Gender Discrimination and Movie Ratings: An Academy Award Analysis

This dissertation investigates gender discrimination within the film industry, specifically analyzing whether movies with only male actors nominated for Academy Awards receive systematically higher ratings compared to those with only female actors nominated. The research aims to understand the presence of gender bias in movie ratings, focusing on films nominated for acting awards. The study includes an introduction to the problem, research objectives, and questions, followed by a literature review examining gender discrimination in various contexts, including the film industry. The methodology section outlines the research approach, design, data collection techniques (using secondary data from IMDB and Rotten Tomatoes), and analysis methods. Data findings and discussion chapters will present and interpret the collected data in relation to the literature review, exploring themes of gender discrimination in the world and the film industry, and the impact of actor gender on movie ratings. The dissertation concludes with findings, recommendations, and suggestions for future research on gender inequality in the film industry.

Running head: DISSERTATION
Analysis of gender discrimination which exists within the film industry with respect to the
systematic ratings received by the movies nominated for the Academy Awards
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Acknowledgement
Thank you to all of those who have helped listened and encouraged me throughout this study. I
am indebted to my supervisor ……………………. whose guidance, advice and patience have
been immeasurable. My sincere thanks to all members of the…………… [Mention your
university/college name], both staff and students, whose continuous support have made this
thesis possible.
I would like to thank all of the participants in the study: students, teachers and Local Education
Authorities, for the time and help given throughout. Without their participation, this research
would not have been possible. In this context, I am also thankful to them, whose research work
helped me to execute this paper well.
Finally, I thank my family, without whom this thesis would not have been started or completed!
Your encouragement and support have never faltered; thank you.

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Abstract
The aim of this research is to understand if the movies that have only actors nominated to the
academy awards receive systematic higher ratings compared to those movies in which only
actresses get nominated for the acting award. The first chapter provides a brief introduction in to
the research work. The aim of this research is to understand if the movies that have only actors
nominated to the academy awards receive systematic higher ratings compared to those movies in
which only actresses get nominated for the acting award. This chapter also mentions the research
objectives and the research questions that the paper seeks to answer. The second chapter seeks to
provide a detailed examination of the various secondary sources of literature pertaining to the
related field of interest. In this respect, the various book, academic journals and articles have
been referenced which discusses the issue of gender discrimination in the context of motion
pictures. This has provided the researcher an insight in to the various opinions held by the
scholars of related field. The third chapter enumerates in the various research methodologies that
have been used in the course of the research for its effective execution. This chapter also looks in
to the limitations that have faced by the researcher and the other ethical considerations that had
to be adhered to for the research. The forth chapter tries to find all the relevant data and statistics
with regard to the research issue at hand. In this respect, this chapter looks in to the number of
movies nominated for academy awards and the gender of the lead characters. Furthermore, the
ratings of such movies have also been taken into consideration. The fifth chapter interprets the
data found in the previous chapter and relates it with the information gathered from the
secondary sources of literature in the literature review section. This enables the researcher to
provide validity to the information collected and therefore, the analysis provided in this chapter
increases in reliability. The sixth chapter concludes the dissertation. This chapter synthesizes all

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the information gathered in the course of the research and reaches a logical conclusion. This
chapter also provides certain recommendation on how to diminish the issue of gender
discrimination as is observed within the field of motion pictures.

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Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Introduction....................................................................................................................7
1.0 Overview................................................................................................................................7
1.1 Problem Statement.................................................................................................................7
1.2 Research Aim.........................................................................................................................8
1.3 Research Objectives...............................................................................................................8
1.4 Research Questions................................................................................................................8
1.5 Research Rationale................................................................................................................9
1.6 Research Structure.................................................................................................................9
1.7 Summary..............................................................................................................................11
Chapter 2: Literature Review.........................................................................................................12
2.0 Over view.............................................................................................................................12
2.1 Gender discrimination as present within the contemporary world order............................12
2.2 Gender discrimination as existing within the film industry.................................................13
2.3 Discrimination against the women gender and how it impacts them..................................16
2.4 Instances of gender inequality within the entertainment industry.......................................17
2.5 Portrayal of the role of women in films...............................................................................19
2.6 The impact of the ‘Male Gaze’............................................................................................22
Summary....................................................................................................................................23
Chapter 3: Research Methodology................................................................................................25

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3.0 Over view.............................................................................................................................25
3.1 Research Outline..................................................................................................................25
3.2 Methodology........................................................................................................................25
3.3 Research Philosophy............................................................................................................26
3.3.1 Justification of the use of positivist research philosophy.............................................27
3.4 Research Approach..............................................................................................................27
3.4.1 Justification of the use of deductive research approach...............................................27
3.5 Research Design..................................................................................................................28
3.5.1 Justification of the use of descriptive research design..................................................28
3.6 Data collection technique....................................................................................................28
3.6.1 Justification of the application of secondary data collection technique.......................29
3.7 Sampling technique.............................................................................................................29
3.8 Data collection technique....................................................................................................30
3.8.1 Justification of the use of secondary data collection technique....................................30
3.9 Data analysis technique.......................................................................................................30
3.9.1 Justification of the data analysis technique..................................................................31
3.10 Ethical Considerations.......................................................................................................31
3.11 Accessibility Issues............................................................................................................32
3.12 Summary............................................................................................................................32
Chapter 4: Data findings................................................................................................................33

