Controlling for openness in the male-dominated collaborative networks of the global film industry.

Verhoeven, D; Musial, K; Palmer, S; Taylor, S; Abidi, S; Zemaityte, V; Simpson, L

Controlling for openness in the male-dominated collaborative networks of the global film industry.

Verhoeven, D Musial, K Palmer, S Taylor, S Abidi, S Zemaityte, V Simpson, L

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Publisher:: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: PloS one, 2020, 15, (6), pp. e0234460
Issue Date:: 2020-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Verhoeven, D
dc.contributor.author	Musial, K
dc.contributor.author	Palmer, S
dc.contributor.author	Taylor, S
dc.contributor.author	Abidi, S
dc.contributor.author	Zemaityte, V
dc.contributor.author	Simpson, L
dc.date.accessioned	2020-06-29T21:01:20Z
dc.date.available	2020-05-27
dc.date.available	2020-06-29T21:01:20Z
dc.date.issued	2020-01
dc.identifier.citation	PloS one, 2020, 15, (6), pp. e0234460
dc.identifier.issn	1932-6203
dc.identifier.issn	1932-6203
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/141690
dc.description.abstract	Studies of gender inequality in film industries have noted the persistence of male domination in creative roles (usually defined as director, producer, writer) and the slow pace of reform. Typical policy remedies are premised on aggregate counts of women as a proportion of overall industry participation. Network science offers an alternative way of identifying and proposing change mechanisms, as it puts emphasis on relationships instead of individuals. Preliminary work on applying network analysis to understand inequality in the film industry has been undertaken. However, in this study we offer a comprehensive approach that enables us to not only understand what inequality in the film industry looks like through the lens of network science but also how we can attempt to address this issue. We offer a data-driven simulation framework that investigates various what-if scenarios when it comes to network evolution. We then assess each of these scenarios with respect to its potential to address gender inequality in the film industry. As suggested by previous studies, inequality is exacerbated when industry networks are most closed. We review evidence from three different national film industries on network relationships in creative teams and identify a high proportion of men who only work with other men. In response to this observation, we test several mechanisms through which industry structures may generate higher levels of openness. Our results reveal that the most critical factor for improving network openness is not simply the statistical improvement of the number of women in a network, nor the removal of men who do not work with women. The most likely behavioural changes to a network will involve the production of connections between women and powerful men.
dc.format	Electronic-eCollection
dc.language	eng
dc.publisher	Public Library of Science (PLoS)
dc.relation	http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/DP190101087
dc.relation.ispartof	PloS one
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1371/journal.pone.0234460
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject.classification	General Science & Technology
dc.title	Controlling for openness in the male-dominated collaborative networks of the global film industry.
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	15
utslib.location.activity	United States
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - AAI - Advanced Analytics Institute Research Centre
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology/School of Computer Science
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
dc.date.updated	2020-06-29T21:01:04Z
pubs.issue	6
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	15
utslib.citation.issue	6

Abstract:

Studies of gender inequality in film industries have noted the persistence of male domination in creative roles (usually defined as director, producer, writer) and the slow pace of reform. Typical policy remedies are premised on aggregate counts of women as a proportion of overall industry participation. Network science offers an alternative way of identifying and proposing change mechanisms, as it puts emphasis on relationships instead of individuals. Preliminary work on applying network analysis to understand inequality in the film industry has been undertaken. However, in this study we offer a comprehensive approach that enables us to not only understand what inequality in the film industry looks like through the lens of network science but also how we can attempt to address this issue. We offer a data-driven simulation framework that investigates various what-if scenarios when it comes to network evolution. We then assess each of these scenarios with respect to its potential to address gender inequality in the film industry. As suggested by previous studies, inequality is exacerbated when industry networks are most closed. We review evidence from three different national film industries on network relationships in creative teams and identify a high proportion of men who only work with other men. In response to this observation, we test several mechanisms through which industry structures may generate higher levels of openness. Our results reveal that the most critical factor for improving network openness is not simply the statistical improvement of the number of women in a network, nor the removal of men who do not work with women. The most likely behavioural changes to a network will involve the production of connections between women and powerful men.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/141690