Global Symposium on Gender in Media – Portray Her: Representations of Women STEM Characters in Media

If she can see it, she can be it." Welcome to the official broadcast of the Global Symposium on Gender in Media, hosted live from Google headquarters. In this special event, the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media pairs with Lyda Hill Philanthropies to unveil the groundbreaking "Portray Her" research initiative—a definitive, 10-year analysis examining the representation of women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) across film and television. Media shapes our cultural reality and profoundly influences real-world career choices. This symposium serves as both an urgent wake-up call and a collaborative platform for Hollywood executives, writers, and content creators to dismantle the media stereotypes that reinforce the "leaky pipeline" in STEM fields. 📌 Video Chapters & Key Highlights 0:00 - The Power of Representation Academy Award® winner Geena Davis opens the symposium, sharing how powerful media images ignite real-world trends—such as the massive surge in female archery participation following major film releases. 17:00 - Launch of the "IF/THEN" Initiative Nicole Small, President of the Lyda Hill Foundation, officially launches the IF/THEN initiative. Grounded in the mantra, "If we support a woman or girl in STEM, then she can change the world," this project provides concrete resources to inspire the next generation of innovators. 34:00 - "Portray Her" Research Findings Dr. Caroline Heldman presents data analyzing a decade of media portrayals. Discover the stark realities of the gender gap—where male STEM characters still outnumber females nearly two to one—and learn how media stereotypes subtly discourage girls during critical developmental stages. 53:00 - Panel Discussion: The Power of Storytelling An elite, cross-industry panel featuring leaders from Sesame Workshop, Marvel Comics, Google, and National Geographic explores how to seamlessly weave authentic STEM narratives into mainstream entertainment. Early Childhood: Normalizing early STEM exploration for young children. Relatable Icons: Showcasing multi-dimensional protagonists like Ms. Marvel. Real-World Realities: Large carnivore ecologist Raywin Grant shares the persistent barriers women face when breaking past the stereotypical "male explorer" archetype. 🚀 The Call to Action To all content creators, executives, and writers: prioritizing diverse, non-stereotyped female STEM characters is more than a social responsibility—it is proven to be excellent business that appeals to global audiences. 💡 Change the Culture, Change the Screen: Visit our website to read the full "Portray Her" research report. Become an Institute Member: Gain exclusive access to our proprietary research, data tools, and an influential community working to eliminate unconscious bias in media. Subscribe and support systemic change today! #GenderInMedia #WomenInSTEM #IfSheCanSeeItSheCanBeIt #GeenaDavisInstitute #IfThenSheCan