Say WOMAN: What Films Can Do to Confront Gender Inequality in the Workplace

Despite entering traditionally male-dominated roles, women are still undervalued at work

Women are in STEM fields, holding seats as CEO’s and entrepreneurs…now what? Some may believe that, because women are entering and succeeding in traditionally male-dominated fields, the fight for gender inequality is now over. This is a lie—women are still undervalued at work, with their struggle for equality being pushed under the rug. Filmmakers today can choose to use their influence to advocate for workplace equality.

By being a platform for female stories, investigating ill-executed corporate solutions, and teaching the history of women’s rights, films can expose gender inequality at work.

Film Her Story

Gender inequality is more than a statistic—women who are hired, even into traditionally male roles, still face inequality at their places of employment. Women in male-dominated fields are objectified and patronized. Competent, experienced professionals encounter regular degradation by male collogues or superiors. Additionally, the wage gap is still around 17%—that means, for every dollar a man earns, a woman performing the same job to the same standard earns about 83 cents.

Film can be the platform for women to speak out on. As documentaries utilize interviews, testimonials, and case-studies, they allow for women to tell their experiences and disrupt the lie that because they have been hired, their problems are solved. Simply populating an industry has not granted women with respect—not in treatment, qualification, or pay. Film can empower women by giving them a platform and a voice, reminding audiences that gender inequality in the workplace is still prevalent today.

Film Their Corruption

Some companies, in feeling the heat from gender inequality, have hidden behind tokenism. Tokenism for women in the workplace might mean a promotion given without merit for the purpose of appearing more diverse and progressive-minded than their company truly is. This has been an avenue for large, corrupt businesses to hide their wage gaps and discrimination. Token hiring, promotion, or recognition ultimately harms the woman and the workers around her—it undercuts her actual accomplishments and diminishes her earned achievements, making every win appear to be because she’s a woman. Furthermore, it encourages the narrative that women are being wrongfully rewarded in their careers, leading to the patriarchal belief that women cannot perform the same jobs as men, or that if they do, they need a corporate “boost.” Tokenism isn’t fair, and it’s not helping.

Films that aren’t afraid to tackle the big stuff—say, why putting a diverse-presenting photograph on the company website isn’t cutting it—can hold businesses accountable. Using the investigative journalism qualities of hard-hitting documentaries, filmmakers can expose the truths of tokenism and the shallow, sometimes harmful, effects it has on female employees. In doing so, companies have less room to hide, and more societal pressure to do what is right.

Film Our History

For centuries, women have been chiseling away at gender inequality. Women have fought for their every right—workplace equality won’t be simply given without women continuing to advocate for themselves. Historically accurate stories from the women who came before, fighting for the right to vote, work, or even have autonomy, can serve as inspirational and empowering pieces layered with insight on the world today. Knowing what has come before, in many ways, helps define what is possible today.

By educating the public on women’s history, film can keep progress alive. Divulging in society’s history can not only inform, but it can provoke curiosity, investment, and momentum. Arming today’s working women with the past helps them to continue striving for better. Moreover, it serves society well to remember where it came from, both as a warning and a reference, to keep moving forward.

Films can bring awareness to workplace inequality

Films to Confront Gender Inequality at Work

Films confronting gender inequality at work can serve to empower women, hold employers accountable, and educate society. By providing a platform for justice and testimony, films give merit to women’s workplace struggles, creating a progressive, impactful narrative that contributes to betterment. Gender inequality at work will persist until forced into change; filmmakers have the opportunity to pour into the movement and ensure her voice is heard.