Note: This article, which partially builds on the author’s doctoral research, forms part of a broader project, the findings of which have been presented at various academic conferences.
The systematic exclusion of women, especially women of color, from Hollywood’s gatekeeping institutions underscores the enduring dominance of white male perspectives in shaping not only American cinema but also the global narratives that are widely circulated and consumed. To put it differently, women’s marginalization in Hollywood reflects a wider global trend—a collective push across nations to reclaim storytelling power and assert control over visual representation beyond dominant and dominating film industries. Drawing on a combination of in-depth interviews and critical engagement with relevant literature, the article interrogates the complex intersections of gender and race that mediate access to power and visibility in the cinematic field. The analysis reveals that entrenched gendered and racialized hierarchies persist in shaping which narratives are legitimized, the modes through which they are conveyed, and the individuals authorized to tell them. ... More