Leadership in the margins

ABSTRACT

This article explores the specific consequences of the male gaze on women in cinema leadership with particular attention on African American female directors. It explores ethics and ethical stance and has uncovered some preliminary conclusions about the standards of social behavior among cinema leadership that negatively interposes on the advancement and success of female directors in cinema, regardless of genre or artistic merit. The #Metoo and #Timesup movements have brought to light many unethical issues related to sexism, gender inequality, and objectification, and the ethical issues explored here pertain primarily to the expectation of autonomy, justice, beneficence, and nonmaleficence. The content analyses exposed themes drawn from interviews and the literature that suggest a tradition of unethical behavior that the Hollywood industry has heretofore ignored at the expense of female industry participants in front of and behind the camera. This behavior has manifested in cultural disparities, objectification, and unethical social behavior, resulting in limited prospects for motion picture directorial leadership for women in cinema, particularly female directors of color.

KEYWORDS:

• “male gaze”
• ethics
• leadership
• marginalize
• female filmmakers

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1. Box Office Mojo by IMDbPro, https://www.boxofficemojo.com/, 2020.

2. Internet Movie Database (IMDb), https://www.imdb.com/, 2020.

3. Interview data collected in 2019 via anonymous survey instrument.

4. Interview data collected in 2019 via anonymous survey instrument.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Hoffberger Center, University of Baltimore [2019].

Notes on contributors

Tracy L. F. Worley

Tracy L. F. Worley, DM, PMP, is a scholar and educator, writer, researcher, project manager, and independent motion picture producer. Her grounded theory research (http://www.blackwomencinema.us) into African American female leadership in major motion pictures reveals the importance of self-determination and access, and it is timely considering the current discourse on issues of equity for women. She is s peer reviewer for Feminist Media Studies and her participation in the media and performing arts gives foundational significance to her research. Dr. Worley is a qualitative researcher who has conducted studies on women in the arts, leadership ethics, intracultural communication and education, and her current research interest is an examination of the comic image in the pantheon of Black popular culture. She is a qualitative methodologist and instructional designer who has developed several curricula in the arts, filmmaking, project management, health-related disciplines, and Christian education. Her research interest is a complex blend of project management, media and arts management, and women’s leadership studies. Dr. Worley has produced and directed a number of films, and stage plays, and she is currently in pre-production on her latest feature-length motion picture, “Behind Church Doors.” She has presented at multiple academic and professional conferences, and her writing has been published in peer-reviewed journals and monographs, including the Project Management Journal. Dr. Worley has been a member of the Project Management Institute since 2001 and earned her project management professional (PMP) certification in 2007. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from Syracuse University (1987), a Master of Fine Arts in Film from Howard University (1992), and a Doctor of Management in Organizational Leadership from the University of Phoenix (2014). E-mail: [email protected]