Women lost ground in this year’s Primetime Emmy nominations outside of acting categories, with men accounting for two-thirds of all nominees, according to a report released Thursday by the Women’s Media Center.
Of the 2,634 people nominated in 102 non-acting categories for the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards, 855 (33%) are women, 1,774 (67%) are men and five are nonbinary, the report said.
Men dominated the four top behind-the-scenes fields — producing, directing, writing and editing — with 68% of the 1,451 nominees.
Women were entirely absent in 12 categories, including Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series and Outstanding Picture Editing for a Drama Series, despite holding half the nominations in those categories last year.
“At a time when corporations are abandoning efforts to improve diversity, equity and inclusion, we find women behind the camera continue to hit a glass ceiling when it comes to recognition and celebration of their merit, excellence and intelligence,” Julie Burton, president and CEO of the Women’s Media Center, said in a statement. “This translates to fewer opportunities for women, and that is a loss for everyone.”
Among the findings:
— Men received 64% of producing nominations, 85% of directing, 69% of writing and 77% of editing;
— Women of color saw fewer nominations in high-profile categories compared to last year;
— No woman showrunner over age 60 was nominated; and
— Women with disabilities were scarcely represented.
“The lack of overall diversity for the non-acting Primetime Emmy Awards continues to be not only a historic problem, but a systemic one,” WMC Board Chair Janet Dewart Bell said. “The television industry needs to hire, promote and nominate more women.”
The Washington, D.C.-based Women’s Media Center, co-founded by Jane Fonda, Robin Morgan and Gloria Steinem, advocates for greater representation and visibility for women in media.
“This report shows that the gender gap in behind-the-scenes roles persists and that progress is often fleeting,” Fonda said. “The Women’s Media Center would like to see women attain true equality and sustained change.”
The report comes ahead of the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards, which will be broadcast Sept. 14 from the Peacock Theater in downtown Los Angeles on CBS and streamed live on Paramount+.