resources to all women in the film industry. For example they have the Black Member Forum which supports African American women in the film industry. They also provide helpline support numbers for those actively being affected by this injustice, as well as other online resources. Overall this organization wants to nurture creativity and help build sustained careers.

Both of these organizations have made an impact on this injustice through advocacy. They have provided an immense amount of resources for women in the film industry on and off the camera. Though they may not be actively holding rallies and movements, they are providing a modern twist on the form of advocacy. They are providing a digital version of this injustice and making it attend able for women of all ages. 

Christian people and people of faith have helped this injustice by living in this injustice. There are many women who share a Catholic faith as well as work in the film industry. For example, J.D. Dewitt and Robin McLain have both faced inequalities in Hollywood in their time working in the film industry. These two women created a film production company 5x5 productions centered around their faith. They were challenged by male counterparts in saying this is impossible to do and that you are making a mistake; “For me, that's like, 'OK, you've just changed my purpose now. It will happen because I know what God has called me to do and what you say doesn't matter; my identity is in Him. So if He wants me to do this, it's going to happen!" These women paved the path of this injustice by not listening to their peers and paving the way for many other women in the film industry as well as women of faith wanting a career in the film industry.