Kids Want More Female Superheroes, New Study Finds

By Nate Nickolai

LOS ANGELES (Variety.com) – BBC America and the Women’s Media Center have released a new study showing that girls want more female characters in film and television.

By surveying a wide range of children between the ages of five and 19, the study found that every demographic group expressed a desire for more female leads in the sci-fi and superhero genres. The survey was administered last summer to 2,431 girls and boys as well as parents of children between five and nine years old.

“At this time of enormous, sweeping social change, it’s important that television and film provide an abundance of roles and role models for diverse girls and young women,” said Women’s Media Center president Julie Burton. “We know that representation matters, as evidenced by this report. Our research found that female sci-fi and superhero characters help bridge the confidence gap for girls, making them feel strong, brave, confident, inspired, positive and motivated.”

Other findings include a 23 point gender gap between teenage boys and girls with regards to interest in STEM careers and a one in three response from teenage girls that they have fewer opportunities than boys to be leaders. Additionally, teenage girls are less likely than teenage boys to describe themselves as confident, brave and heard.

The study was launched as a part of ’s “Galaxy of Women” Initiative, which seeks to highlight successful women across the network while also connecting fans with more powerful female characters.

“If you can’t see her, you can’t be her,” said BBC America president Sarah Barnett. “It’s time to expand what gets seen, and we hope this report will contribute to sparking change in the stories we see on screen. With greater representation of female heroes in the sci-fi and superhero genre, we can help superpower the next generation of women.”