A new "Boxed In" study by Dr Martha Lauzen of San Diego State University has found that the proportion of women creating and directing US television shows has fallen sharply on streaming platforms, reversing a brief uptick recorded the previous year. The findings suggest that gains made in 2024-25 were a temporary blip rather than a sustained shift, with representation levels now lower than they were almost a decade ago. This matters because it points to persistent structural barriers for women both behind and in front of the camera in the television industry.

The report, which examined more than 2,500 characters and over 3,600 behind-the-scenes credits from the 2025-26 television year, found women creating streaming shows fell from 36% to 24%, while broadcast dipped slightly from 20% to 19%. Female directors on streaming dropped from 32% to 22%, and on broadcast from 18% to 16%. Women's representation among major on-screen characters also declined, from 49% to 44% on streaming and 47% to 46% on broadcast, while the study highlighted that female characters continue to fade from screens after their 30s, unlike their male counterparts who remain prominent into their 50s.