Modern Analysis: The Underrepresentation of Women of Color in Film

Scholars and industry audits have extensively documented the portrayal of racial and gender identities in mainstream Hollywood cinema, revealing persistent disparities in on‑screen representation. People of color in media, specifically film, have historically faced challenges, including underrepresentation, stereotypical portrayals, and limited storytelling. However, there is a gap in research specifically on women of color as protagonists in film. Most treat race and gender as separate issues. This study aims to investigate the underrepresentation and stereotyping of women of color in top-grossing Hollywood films by assessing screen time, speaking time, and narrative agency of women of color characters. Results show that the proportion of women of color in films has risen from 1% in 2007 to 16% in 2021. Women of color still comprise less than 10% of total screen time and speak only 14% of dialogue instances across the sample. A qualitative case study of Marvel Cinematic Universe characters Okoye and Shuri demonstrates that when women of color are positioned with central narrative agency, they exhibit leadership and technical influence that sharply contrast with broader industry norms. “These findings lay the groundwork for future studies on how women of color are portrayed, how different audiences respond to those portrayals, and how casting processes can become genuinely inclusive.