We confess: Jane Fonda is an idol of ours. ... It’s also because she has been an ardent activist for decades, speaking out loudly about social justice causes like ending wars, combating climate change and refuting government infringement upon women’s rights. She also co-founded the Women’s Media Center in 2005 to ensure better representation for fellow women creatives.

Despite making up 13% of the U.S. population, Black women hold only 4.5% of media jobs, according to a 2021 Women’s Media Center report. And in cable news, the presence of Black women in primetime hosting roles is even more scarce.

Women took a step backwards in Oscar nominations this year. Men continued their overall dominance and also gained ground, according to the Women’s Media Center. Of this year’s 216 Oscar nominees in non-acting categories, only 59 (27%) are women, and the other 157 (73%) are men. This is a decrease from 2024, when women were 32% of non-acting Oscar nominees, compared to 64% men.