Diversity of Portrayals in Holiday Movies

Stereotypes, The Bechdel Test, and Family Portrayals

Presenter: Lauren Fernandes

Co-Presenter(s):
Juliana Reed, Stephania Veziris, Madison Dodd

Presenter Status: Undergraduate student

Academic Year: 20-21

Semester: Spring

Faculty Mentor: Emily Acosta Lewis

Department: Communication & Media Studies

Funding Source/Sponsor: Koret Scholars Program

President's Strategic Plan Goal: Diversity and Social Justice

Screenshot URL: https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1uF88d3DBWFefgL97Dxxcr1D_JUr5Q2uj

Abstract:
This project consisted of a content analysis of holiday movies related to diversity, racial stereotypes, gender roles by race, and underrepresented groups in general. By doing a content analysis of holiday movies, it allowed the research team to examine the climate of holiday movies and how diverse they may or may not be. The research team examined the behavior of characters of color to evaluate if they are stereotypical portrayals, the types of gender roles shown, whether characters are primary or secondary characters, as well as the overall tone of the portrayal (e.g. characters of colors as the comic relief). The research team will examine a broad range of holiday movies from different production companies (e.g. Netflix, Disney, Hallmark, Universal, etc.) and will include both “made for TV movies,” streaming platform original content, as well as traditionally released holiday movies that were in the movie theaters. Some of the variables of interest were related to passing the Bechdel Test, race/ethnicity of characters involved in the Bechdel Test, gender portrayals, religious tone, family portrayls, as well as depictions of live versus cartoon, depictions of idealism versus materialism, and depictions by decade.