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4.0 Over view.............................................................................................................................33
4.2 Summary..............................................................................................................................38
Chapter 5: Data Discussion...........................................................................................................40
5.0 Over view.............................................................................................................................40
5.1 Theme 1: To understand the issue of gender discrimination as it exists within the present
world order.................................................................................................................................40
5.2 Theme 2: To examine the various gender discriminations that are present in the field of
motion pictures and entertainment.............................................................................................42
5.3 Theme 3: To analyze the movies nominated to the academy awards and the ratings
received by them based on the gender of the characters...........................................................44
5.4 Summary..............................................................................................................................46
Chapter 6: Conclusion...................................................................................................................48
6.0 Conclusion...........................................................................................................................48
6.1 Linking with objectives.......................................................................................................49
6.2 Recommendation.................................................................................................................51
6.3 Future scope of the study.....................................................................................................52
References:....................................................................................................................................53

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Chapter 1: Introduction
1.0 Overview
The issue of gender discrimination has been in existence in the society since times
immemorial. The female gender is seen to be subservient to their male counterparts who have a
dominating role to play in the society (Kabeer 2015). This social evil of gender discrimination is
visible even to this day of the twenty first century where there is a considerable importance
placed on the maintenance of human rights and human dignity.
In the present world order, the issue of gender parity has assumed significance. The
females of the society are now allowed to take an active participation in the public sphere, at par
with their male counterparts (Healey, Stepnick and O'Brien 2018). However, there is a deep
underlying notion of gender discrimination which is still present in the fields of economics,
sociology and even in that of politics (Kabeer and Sweetman 2018). The sector of motion
pictures is not an exception. Within this field of motion pictures, it can be observed that severe
discriminations exists with respect to the payment received by the various actors and actresses
and their effective nomination to the academic awards.
In this regard, the major discrimination that can be noticed is with respect to the
systematic review ratings which are received by the movies. It has been found out that a certain
extent of discrimination is considerably visible with respect to the issue of review ratings
received which is invariably dependent to some extent, upon the gender of the lead character
(Sanchez and Paniagua 2017).
1.1 Problem Statement
Gender discrimination continues to be in existence in the twenty first century world order

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where the state leaders have made the commitment that the various human freedom would be
provided to all (Jayachandran 2015). Such an access to human freedom is deemed to be essential
for ensuring the presence of human dignity. However, in the various fields of activity, the issue
of gender discrimination is present whereby the women are accorded a much lower standard of
living and respect than that of their male counterparts (Grusky 2018). In this regard, it becomes
essential to understand the prevailing problem of gender disparity.
1.2 Research Aim
The aim of this research is to understand if the movies that have only actors nominated to
the academy awards receive systematic higher ratings compared to those movies in which only
actresses get nominated for the acting award.
1.3 Research Objectives
The objectives of the research are as follows –
1. To understand the issue of gender discrimination as it exists within the present world order.
2. To examine the various gender discriminations that are present in the field of motion pictures
and entertainment.
3. To analyze the movies nominated to the academy awards and the ratings received by them
based on the gender of the characters.
1.4 Research Questions
The research questions are as follows –
1. What is the issue of gender discrimination as it exists within the present world order?
2. What are the various gender discriminations that are present in the field of motion pictures and

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entertainment?
3. Does the gender of the characters in a movie nominated to the academy awards affect the
systematic rating received by such movies?
1.5 Research Rationale
The issue of gender discrimination poses a severe challenge for the growth and
development of the society (Andersen and Collins 2015). Since the inception of the human
civilization, the female gender has always been accorded a secondary position to that of the
dominating nature of the male gender. In was not till the twentieth century that the women got
the right to vote in various parts of the world. This shows the despairing condition and status of
the women that prevailed for many years in the human community (Richardson 2015).
In the field of motion pictures, such discriminations existed and is still perceived to be
present in the contemporary world order (Magotra and Kaur 2018). It can be seen that in most of
the movies the lead character is usually a dominating male whose role is usually supported and
aided by a female character. In this regard, the notion that the movies nominated for the academy
awards receive higher systematic ratings based in the gender of the characters, needs to be
reviewed (Fleck and Hanssen 2016). It poses a significant sociological importance because of the
fact that movies are a mirror reflection of the cultural values and traditions that are present in the
society.
1.6 Research Structure
Introduction – The first chapter provides a brief introduction in to the research work.
The aim of this research is to understand if the movies that have only actors nominated to the
academy awards receive systematic higher ratings compared to those movies in which only

10DISSERTATION
actresses get nominated for the acting award. This chapter also mentions the research objectives
and the research questions that the paper seeks to answer.
Literature review - The second chapter seeks to provide a detailed examination of the
various secondary sources of literature pertaining to the related field of interest. In this respect,
the various book, academic journals and articles have been referenced which discusses the issue
of gender discrimination in the context of motion pictures. This has provided the researcher an
insight in to the various opinions held by the scholars of related field.
Research Methodology – The third chapter enumerates in the various research
methodologies that have been used in the course of the research for its effective execution. This
chapter also looks in to the limitations that have faced by the researcher and the other ethical
considerations that had to be adhered to for the research.
Data Findings – The forth chapter tries to find all the relevant data and statistics with
regard to the research issue at hand. In this respect, this chapter looks in to the number of movies
nominated for academy awards and the gender of the lead characters. Furthermore, the ratings of
such movies have also been taken into consideration.
Data Analysis – The fifth chapter interprets the data found in the previous chapter and
relates it with the information gathered from the secondary sources of literature in the literature
review section. This enables the researcher to provide validity to the information collected and
therefore, the analysis provided in this chapter increases in reliability.
Conclusion and recommendation – The sixth chapter concludes the dissertation. This
chapter synthesizes all the information gathered in the course of the research and reaches a
logical conclusion. This chapter also provides certain recommendation on how to diminish the

11DISSERTATION
issue of gender discrimination as is observed within the field of motion pictures.
1.7 Summary
To summarize, this chapter outlines the aim and purpose of the research. Additionally, it
also looks in to the various research objectives and research questions that it seeks to answer in
the course of the research work. This chapter provides a brief framework of the remaining
chapters of the research work.