Actress, Geena Davis discussing issues of gender disparity in children's media at UN Press Conference on 28 June, 2010. (Photo Credit: UN Photo/John McIlwaine)

Yesterday, actress Geena Davis visited the United Nations to speak on gender portrayal in the media.  Well-known for her Academy Award winning performances and successful Hollywood career, Davis is quickly becoming more recognized for her pioneering advocacy work. Established in 2005, the Geena Davis Institute is concerned with media depictions of gender and the impact this has on young viewers.

Davis said at Monday’s press conference that the over sexualization of women and girls in films should be of greater concern. The Institute’s 2004 study conducted the largest cross-analysis of G-rated programming to date and made some troubling findings. Not only are there generally three male characters for every one female, the body ratios of many female characters in animated films had measurements that were, according to Davis, “either humanly unattainable or an overly exaggerated hourglass shape. What message does that send to our children?” Davis highlighted the fact that because these films are often exported worldwide, this media portrayal has global implications.

Speaking to MediaGlobal, Davis noted the importance for children of all nationalities to see themselves in the media. “One of the things we have seen is that the presence of female characters of color is just abysmal, so our goal as an organization encompasses producing a more accurate reflection of ethnicity as well.  I think part of the ‘exoticism’ attached to female characters of color in general is that there are so few that they become the other. Male characters often react to them with their eyes bulging out. They can’t become part of the story because they aren’t given that chance.”

Davis spent the morning addressing the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), presenting a statement on key policy outcomes from the Council’s Special Event on Engaging Philanthropy to Promote Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women.  In her remarks, Davis spoke for advocacy to extend beyond Hollywood. She requested that the media become a partner in helping accomplish Millennium Goal number three: the empowerment of women and girls.  Davis echoed Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon’s early sentiments, namely that “realizing the Millennium Development Goals depend fundamentally on the empowerment of women.”

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