GARY SANCHEZ PRODUCTIONS / THE KOBAL COLLECTIONAdvertisement - Continue Reading BelowPhoto: Gary Sanchez Productions/The Kobal Collection
As if we needed another reason to make like Sheryl Sandberg and lean in: A new study from the University of Southern California Annenberg School shows that, despite the success of lady-driven blockbusters like Bridesmaids, female representation in films is now at its lowest level in five years. In the past year alone, women have represented less than one-third of all speaking characters in movies.
More From ELLEWhat gives? Apparently, despite the increased advocacy for women in film, there's still a ways to go before gender parity becomes the norm, according to Communication Professor Stacy L. Smith's findings.
Moreover, when onscreen, women are generally shown with more exposed skin or dressed in more revealing clothing. This is most dramatically the case with female teen characters. The study revealed that more than half of female teen actresses in movies were shown in sexy attire in 2012, which capped off a three-year increase in the hypersexualization of teen girls, while for other female actresses in different age groups the numbers don't show the same hike.
The biggest changes might just need to be made behind the camera, though: The numbers make a strong case that when a film has a female writer or director, more women are shown onscreen and in stronger, less sexualized roles. But female directors were still outnumbered 5 to 1 by their male counterparts in 2012—so get on it, ladies!
We want to know: Who do you think should be the new kind of teen queen? Who are your favorite female directors? Please let us know in the comments below!