Male creators of British reality shows outnumbered women by three to one over the past three years, according to an international study identifying a ‘roadblock’ to women’s career development in the genre.
In UK commissions from 2021 to 2023 analysed in Banijay Entertainment and Everywoman Studios’ report, more than three-quarters of creators (78%) were men, compared to 22% women.
In 2022, 13% of creators were women (13%) in the UK (87% men), before switching to 67% men and 33% women last year.
Across the US, UK, France and Brazil, 73.7% of reality TV creators are men, compared with 25.7% women.
The imbalance was worst in the US where 80.6% of reality TV creators were men compared with 16.1% women.
Overall, men made up 58.4% of executive producers, supervising producers, and show creators, while women made up 41.5%.
The study noted improvement in the UK among exec producers. While women represented only 38% in 2021, by 2023 this had swung to 54% in 2023,
Across the markets, female exec producers increased from 36.6% in 2021 to 46% in 2023.
By comparison, the 50.9% men/49.1% women balance of supervising producers could suggest “roadblocks in career development for women producers”, the report said, adding: “This is consistent with industry narratives that suggest opportunities for advancement disproportionately favour men.”
The report called for mentorship programmes, a drive to prioritise equity in salaries and opportunities, foster a culture of communication and offer paid leave to address the imbalance.
Banijay launched the Behind the Scenes report from the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media (GDI), in partnership with Abby Greensfelder’s female-driven outfit Everywoman, last year to corroborate long-held assumptions of gender disparity in non-scripted TV.
It analysed the make-up of 1,674 executive producers, supervising producers and creators within 360 reality and competition shows and 1,674 creatives, of whom 349 were from the UK; 297 from Brazil; 278 from France) in total.
Madeline Di Nonno, president & chief exec of GDI, said: “We are heartened by Banjiay’s leadership in not only identifying gender gaps within the industry, but also in its commitment to improve advancement opportunities in the company itself.
“We know that if women are in the drivers seat as decision-makers then it will provide more diverse roles onscreen as well as behind-the-camera.”
Banijay this week committed to a second cycle of Banijay Launch, its initiative to identify the next big format idea from women creatives.
Australian freelancer Amber Kane and British creative Emily Wilson [main photo] were joint winners of the first iteration for a variety talent concept Double Act, and psychological dating format Can’t Buy My Love respectively.
