Anemone's Research Emporium

An open letter to women in the film industry

Originally posted on my blog

Dear women in the film industry, I am asking you to remove all sexualized content from your work (when you have any say in the matter, of course). If it is necessary to the story, please push it off-screen. If it is not necessary, please leave it out.

Why?

1. Sexualized content amounts to sexual harassment of the talent, regardless of intentions. I have not been able to find any research one way or the other on how it affects actors, but research in other work environments shows that women often find sexualized content in their job descriptions stressful and insulting. Anecdotal evidence tells me that the same thing is happening in film and television.

Sexualized content can also maintain women in a second-class position merely by reminding everyone what women are "for". Except, of course, if you're a woman, you know that's NOT what you're "for".

2. Sexualized content is sexual harassment of ALL women on the set. It creates a hostile work environment, even if everyone is completely polished and professional about it. Like second-hand smoke, it may not bother the people doing it, but it can still poison the environment for everyone else.

3. Scientific research indicates that sexualized media content, regardless of whether it is violent or not, increases aggression in viewers. Like media violence, it increases violence in society, which affects all of us, women, men, children. This is not a "maybe" finding. Researchers agree that media violence and erotic content increase aggression and contribute to societal violence. It is a risk factor the way smoking is a risk factor for cancer. We may like it because it's fun, but it's bad for us, so it's time to quit.

4. And as an added bonus, my own research has shown that it is negatively correlated with box office, so your work may actually be more successful, too.

Thank you,

Anemone Cerridwen
September 13, 2009