The Women’s Media Center analysis of 2026 Oscar nominations finds that despite a notable increase in representation this year, women continue to make up less than one-third of nominees in non-acting categories. Even though the 21st century has seen women break through as winners in the notoriously male-dominated category of Best Director — three women have won so far in this category — this progress is not representative of significant increases for women nominated overall in non-acting categories. The total percentages for nominated women in non-acting categories continue to stall at no more than 32% every year.
The Women’s Media Center analysis of 2026 Oscar nominations finds that despite a notable increase in representation this year, women continue to make up less than one-third of nominees in non-acting categories. Even though the 21st century has seen women break through as winners in the notoriously male-dominated category of Best Director — three women have won so far in this category — this progress is not representative of significant increases for women nominated overall in non-acting categories. The total percentages for nominated women in non-acting categories continue to stall at no more than 32% every year.
It should come as no surprise that women continue to be in the minority of nominees for annual Academy Awards. Women in the film industry continue to come up against a proverbial glass ceiling, each year comprising no more than 32% of the Oscar nominees in non-acting categories. In 2025, the percentage of women nominees dropped below 30%: Of the 216 Oscar nominees in non-acting categories, 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 68% men.
It should come as no surprise that women continue to be in the minority of nominees for annual Academy Awards. Women in the film industry continue to come up against a proverbial glass ceiling, each year comprising no more than 32% of the Oscar nominees in non-acting categories. In 2025, the percentage of women nominees dropped below 30%: Of the 216 Oscar nominees in non-acting categories, 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 68% men.
Women made modest year-to-year gains in the non-acting nominations for the 2024 Academy Awards with 32% going to women, matching the previous high set in 2021. The increase can be largely attributed to more women nominees in the major categories of Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay, and Best Editing, and in the below-the-line crafts categories of Best Makeup, Best Original Score, Best Production Design, Best Visual Effects, and Best Documentary Feature. But despite increases, the number of women recognized with Oscar nominations for these behind-the-camera roles continues to lag woefully behind that of men. Even with an all-time high of 32%, more than twice as many nominations — 68% — are going to men in the 18 non-acting categories.
Women made modest year-to-year gains in the non-acting nominations for the 2024 Academy Awards with 32% going to women, matching the previous high set in 2021. The increase can be largely attributed to more women nominees in the major categories of Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay, and Best Editing, and in the below-the-line crafts categories of Best Makeup, Best Original Score, Best Production Design, Best Visual Effects, and Best Documentary Feature. But despite increases, the number of women recognized with Oscar nominations for these behind-the-camera roles continues to lag woefully behind that of men. Even with an all-time high of 32%, more than twice as many nominations — 68% — are going to men in the 18 non-acting categories.
Men have received 78% of non-acting Oscar nominations over the past 17 years and women 22%, according to an analysis by the Women’s Media Center. The report, “WMC Investigation: 17-Year Analysis of Gender & Non-Acting Academy Award Nominations,” concludes that there have been modest improvements in female representation from 2007 to 2023 but also that progress has been slow and uneven.
Men have received 78% of non-acting Oscar nominations over the past 17 years and women 22%, according to an analysis by the Women’s Media Center. The report, “WMC Investigation: 17-Year Analysis of Gender & Non-Acting Academy Award Nominations,” concludes that there have been modest improvements in female representation from 2007 to 2023 but also that progress has been slow and uneven.
Female representation dropped overall this year in the nominations in 18 non-acting categories for the 94th Academy Awards. Of the 205 people receiving nominations this year, 55 (27%) are women, compared to 150 (73%) men. This is the lowest rate of female behind-the-scenes representation at the Oscars in three years.
Female representation dropped overall this year in the nominations in 18 non-acting categories for the 94th Academy Awards. Of the 205 people receiving nominations this year, 55 (27%) are women, compared to 150 (73%) men. This is the lowest rate of female behind-the-scenes representation at the Oscars in three years.
Despite women making history in the top categories at the Oscars, the number of female nominees for the 93rd Academy Awards did not see a significant increase compared to past years, according to a Women’s Media Center analysis of the 18 non-acting categories.
Despite women making history in the top categories at the Oscars, the number of female nominees for the 93rd Academy Awards did not see a significant increase compared to past years, according to a Women’s Media Center analysis of the 18 non-acting categories. Here are the infographics:
The number of nominations for women increased in the 92nd Academy Awards, but not by much, according to a Women’s Media Center analysis of the 19 non-acting categories. The overall percentage of female nominees in those categories rose by just 5 percentage points, from 25 percent last year to 30 percent this year.
The number of nominations for women increased in the 92nd Academy Awards, but not by much, according to a Women’s Media Center analysis of the 19 non-acting categories. The overall percentage of female nominees in those categories rose by just 5 percentage points, from 25 percent last year to 30 percent this year. Here is the infographic:
SuperPowering Women in Science Fiction and Superhero Film — A Women’s Media Center Report in Association with BBC America, our second joint study, explores the overall history of female representation in front of and behind the camera in the science fiction and superhero film genres and conducts a deeper dive into representation in the past decade.
“The Status of Women in the U.S. Media 2019” shows that despite some gains, men still dominate in every part of news, entertainment and digital media. The report is comprised of 94 studies, including original research by the Women’s Media Center and aggregated research from academia, industry and professional groups, labor unions, media watchdogs, newsrooms and other sources.
The Women’s Media Center’s Investigation 2019: Gender and Non-Acting Oscar Nominations finds that women are, again, missing from the picture. No women were nominated in Directing, Cinematography, Editing, Original Score, and Visual Effects, and only one woman was nominated in Animated Feature film and in each of the two writing categories. Here are the infographics.
Despite a concerted push by women and their allies to achieve greater representation for females in all parts of the film industry, women represent only 23 percent of the non-acting categories in the 90th annual Academy Award nominations, according to a Women’s Media Center analysis. Infographic.
Despite a concerted push by many advocates from all parts of the film industry to achieve greater representation for women, this year’s Oscar nominations showed only slight gains across the board, with men representing 77 percent of nominees in behind-the-scenes roles, according to a Women’s Media Center analysis.
Infographic showing gender breakdown of 2017 Emmy primetime nominations for all non-acting categories.
A Women’s Media Center investigation found that women receive only 28 percent of all non-acting nominations for the 2017 Primetime Emmy Nominations. Despite modest gains for women in a few categories, the nominations reflect the ongoing deficit of behind-the-camera opportunities for women in television.
Women represent only 20 percent of the non-acting categories in the 89th annual Academy Award nominations, according to a Women’s Media Center analysis. Despite an overhaul of membership last year, where hundreds of new members were invited, including many women and people of color, female Oscar nominees dipped two percentage points from last year’s nominations. Infographic.
Overview of the findings of the report and downloadable pdf of the full report.
